Devil's Arithmetic is a beatifully sad Holocaust novel byJane Yolen. The main characters are Hannah/Chaya, Rivka, Guitl, Shmeul, and Esther. There are many other characters who play minor roles. In fact there is a concentration camp full of them. Hannah lives in 2009 U.S. She is a Jew who is tired of remembering Holocaust with her family every year. But one year, she is transported into the body of a girl named Chaya who lives during the time of Holocast. Guitl is her aunt and Shmeul is her uncle. Uncle Shmeul has a wedding shortly after Hannah's arrival, but the celebration is cut short when Nazis iinvade and "relocate" all the Jewas present to a concentration camp. There Hannah meets Rivka and Rivka, Hannah, and Esther become great friends. Life is very hard, but the girls get through together. Until one day, the girls are chosen to die... Hannah is very strong.
Hannah is a great model of courage. She took on life in Holocaust without complaining. She was able to hold her feelings to herself and save many lives at the concentration camp. When three other girls around Hannah are chosen to die, Hannah takes the spot of one of them and tells the girl she replaced to run while the guard was not looking. It takes a brave hero to act the way Chaya did. I loved this read and caution anyone interested in reading it not to take the story lightly because it is a heavy tale.
Hannah is a great model of courage. She took on life in Holocaust without complaining. She was able to hold her feelings to herself and save many lives at the concentration camp. When three other girls around Hannah are chosen to die, Hannah takes the spot of one of them and tells the girl she replaced to run while the guard was not looking. It takes a brave hero to act the way Chaya did. I loved this read and caution anyone interested in reading it not to take the story lightly because it is a heavy tale.
