Reviews (71)

Why not us?
This was a great book. Very hard to read at sometimes. To the one who didn't said it was boring how dare you! When I first started reading it was very slow but it quickly speeded up. As soon as this happend I couldn't put the book down. I was done before everyone else in my class. This is one of the best books I've read.
Daniel's Story
This book is about the Holocaust. Daniel's Story is a very educational and fun book. Daniel is a Jew. The Nazis are killing all Jews.
Daniels Story
Daniels Story is about the holocaust. This story is very interesting, sometimes I would gasp at some of the parts in the story. This story can be sad at times because the Germans where being very unkind to the Jewish children and adults. Germans would put the Jews in camps and put them in gas chambers, put them in a flaming fire, or even shot them in the head! When the Germans where getting the Jews out of there houses they would throw them out the windows! (Newborns,3,4,5,6,7...years old still out the windows!)It was very hard to listen to and it was very rude. They where trying to take over the world so they could have it them selves! I really injoyed reading this book because it was interesting and educating in almost every way! I dislike what the Germans did to the Jews, it was very cruel. This is actually the only holocaust book I've ever read, but atleast I can say it was the best! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Concentration camps    5. Fiction    6. Historical - Holocaust    7. Holocaust, Jewish (1933-1945)    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Military & Wars   

Reviews (23)

this is the coolest book ever!!!!!!!!!!
i got to read this book when i picked a random book from the library. I think that was a dam good random choisce i made!!!
This is the best book!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love this book!!if i could give it a 1000 i would!! this book made me cry!its bout a girl named Ruth and they are in War 2...she has to take care of 11 kids...they are also tryin to get to palestine!she falls in love with a boy named Zvi! this IS my favorite book i've read! if i were u i would buy the book and tell a friend bout it too!
After the War

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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Europe, Eastern    4. Fiction    5. Historical - Holocaust    6. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    7. Jews    8. Juvenile fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Holocaust   

Reviews (14)

A gripping story of a Jewish family caught up in the U.S. Civil War
"The War Within: A Novel of the Civil War," by Carol Matas, is narrated in the first person by the book's main character, Hannah Green.Hannah is a 13-year old Jewish girl who lives with her slave-owning family in Mississippi during the time of the U.S. Civil War.In the course of the war Ulysses S. Grant orders the expulsion of all Jews from the territory he controls.The novel explores the impact of the war in general, and Grant's expulsion order in particular, on Hannah and the other characters.
The War within
IT sucks.Terrible. IT hurt me to read it. NEVER Buy this book. MAkes you want to cut yourself

Excellent Civil War novel for the young reader
Author Carol Matas has done a superb job in this well researched novel of the Civil War. In this novel, we see the war through the eyes of civilians in the South. The Green family is Jewish but they are relatively assimilated. The setting is a small town in northern Mississippi at the end of 1862. The Greens own a store and also own three slaves who are well treated. Hannah Green is 13 and her older sister, Joanna,has fallen for a Jewish Union army officer who is occupying the area. The family trusts their slaves, to the point that they allow "Moses" to run the family store in the absence of Hannah's and Joanna's father who is serving in the war. They also have two brothers who are fighting and two who are still at home.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Historical - Military & Wars    4. Historical - United States - 20th Century    5. Religious - Jewish    6. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (46)

Guess What?!
This is such a great book! As a (...), I found this book fun, exciting, and a kind of mystery. If you don't like guessing, or tyring to figure out the plot, this book isn't for you. This book keeps you guessing 'til the very end. My sister, who is 10, also fell in love with this book. The number one reason I read this book is because it has a strong beginning.A little confusing, but strong. A great book that keeps you guessing.

Nope nope nope.
I really cant explain much of this book becuase I didnt even finish it. About halfway through i couldnt take it. I was confused and though it was very slow.

A fun kids fantasy
Sixteen year old Lenora is a headstrong, brave and rather spoiled princess who lives in a world where everyone has the power to make the things they imagine real. Unfortunately for Lenora, using this power is strictly forbidden, not that it stops her much. Shy and logical Prince Coren lives in a world where everyone has the powers to read everyone else's mind, a power that he would do anything to get rid of. When Lenora and Coren discover that they're arranged to be married, none of them are too happy about it. Lenora is furious. She doesn't see why she's supposed to marry this boring boy that she's never met before. In an attempt to run away she ends up throwing herself in a completely different world. Unfortunately she accidentally brings Coren around with her. Everything seems perfect in this world to Lenora, from the people to the dashing ruler, Hevak. Coren is a bit more cautious. Everything seems to perfect. It's this caution that ends up getting him in trouble. Now Lenora's the only one who can save him. That is if she can resist the persuasive powers of Hevek.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction    5. Parapsychology    6. Psychic ability    7. Royalty (kingsqueensprincesprincessesknightsetc.)    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Reviews (3)

More brain candy
Third in the Minds series (Of Two Minds, More Minds), Out of Their Minds continues the psychic adventures of Princess Lenora of Gepeth, who possesses the ability to make whatever she imagines come true, and PrinceCoren of Andilla, who can read minds.About to be married in Andilla,where reality plays second fiddle to imagination, Coren and Lenora discoverthat all is not well.First Lenora starts having nightmares about her oldnemesis Hevak.Then it is discovered that all the Andillians have losttheir mental powers and are now forced to live in a crumbling andlong-neglected reality.And then there are the Skwoes, the people withabsolutely no imagination... INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is one of the best books I have ever read!If you are looking for a follow up to Harry Potter, you got it right here.The whole trilogy keeps you on the edge of your seat and giggling the whole time!

I love these books!
I am giving this book 4 stars since it isn't as good as the first two but still a good book. I especially love how Matas & Nodelman brought back the characters Leni and Cori. These books are so cool and I hope they writemore of them together, since they make such a great team. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy fiction    5. Fiction    6. Humorous Stories    7. Parapsychology    8. Psychic ability    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (8)

A Meeting of Minds
Genre: Fiction
Not as good as the others
I actually found this book kind of hard, and difficult.I really hated how it started and ended.I really loved all the other ones but in a sense, if you read the other ones you sort of have to know what happends but it will kill you to get there. I really did not enjoy it. :|

WEll.....
I must say I was pretty disapointed in the ending. I like the first one because I thought the characters were so realistic and loveable you just had to like them. Of course the plot of all the book hasn't been the same since "Of TWo Minds" but it was been ok. I thought this book was kind of a waste of time. And when are they gonna get married? The authors have pro-longed this stupid wedding for 4 books. Each time somethingtotal un-realtic happens. I really hope that the authors keep the books alive. I hope there will be more cahracters and a better plot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fantasy    4. Fantasy fiction    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Parapsychology    8. Psychic ability    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (3)

The Key To Understanding Current Conflict in the Middle East
This is a wonderful book, the sequel to AFTER THE WAR. THE GARDEN is much longer than AFTER THE WAR. It sheds more light on the life of Ruth and her family when they get to Isreal. Internal conflicts prevail in the need for freedom
This story depicts a, now, sixteen-year old Ruth Mendenberg who is forced to fight Arabs in Palestine to hold onto the little piece ofindependence she has experienced at Kibbutz David.Ruth endures many intrapersonalconflicts throughout her journey to freedom.She knows that she has tofight in the war but worries if she can do this in a fair manner, withoutdisappointing her fellow Jewish comrades. Ruth does not want to disppointherself, for she knows that she is the only one who has to absorb the guiltof killing another human being.At times, Ruth becomes so frustrated byall of the violence, she wonders if she knows the difference between rightand wrong anymore.The temptation is thrust under her nose to kill thoseenemies who killed the ones she loved. "An eye for an eye" is oneof the many radical ideals her brother, Simon, proclaims as he fights withthe Irgun soldiers.Ruth is torn in making the decisions that will affecther life forever.Will she do what she believes is right and just duringthis tumultuous time?All she knows for sure is that she wants to returnto a time when she planted her beautiful garden which brought her heartpeace.This story is full of thought-provoking questions relative of allof our lives.

Young holocaust survivors build the state of Israel.
During the last four or five years, so many books with Jewish content have dealt solely with the subject of the Holocaust that juvenile Jewish reading is getting a bit depressing.Although some books about the subject have been notable like Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and The Devil's Arithmetic, by Jane Yolen (both Jewish authors), should this be the only subject matter for Jewish children? Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Historical - General    5. Historical - Holocaust    6. Historical - Military & Wars    7. Historical - Other    8. Israel    9. Israel-Arab War, 1948-1949    10. Jews    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Holocaust   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Religion    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Historical - United States - 20th Century    5. Jews    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile Historical Fiction    8. Labor unions    9. New York    10. New York (State)    11. Religion - Judaism    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (18)

Appropriate for grade 6 -8
Picked this up at a used book store in the fantasy section.I wouldn't pay cover price for it.
The Best book out of the series
I thought this was an exelent book. It is by far the best one out of the whole siries. I loves how the authers Made the charicters seem like they were real and made them loveable. If you are some one looking for a good fantacy book with all types of twists and turns than you should deffenitly pick up this book.

BEST BOOK EVER
This is a terrific book filled to the brim with adventure although it may be slightly hard to understand for children under the age of 10.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Fantasy    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction    5. Parapsychology    6. Psychic ability    7. Royalty (kingsqueensprincesprincessesknightsetc.)    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Toys   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Family - Multigenerational    4. Fiction    5. Historical - United States - 20th Century    6. Jews    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Los Angeles (Calif.)    9. Motion pictures    10. Production and direction    11. Religious - Jewish    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 20th Century   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Toys   

Reviews (31)

...
I didnt really like this book cuz like it was so confusing, it kept on going back and forth between flashbacks, and its not very intresting either. LOL Normally i would'nt even read a historical fiction novel but like we had to cuz we were doing this historical fiction thing in our class...Anyways I thought this book was pretty bad, but if you like historical fiction then this book might be a good pick for you.

A Great Read!
This is a really good book. It is about a girl named Anna who isa Jew and lives with her aunt, mom and grandma. She gets taken away to a concentration camp in France. While in this camp she tries to make her life better by cheering up people there and helping to organize events. She then is sent to another city to live with a family who has agreed to help out the kids. You'll have to read the book to see what will happen. What will happen to Anna? How about her mom, aunt and grandma? Go get this book!
Geting Away
"Greater Than Angels" is about a 16-year-old Jewish girl named Anna that is captured by Germans during World War 11. She is brought to France and is put in a concentration camp with her family. One year later she escapes and is living with anyone that will hide her from the Nazis. A good thing about this book is that it is very descriptive bout what the Jews had to go through. I also enjoyed how the book started it really caught my eye, I will let you figure out how it goes. Another interesting thing about the book is that it shows well what the soldiers were like. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. France    5. Historical - Europe    6. Historical - Military & Wars    7. Jews    8. Juvenile fiction    9. Le Chambon-sur-Lignon    10. Rescue    11. World War, 1939-1945    12. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Other   

Subjects:  1. Baseball    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Disguise    5. Family - Multigenerational    6. Fiction    7. Girls & Women    8. Historical - United States - 20th Century    9. Jews    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Juvenile Historical Fiction    12. Sex role    13. Social Issues - General    14. Social Situations - General    15. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    16. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (23)

GReat Book
This book seemed so real and the content of this novel was easy to read and understand.

Maria`s Review of In My Enemy`s House
In My Enemy's House
Can She Keep Her Secret?
This story shares the trials of young Marisa, a Jewish girl, during World War II.Orphaned, Marisa chose to hide her true identity and go to work for the German enemy to save her own life.Keeping her secret proved to be impossible.Read this interesting story to find out why. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - History    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. Germany    5. Historical - Europe    6. Historical - Holocaust    7. Historical - Military & Wars    8. Jews    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. World War, 1939-1945    11. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Holocaust   

Reviews (13)

Book Review for Lisa's War
I really enjoyed Lisa's War.It was hard to follow at first, but I kept reading and found that it was a great, exciting and fun book!It is a story about a girl and her family and friends during World War ll and how she tries to help other Jews.I would recommend this book to kids and adults of all ages!

An amazing read, not just for kids!
Carol Matas is a local writer from my home city of Winnipeg.I was Lisa's age when I first read this book in junior high school.It is a brilliant, exciting story and was one of the first novels I'd read that left a lasting mark on me - a permanent interest and curiousity about the past, and about the Holocaust in particular.This interest led me to more Carol Matas books - Jesper (the sequel to Lisa's War), Daniel, The Fusion Factor, and others.She is truly an amazing writer and I base this praise on the fact that this story affected me so deeply that today when I picked it up again to read it through for the second time after so many years it still brought me to tears.Carol is adept at taking history and making it feel REAL.In this case she chose a shining example of human courage and I am very grateful for her selection.I would never have known about the Danish resistance if I had not read this book.I would never have known that the Danes fought against the Germans and saved their fellow Jews with such tremendous success.The Holocaust was full of so much evil and darkness that it is a relief to know that in amongst it all were a few rays of light.

Very good and educational book
in this book LISA'S WAR many things happened. It was very interesting and you wont want to put the book down. Even though it is very short with only 108 pages it is very thirlling. From leaving underground newspapers on street cars to helping Jews on boats so they can get to Sweeden. Lisa is very active trough the whole book. (...) I urge any one above the age of 12 to read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Denmark    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Jews    7. Juvenile fiction    8. Underground movements    9. World War, 1939-1945   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/All Ages    2. General   

Reviews (7)

It's not merely fiction!
The story in this book, although portrayed by the author as mere fiction, nevertheless, is a groundbreaking revelation! It surprisingly well mimics the story of Rabbi Ephraim Boruch Bryks of Queens, NY. It shows how a charismatic rabbi can manipulate his subjects, children, families and even entire communities. Despite all the allegations, discoveries and oustings from Jewish Rabbinical associations and schools, he still manages to remain a respected member of the community. Threats, intimidations, betrayal, blackmail, civil suits, and even buying the support of the Bukharian community in Queens are not the only tools. www.Theawarenesscenter.org/Bryks_Ephraim.html is a must read with conjunction with this book in order to appreciate how this fiction is reality.

The Primrose Path
What happens when a trusted rabbi, someone you respect, violate you and your family?When you ask for help, how does the rest of your community respond?How often do community members turn against those who were violated? How do sexual predators get away with it?The Primrose Path is an extremely important fictional book, which outlines how this happens.It's interesting as I was reading The Primrose Path I was haunted by the way the book mimicked the Case of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks, who was accused of doing similar things, back in the 1980's in Canada. A Powerful, Utterly Realistic Story
Carol Matas writes brilliantly. This story is powerful, realistic, disturbing, emotional, and frusturating all at once.Read more

Subjects:  1. Child sexual abuse    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Ethnic - Other    5. Fiction    6. Moving, Household    7. People & Places - United States - Other    8. Rabbis    9. Social Issues - General    10. Social Situations - General   

Reviews (2)

The coolest book !
I read this book for a school book report, and it turned out to be so interesting that I coulnd't put it down.The characters of Zev and Aaron are easy to identify with and amazingly realistic.The events are very exciting and it keeps you in suspense.It also teaches you about some of the horrible things that Jews have had to go through.You should definitely read this book!

Great book, historically accurate!
I am a Jewish person, and reading this book has even taught ME more about my faith's tragic history, and it's triumphs as well.I was forced to read this book as part of a report due tommorrow (3/20/1998) and once I started, I was hooked.I had the honor of meeting the author, but had never realized the greatness of her works.I know that I will soon seek out more of her works, and I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, or Jewish history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Jews    6. Soviet Union    7. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (9)

What?
[Quote]very interesting book but later when it got to the to tourture I thought that that like come on ok thats enough! but then again at a point I was interested in what they were doing to the women back then . overall its a very good book i reccommend it for girls and boys 12 and over[/Quote]
the horrifing but the best book!
on a winter day my teacher thought about reading us a book so she picked this one, the burning time; when she started off it seemed like a very interesting book but later when it got to the to tourture I thought that that like come on ok thats enough! but then againat a point I was interested in what they were doing to the women back then . overall its a very good book i reccommend it for girls and boys 12 and over.

A Very Good Story For Teenagers And Up...
A touching, sad, suspenseful and truth-filled story of a teenager named Rose, and her mother who helps to heal people. And an angry group of people against them. And a terrible, powerfull man who comes to their town.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. France    5. General    6. Henry IV, 1589-1610    7. History    8. Juvenile fiction    9. Witchcraft    10. Juvenile Fiction / General