The Old Brown Suitcase

Received a free copy of this book for review as a former What If? reviewer.

This book is a true eye-opener -- not just to the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto in Nazi-occupied Poland, but to Canada's treatment of Jews as well.

The story itself takes place in 1947 Montreal, where Slava faces discrimination and is frequently mocked for her immigrant status. The horrors she endured as a child are told as flashbacks, each connected by an ever-present brown suitcase.

Slava is an engaging, realistic character. The plot itself is almost equally engaging. Even if historical fiction isn't your thing, Slava's struggles with fitting in and her rebellion against her parents' more conservative ways are applicable to many teenagers today.

The story I would probably rate slightly higher but the audiobook slightly lower. Sofia Bunting-Newman did a great job with the Polish names and accents but she had a trick of audibly swallowing that I found increasingly disgusting as I progressed with this audiobook.

As for the story, I found the sections of the story set in Canada more interesting until it turned into a typical YA romance: does he like me? what if he likes her more? etc. etc.. But even that had its place and I guess it emphasizes the point that however different an immigrant teenaged girl might seem (appearance, accent or language, customs), teens are basically all alike!

It was nice to read a slightly different spin on a fictional holocaust story (mostly after the war and in Canada), but some of the story parts fell a little flat, mainly in characterization of Slava's family.

The story I would probably rate slightly higher but the audiobook slightly lower. Sofia Bunting-Newman did a great job with the Polish names and accents but she had a trick of audibly swallowing that I found increasingly disgusting as I progressed with this audiobook.

As for the story, I found the sections of the story set in Canada more interesting until it turned into a typical YA romance: does he like me? what if he likes her more? etc. etc.. But even that had its place and I guess it emphasizes the point that however different an immigrant teenaged girl might seem (appearance, accent or language, customs), teens are basically all alike!

"It was really unique to read a story about a Jewish family during WWII that didn t actually practice Judaism, but were still persecuted. This award-winning story was written by British Columbian author, Lillian Boraks-Nemetz, who survived the Holocaust in Warsaw, Poland. It s a straight-forward plot, but it is a story with a lot of power and emotion. I think this novel especially important for youth studying WWII to read as it relates directly to the humanist aspect of war-torn communities, not only the historic facts. Highly recommended children s literature.[return][return][return]http://www.monniblog.com/2009/05/the-old-brown-suitcase/"