Briar Rose is a Holocaust story, but it is so much more. Becca's grandmother, Gemma, tells her granddaughters the story of Briar Rose. Briar Rose's tale is much like Sleeping Beauty's, only more haunting. On her deathbed, Gemma reveals that she is Briar Rose. Becca promises her grandmother that she will solve the mystery that is her life.
What follows is Becca's journey to discover the story of Gemma's life. Jane Yolen has crafted a beautiful story that also reveals some of history's most horrifying moments. What I most enjoyed about Yolen's tale is that she has chosen to incorporate the punishments taken on homosexuals, a topic that is rarely seen in literature about the Holocaust.
This fictional story is geared toward older, more mature readers. Not only because of the frank discussion of homosexuality, but also because of the vivid descriptions of the killing fields of Chelmno. I have read many, many true and fictional accounts of the Holocaust. Briar Rose is one of the most beautiful stories I have read about the atrocities of the Holocaust.
About Me
- Kristin_G
- I've always loved reading. I was the kid who would chose sitting inside on a warm summer day reading, instead of playing outside. Sending me to my room as punishment would backfire -- all of my books were in my room! I needed a job where I would be required to read. I've been teaching middle school students since 1996. Depending on who you talk to that either makes me a saint or insane. I'm currently teaching 8th grade Language Arts, Literature and Algebra. Quite a combination and one you don't see too often. Unfortunately, life has gotten in the way of reading. 2010 is going to change that! My husband and I met in a chat room in 1998. We've been married since 2005 and have a beautiful daughter, Amelia, who was born in 2007. The three of us, our many, many books and our menagerie of animals (5 cats, 2 gerbils and an assortment of fish) live quite happily in the suburbs of Chicago.
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