Milkweed (Random House Reader's Circle) Paperback – March 23, 2010

Excellent writing style. Many books have been written about this heavy subject, but it’s good to remember and honor the people who lived it.

Book arrived in perfect condition.

This book takes place during the times of the Holocaust. Having read Jerry Spinelli novels in the past, it didn't surprise me that the main character was a young, somewhat innocent boy and that the novel is in first person. Overall I wish I would of read this book when I was younger. Spinelli serves as a great young adult writer, and this book is best suited for someone in middle school when they are just learning about the holocaust. This novel highlights a unique perspective with a light theme of how the holocaust impacted everybody in Germany; without the gruesome details. Beyond that, this still can be a great quick pleasure read for all ages. However, out what i've read from Jerry Spinelli, I recommend Maniac Magee over Milkweed without a doubt.The character development and characteristics in this novel was on point. Each character remained consistent and the details of each person's identity gave life to the story. The main character, Misha has a unique perspective from being raised on the street with little to nothing to call his own. Once the Nazis (or Jackboots as Misha called them) gained power, Misha was able to use his skills to help others close to him and himself. Compared to other Holocaust novels, this novel has less action and a lot less war battles than the average story. However, Milkweed still remains captivating and another Young Adult hit from Jerry Spinelli.

My 7th grader had to read this for school. He was engrossed (but he likes most stories about WWII). I read the book as well. It was very good (but like most stories in this genre, difficult to read due to the tragic circumstances).

Such a great starter book to start sharing what happened in the holocaust to my 11 year old.

This is a historical fiction set in [mainly] Warsaw Poland, that uses many facts and events of the time period. I highly recommend this book. With the assistance of a gorwn-up, younger readers can appreciate and learn from the subject matter and hopefully come to sympathize with anyone who is unjustly oppressed or mistreated.The main character is a young, destitute, orphan boy who has no certainty of his identity (name, ethnicity, etc) and his daily life of surviving in the city. The story begins just before the Nazi invasion/occupation of warsaw. Poland. Shortly after, he witnesses the subjugation of the Jews of the city and their forced segregation to the ghettos, then their eventual removal by freight train (to send them to the concentration or death camps).The character's child innocence and lack of common knowledge (and current events) brings a third-person point of view to the story, as the reader is taken along with him as he gains knowledge and identity.

Misha's perspective of the Hoocaust offers a genuine and naive viewpoint. The ending is a little too to fairy tell but it good for younger students.

I liked the main characters; I didn't like the ending.

How I wish this had a better cover and was better publicised! Then it might get the recognition it deserves and be lauded as the best children's book on The Holocaust - which it is - instead of the cynically manipulative and highly inaccurate' Boy in Striped Pyjamas'

Beneath the relentless darkness of Milkweed's setting in the Holocaust, glints love and hope. Utterly, utterly beautiful. A story that will stay with me forever.

I am reading this with my year 5 and 6 children whilst studying WW2. There are some parts that are a bit grown-up for them and I have had to omit a few slang words.But fast delivery and it was in good condition.

Brilliant I couldn't put it down easy to read and too sad a good read for all ages young or old

It was brilliant! I learnt a lot in that book about Jews and what in the war they did to them.