The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

The Devil's Arithmetic is a juvenile novel about the horrifying and historic events of The Holocaust during World War II. The fictional plot follows a young girl by the name of Hannah in the modern day. Hannah seems to be tired of going to her family's Passover traditions; she is bored of her Grandfather telling the same stories, she is bored of her family not taking any interest in her and she is bored of doing the same rituals time and time again. Suddenly, Hannah is transported (whether by way of dream or hallucination, the reader is unsure) to a house of a Jewish family in the 1940's. As she experiences events as Chaya in her "dream", her "real" life as Hannah becomes more and more disillusioned- the terrifying and horrific events of The Holocaust cloud Hannah's memory as they give her a true, personal perspective of the genocide monstrosity that was World War II.
I have always enjoyed reading novels about The Holocaust and this one was no different. I think I've always liked stories that I knew were based on real-life events told from a fictional point of view. I loved Someone Named Eva, by Joan M. Wolf and Number the Stars by Lois Lowry for example. These stories captivated my attention as a child and even now as an adult. I think I enjoy putting myself in someone else's shoes in order to understand (to the best of my ability) what it was like to live during times of fear and destruction. This is because I, myself have never really had to live with those extreme emotions. I have been fortunate enough to lead a safe and happy life surrounded by confident friends and family. Because I've never experienced events even remotely similar to the events depicted in these types of stories, I can use them to help me gain understanding and empathy. If I had never been introduced to novels about The Holocaust I believe that I would not have fully grasped the destruction and anguish during that time. There is definitely a difference between reading about the events in a history text book and seeing the events through the eyes of a character. Fiction has the ability to transport us to a different time and place, it has the power to alter our perceptions of the world, it has the fortitude to make us understand.
One of the major factors that caused me to really enjoy reading this book is the character development. Hannah starts off as a young girl who is fed up with her family and their Passover rituals. She is jealous of her friend who gets to celebrate Easter with chocolate and candy, and she is annoyed by her younger brothers excitement for "boring" activities. She knows the reasons behind the traditions of the Seder but it is obvious she does not have a true understanding or respect for them or her Grandfather's stories about the war. When Hannah is transported everything changes. She begins to learn about the ways people lived in the past including the importance of family and the importance of herself to others. She learns that she is vital to her own survival and that the terrifying stories told by her Grandfather are even worse that she could have imagined. The development of this character is amazing and exciting to watch. I was on the edge of my seat near the end of the novel hoping that she would be reunited with her present-day family and showcase her new found respect for past experiences. Character development played a large part in my affection for this book and that is obvious to me due to my increasing anticipation throughout the story.

I had a feeling when I read the synopsis of this book that I would thoroughly enjoy it- and did I ever! It translated the importance of remembering and having respect for the past as well as captivating my attention through well developed storyline and characters. I would recommend this novel to anyone who either enjoys Holocaust stories (like me); who is looking for a clearer understanding of the anguish experienced by innocent citizens or simply, to anyone that enjoys a insightful and moving read. I would love to take a deeper look into this book as I believe there are endless lessons to be learned from Hannah's experiences. It would be an excellent addition to any teachers' collection who has a wish to expand understanding and to develop a sense of empathy in their students.