The Devil's Arithmetic

Title: The Devil's Arithmetic
Author: Jane Yolen
Publisher: Viking
Copyright: 1988
ISBN: 0670810274


In The Devil's Arithmetic, Jane Yolen crosses lines between fantasy and historical fiction to make the Holocaust easier for children to relate to. Hannah, a young Jewish girl, is resentful of her older family members constantly telling her how important it is that she remember her Jewish heritage. At the family's traditional Passover Seder, she is transported back in time and into the lives of a family of Polish Jews. Shortly after she arrives, they are kidnapped by the Nazis and forced into a concentration camp, helping Hannah gain an appreciation for those who've gone before her and giving her an experience she will never forget.

I have always been very interested in the Holocaust and read many books about it as a child, so I was excited to discover this book. The Devil's Arithmetic didn't have quite the same impact on me as other books such as Night and Number the Stars did, but it was definitely a worthwhile read. I found it very interesting to be experiencing the concentration camp as if I was actually there. Another thing I thought was interesting was that Yolen used a modern day child to set up the story, then transported her back in time. While the idea is taken from fantasy, it still makes it easier for children to relate because they probably understand how Hannah is feeling at the beginning of the book. A definite must read for students studying the Holocaust.