Milkweed - Jerry Spinelli

Disturbing book on Holocaust demands discussion.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Read the book?
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Book details
  • Author:Jerry Spinelli
  • # of pages: 208
  • Publisher:Alfred A. Knopf
  • Original Publication Date: 09/13/2003
  • Genre: Fiction - Historical Fiction
  • Hardcover: $15.95
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 10+
  • Read Aloud: 11+
  • Read Alone: 11+

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that children will be disturbed after reading this book, as they should be. The plot deals with the realities of being Jewish in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II, as seen through the eyes of an innocent child forced to steal food and change his name to survive on the streets. There are also mentions of human torture, explosions, death and, of course, the Holocaust.

Families can talk about the real-life events that led to the circumstances described in the story because Spinelli provides no historical background. Why were Jewish people singled out by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis? What other types of people were targeted for imprisonment in Nazi "death camps"? What would it have been like to be Jewish during this time? What types of sacrifices would Jewish families have had to make in order to survive? In terms of the book, how do you think Mischa manages to remain hopeful despite the horrors of the Holocaust happening around him? Would you have been able to survive on your own as he did?

Message

Social Behavior:

The main character and his friends steal to survive, and sometimes just for fun. Lots of anti-Semitic talk from everyone, and, of course, the genocidal treatment of the Jews in Warsaw.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Lots: torture, clubbing, beating, hanging, dead bodies left on the street, piling up in wagons, etc. Given that it's about the Holocaust, it's not too scary.

Sex

The boys moon the Nazis; a Jew is stripped in public.

Language

Mild, bathroom-themed language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Matt

He's a boy who has lived on the streets of Warsaw as long as he can remember. He remembers no name, other than Stopthief, no parents, no home. But he's small and quick, so he manages to find enough to eat, and places to sleep -- until the Nazis come.

By then he has a name, Misha, given to him by another street boy. He has also befriended a girl, Janina, who has a family. So when Janina's family is herded into the newly created Jewish ghetto, Misha goes with them. He is able to slip in and out of the ghetto at will, so he brings food for Janina's family, as well as for Dr. Korczak's orphanage. But even for a survivor like Misha, conditions soon become unbearable -- and Misha must decide where he belongs.

Is it any good?

3

Any well-written book that introduces the subject of the Holocaust is, by virtue of its subject, worthwhile and valuable. This is a well-written book about the Holocaust. Therefore it is worthwhile and valuable.

Yet coming from Jerry Spinelli, it is still somewhat disappointing. This is an author who is known for highly original and stylized fiction that packs an emotional wallop. But this straightforward novel keeps the reader at a certain emotional distance, and provides no historical context, either in the story or in any author's notes or even references. Children reading it, who do not already know about the Holocaust, will not find it very informative. While the story moves right along, keeping the reader turning the pages, at the end readers are likely to feel unenlightened, and even unmoved.

Perhaps Spinelli was trying to protect his readers a bit. If so, he has been too successful.

From the Book
Some people died from sickness, some from hunger. There wasn't much I could do about the sickness, but hunger, that was where I came in. Feeding my family -- and as much as possible Doctor Korczak's orphans -- was what the world had made me for. All the parts -- the stealing, the speed, the size, the rash stupidity -- came together to make me the perfect smuggler.

Other choices

Other Great Books by Spinelli
Maniac Magee
The Library Card
Wringer
Loser
Stargirl

More Novels About the Holocaust
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
To Cross a Line by Karen Ray
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 29 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/20/08 by Zman Kid contributor, age 13

Loved it!

The plot was great! I loved the book
5


Posted on 05/17/08 by Anish Kid contributor, age 11

Wow

A excellent book for anyone above 10. It had an amazing story and a suspenseful ending.
5


Posted on 05/07/08 by Loveyaloser Kid contributor, age 12

I loved this book it is very good!!!!

It is very good...it is one of my fav. boos ev. and I think you should read it...=]
5

Posted on 04/17/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13
5


Posted on 04/03/08 by blakeriley7 Kid contributor, age 13

Holocuast from a different point of view

If you're the kind of person who likes to read about things that give a point of view from a child/teen's eyes, then this is SOOOO A BOOK 4 U!! It's funny, sad, suspensful, historically accuate, and AWESOMLY AWESOME!!
4

Posted on 02/18/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great book. Younger kids and tweens not okay.
4


Posted on 01/09/08 by brodie Kid contributor, age 14

Book to movie

In the last year or 2 hollywood has been making movies on books, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,and war of worlds these are just some of the "hot" books that have been put as a blockbuster movie hit!. There is alot books i read that i think should be put into a filmm, in this book there is enough drama, and action to fill the mind to explode...! for a movie. In conclusion i think this book would be a very (!Very!) fun movie to see! Brodie
5


Posted on 01/02/08 by Valley Tayllore Adult contributor

I LOVED it!!!!

I loved this book very much! I read it recently. I dont recommend it for younger children AT ALL, but for anyone in their teens it is a great pick. THis book is on a very serious issue and has very shocking and alarming violence, but anyone who is studying or picking this book voluntarily because of an interest in the holocaust et cetera would enjoy it. It shows children reality of what terrible things have very often occured in the past and sometimes you need to be a little tiny bit disturbed to get the full effect of the book, this is just a fact of life. I think it is beautifully written and is a wonderful piece of literature for teens and adults.
5

Posted on 11/20/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

I cried and laughed

It was a great book one of the Best..............................................................................................The best
5


Posted on 10/22/07 by skittlesmys Kid contributor, age 14

I was Enlightened

I believe this book may not be for the young. Maybe you should wait to give your children this book untill they are a teenager. I was 14 when i read it. I loved it. I understood what the Holocaust was and that was helpful. If you don't know what the Holocaust is when you read it you would probably be pretty confused.

See all 29 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 5 reviews.

4

Posted on 02/18/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Great book. Younger kids and tweens not okay.
5


Posted on 01/02/08 by Valley Tayllore Adult contributor

I LOVED it!!!!

I loved this book very much! I read it recently. I dont recommend it for younger children AT ALL, but for anyone in their teens it is a great pick. THis book is on a very serious issue and has very shocking and alarming violence, but anyone who is studying or picking this book voluntarily because of an interest in the holocaust et cetera would enjoy it. It shows children reality of what terrible things have very often occured in the past and sometimes you need to be a little tiny bit disturbed to get the full effect of the book, this is just a fact of life. I think it is beautifully written and is a wonderful piece of literature for teens and adults.
5

Posted on 08/27/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

hey

You guys are stupid for not giving this 5 stars
4

Posted on 03/18/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Milweed-- 3 1/2 stars

Good Book, not as violent as some Holocaust out there. There still is violence so I wouldn't let any kids under 9 read it. Mostly for ages 11-14. Make sure younger kids understand about the holocaust before they read it because it might scare them even more if they read it and have no clue what its talking about.
5

Posted on 02/23/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 24 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/20/08 by Zman Kid contributor, age 13

Loved it!

The plot was great! I loved the book
5


Posted on 05/17/08 by Anish Kid contributor, age 11

Wow

A excellent book for anyone above 10. It had an amazing story and a suspenseful ending.
5


Posted on 05/07/08 by Loveyaloser Kid contributor, age 12

I loved this book it is very good!!!!

It is very good...it is one of my fav. boos ev. and I think you should read it...=]
5

Posted on 04/17/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13
5


Posted on 04/03/08 by blakeriley7 Kid contributor, age 13

Holocuast from a different point of view

If you're the kind of person who likes to read about things that give a point of view from a child/teen's eyes, then this is SOOOO A BOOK 4 U!! It's funny, sad, suspensful, historically accuate, and AWESOMLY AWESOME!!
4


Posted on 01/09/08 by brodie Kid contributor, age 14

Book to movie

In the last year or 2 hollywood has been making movies on books, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,and war of worlds these are just some of the "hot" books that have been put as a blockbuster movie hit!. There is alot books i read that i think should be put into a filmm, in this book there is enough drama, and action to fill the mind to explode...! for a movie. In conclusion i think this book would be a very (!Very!) fun movie to see! Brodie
5

Posted on 11/20/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

I cried and laughed

It was a great book one of the Best..............................................................................................The best
5


Posted on 10/22/07 by skittlesmys Kid contributor, age 14

I was Enlightened

I believe this book may not be for the young. Maybe you should wait to give your children this book untill they are a teenager. I was 14 when i read it. I loved it. I understood what the Holocaust was and that was helpful. If you don't know what the Holocaust is when you read it you would probably be pretty confused.
5


Posted on 10/13/07 by jajamax Kid contributor, age 11
5


Posted on 08/21/07 by pjs13121312 Kid contributor, age 15
See all 24 kids reviews >
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43 votes