Milkweed

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli Alfred A. Knopf, 2003, 224 pp., $15.95 Historical Fiction/Holocaust ISBN 0-375-81374-8

Little Misha is known by many names throughout his life, names both given him by his adopted people and his cruel oppressors. Naturally searching for identity and acceptance, he gets swept up in humanity's greatest atrocity. Misha is an uneducated orphan in Warsaw, Poland. Adopted by smugglers and Jews, he learns to use his speed, wits, and small size to survive. he and his friends steal from the fortunate to keep alive, and through this, they create hope for themselves by embracing adventure, challenge, and charity.

The story is told from Misha's naive point of view, making the story a perfect introduction to the events of the Holocaust for young adults. When the Jews begin to be subjected to terrible things, Misha doesn't understand. he sees the world with a child's eyes and has no way to process what is happening to him.

Milkweed is heartbreaking, not only for its honest look at an abhorrent series of events, but also for its realistic portrayal of the toll these events take on a boy, his adopted family, and his misfit friends. The book successfully captures these people in all their frail humanity, their joy and follies, their triumphs and tragedies.

Steve Rasmussen

Tempe, AZ

Copyright Assembly on Literature for Adolescents -- National Council of Teachers of English Winter 2004
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