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Daniel's Story
- By Carol Matas
- Genre: Historical Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Historical tale suffers from weak narrative.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that kids who love historical fiction may enjoy this book, but the narrative is too weak to interest readers looking for a good story.
What's the story?
A fourteen-year-old Jewish boy is uprooted from his comfortable life in Frankfurt, Germany, and sent to live in a series of concentration camps. Daniel witnesses countless atrocities, some so horrifying he cannot even describe them to the reader. He joins the underground resistance and is able to preserve a little hope for his people's future.
By the end of the book, most of Daniel's family has been murdered, but he has survived and is thankful for what little he has left. His faith in humanity has been badly shaken, but not destroyed. The novel examines the great evil--as well as the great good--of which human beings are capable.
Is it any good?
Carol Matas's approach is interesting but doesn't do justice to the subject matter. Constant references to photographs are intrusive but necessary, as the book was written to complement a photography exhibit at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Ironically, this device fails. The narrative is also weak and sketchy, offering no depth to Daniel's character, or anyone else's, and abrupt time-frame shifts may confuse readers.
Matas' gift lies in her ability to accurately portray the senselessness of the Holocaust. She doesn't sugarcoat the details, yet the book never becomes too horrifying for young readers. Matas repeatedly emphasizes that people must have a basic level of respect for each other. Throughout the book, Daniel struggles to maintain the belief that most people are good at heart, and, ultimately, he retains this conviction.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the Holocaust and its effect on Daniel and his family.
Have you read other books about the Holocaust?
How would you react if you were in Daniel's situation?
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AGE
Good Book
I think everyone should read this book.
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AGE
YAYAYAYAYAYAY LOVED IT!!!!!=)
Amazing is the only word I can describe this book with. Okay.. so I lied its also very touching and sad, but it's sad in a good way. Daniel shows how a person can be strong through life's biggest and hardest changes and challenges. I got this book today at school (im in 7th grade) we were told to read chapers 1 and 2 but... i finished the book!
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AGE
Perfect for Your Chlid
love it
i I Just got finish doing a book review im glad i got to read the book again
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AGE
Well, when I started reading this book, I was interested in it the first moment. I didn't know much about the Holocaust so it explained somethings. It also was sad how people died, he lost people close to him and it made me relize how cruel Hitler and the Nazis were. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Once you read one chapter you can't stop reading.
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| Author: | Carol Matas |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher: | Scholastic Inc. |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1993 |
| Number of pages: | 136 |
| Paperback price: | $4.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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