Review ~ Devil's Arithmetic

Title: The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
My Review: Initally I thought this book kind of plodded along and didn't delve too deeply. I started to wonder why it was lauded as an award winning novel. After reading the entire novel, this initial pace and thought process makes sense. I could be wrong, but perhaps it was written that way to make us feel the apathy that Hannah felt about her family get togethers. I think most teenagers feel this way about our history (whether it be family, coutnry, culture or world history) which is really sad.

What sets this book apart is how both the main character Hannah and the reader is transported to another time and place in order to get a real sense of what the time was like by actually living through it. Instead of merely being an observer Hannah is thrust into a life she has only read or heard rambling stories of. I appreciated how the author played with what was real or imagined memories for Hannah through this experience.

As an avid reader of historical fiction, a student of history and an educator, I appreciate the opportunities for learning that a book like this presents. I think students today could benefit from actually living history to make it relevant and come alive. If only it were possible. My challenge as a teacher is to find ways to make that happen in the classroom every day. That's a huge undertaking! I'm glad I have books to help me along the way.

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