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Monday, July 13, 2009

If I Should Die Before I Wake - A Review

So here we go at another feeble attempt at a review...


Synopsis from
Harcourt Trade Publishers:

Hilary hates Jews. As part of a Neo-Nazi gang in her town, she's finally found a sense of belonging. But when she's critically injured in an accident, everything changes.
Somehow, in her mind, she has become Chana, a Jewish girl fighting for her own life in the ghettos and concentration camps of World War II.
Han Nolan offers powerful insight into one young woman's survival through the Holocaust and an other's journey out of hatred and self-loathing.
Reader's guide and an interview with the author included.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. Han does a great job at weaving a tale. I will admit at times the story seemed a bit rushed, but it didn't deter me too much. I like how he gave us a glimpse of Hilary's life before the accident and then slowly showed her evolving through Chana's memories rushing and playing in her mind while in the coma.

The book gave the reader a glimpse of life for a Jewish person in the concentration camps. Han wasn't too graphic in his telling but on the same note, he didn't sugar coat how life was there either. I liked that about the book.

All in all I enjoyed this book enough that I would recommend it to fellow readers. I'd say preteen and up.

3 comments:

Anna said...

This sounds like it would be a good read for the War Through the Generations WWII reading challenge. Would it be okay to link to your review over there?

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Zia said...

Sure

Anna said...

Thanks! I posted it here.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric