Run, Boy, Run - Uri Orlev (2003)

Title: Run, Boy, Run

Author: Uri Orlev

Genre: Historical fiction

Published: 2003

Number of Pages: 192

Recommended for: mature 10+

Summary: (Official) Run, Boy, Run is the extraordinary account of one boy’s survival of the Holocaust. Srulik is only eight years old when he finds himself all alone in the Warsaw ghetto. He escapes into the countryside where he spends the ensuing years hiding in the forest, dependent on the sympathies and generosity of the poor farmers in the surrounding area. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, several chases, captures, attempted executions, and even the loss of his arm, Srulik miraculously survives.

Content Review

Profanity: a** is used once. B*****d twice. 

Sexual Content: The word circumcision is used twice. Numerous people ask Srulik/Jurek to undress to either see if he's circumcised or bathe him. Srulik is repeatedly told not to swim. (I suppose boys swam naked back then. I would never dream of it.)Page 59: After a girl's dress flies up, she asks a boy to pull down his pants. The boy, circumcised, does so without thinking. She then replies "Yours is different from the other boys." Then, a cow gives birth. When he says he's never seen an animal give birth, she tells him "You and I were born the same way." than asks him if he knew how babies get into a woman's stomach. The only thing written is "She told him."When he calls the girl crazy, she replies, "Didn't you ever see a dog mount a b*tch? Or a Billy goat do it with a goat?"Page 81: During a peeing contest, a boy, angry at Jurek, reveals Jurek's secret. [he is circumcised] The word "penis" is mentioned.In chapter 14, a girl and boy have sex twice. Although the word is never mentioned, it is noted their clothes are hanging up. Younger kids might not understand. ("What are they doing under the blankets?") and "Marisza had said, "You'll understand when you're older."
Violence: This is the story of a Jew doing WWII. Jurek is repeatedly beaten, he loses an arm, nothing to shocking.
Drugs/Alcohol: It's WWII, everyone nearly smokes. (Kids included) alcohol and vodka are mentioned.

My opinion: This is one of the most amazing stories I have ever read. It is fiction, although based on a true story. I would highly recommend to mature 10 year olds and up. Except for the sexual content, this would make a very good story for a Holocaust curriculum. However, this could be used as a read-aloud with certain parts edited. Jurek is kind of like David from I Am David by Anne Holm and in the way he adjusts with losing his arm, is as resilient as Bethany Hamilton.

Jurek is a clever young Jewish boy thrust into a very adult and violent world. Although there are no graphic details of violence, this book is sad at times and will break your heart. The entire time, I wanted to jump into the book and shout, "Jurek! I love you!" This kid is thrown around from family to family, and after growing accustomed to it, the war ends. His perspective and the end are very unique.

There are a few minor grammatical errors, I think are from the translation from Hebrew to English. So, younger readers may have a wee bit of trouble.

The Chosen - Chaim Potok (1967)

Title: The Chosen
Author: Chaim Potok
Genre: Historical fiction
Published: 1967
Number of Pages: 304
Recommended for: 13+
Summary: The best plot summary I've found would be from Sonlight homeschooling curriculum.

"In 1940s Brooklyn, an accident throws Reuven Malther and Danny Saunders together. Despite their differences (Reuven is a secular Jew with an intellectual, Zionist father; Danny is the brilliant son and rightful heir to a Hasidic rebbe), the young men form a deep friendship.

Together they negotiate adolescence, family conflicts, crises of faith, loss, love, and the journey to adulthood. The intellectual and spiritual clashes between fathers, between each son and his own father, and between the two young men, provide a unique backdrop for this exploration of fathers, sons, faith, loyalty, and, ultimately, the power of love. A deep and thought-provoking work."

My opinion: It has been a while since I have read a novel as good as this one. Despite being fiction, this has made my top six-star worthy list.

This is a story about the friendship of a young Hasidic Jew and a secular Jew. Told in first-person, this takes place during WWII and post-WWII (the creation of Israel)
At first I was wondering why this book didn't have an "official" summary/plot, like most books do. Well, a plot summary would not do the book justice. I mean, the book is about a friendship, but (definitely) not your typical, cheesy story.

The first part of the book profiles how Danny and Reuven's friendship began. The second part profiles their lives in high school and their friendship. The third part profiles their college lives, which is also a major time in history; the creation of modern-day Israel.

This book was truly an amazing book on friendship. From the very first page you knew it was amazing. I LOVE Jewish culture (More the "Reuven" type, not necessarily the "Danny" type. But I am interested in both). The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a genre, "Jewish Appreciation" fits the bill.

I would not recommend this to anyone under 13. Not because of content issues, the book is clean with minimal violence, no sexual content, and some minor profanity. Anyone under 13 would have a very difficult time comprehending it. When I was younger, I hated when people said it was too hard, and I, being stubborn, accepted the challenge. (Who am I to say a kindergarten can't read "The Boxcar Children" if they comprehend it?)
However this book deals with some things teens and up would be able to comprehend. A second-grader with a high school reading level probably won't know what psychology (Danny is interested in psychoanalysis) is, the Holocaust, or even the complexity Hasidism and silence. (There is nothing inappropriate about the book, thou)
Teens/adults: if you don't know what "Shabbat" or "Talmud" means, you're going to have a hard time with this book. I, knowing enough about Jews to get me through most books, struggled. I mean the book is about two religious Jews, one whose life revolves around religion. There's references to Shabbat, Passover, the Torah, Talmud, earlocks, and different prayers. But, don't let this stop you from enjoying this fabulous novel.