Over the years I have read many books about the Holocaust, some better than others, but The Blood Years by Elana K. Arnold was one of the best. So well written, compelling, brutal, but hopeful, this is one I will never forget, it is right up there with one of my other favorite books, Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse.
Reike is a young teen in Romania when the book starts, focused on her family – her beautiful and confident older sister, Astra, her kind Opa, and delicate mother, ballet class, and growing up, but as anti-Semitism and the war grows worse and more dangerous, survival is basically the only thing that can be thought of. While this book is fictional, the author based it on her grandmother’s memories of her teenage years, and much of it is true.
I would not recommend this book to middle schoolers, the violence is very graphic and disturbing, but I would recommend this to high schoolers and adults. One of the best books to come out this year for sure. I will be surprised if it doesn’t win awards.
lizlovesabook.wordpress.com 