Prisoner B-3087 -- Lindsey
Out of respect for the horrific nature of the events
surrounding the Holocaust and all of it’s repercussions, I won’t say that this
book wasn’t a good read, because I think anything we can read about the
Holocaust that reminds us of the hatred and evil that occurred is worth reading
and reflecting upon. However, I will say that this novel didn’t meet my
expectations as defined by other accounts of the Holocaust that I’ve read. I
think it’s certainly appropriate for 8th to 10th graders,
because of the structure and language. I thought the writing was very clear,
and I think it does communicate emotions, pictures, and themes clearly, as
well. For example, when Yanek tells us that Amon Goeth “wouldn’t have his
breakfast each day until he’d killed at least one Jew” it is immediately clear
to the reader that the leader of the camp is truly evil, and Yanek is now being
hunted, even after being caught. Gratz paints a picture that is easy to see
using simplistic language and structure, and allows the action to roll like a
movie in your head, which is a large reason I think the book would appeal to
middle-schoolers. In that same scene, Yanek describes Goeth as a “madman on the
balcony” and how the prisoners shouldn’t act as though they were “hurried” in
getting through, because that would only increase their chances of being shot
(72). The language in this book creates concrete images of events that would be
completely abstract to an adolescent child in the 21st century. Because
of this, I think the narration does a good job of creating a bond between
character and reader. Another example of accessible imagery is when Yanek is
marching to Auschwitz, and he describes what he thinks he must look like to the
new prisoners. He claims that he had “ears that [stuck] out like donkey ears” (147).
On Yanek’s march to Dachau, he describes how the Czech villagers literally
threw “whatever they had” at the prisoners, and the image is both horrendous
and touching (225) A simple simile, or a statement, can go a long way in
solidifying an image, and I think Gratz targeted and achieved writing for an
audience that would need assistance in picturing events that are not accessible
to them in the slightest, in the hopes that it would enhance their awareness of
history.
Overall, I
think the novel is an accurate and powerful account of a prisoner’s life in the
Holocaust. I think it has jut the right amount of detail included without being
impossible to read or to hand to students to read. I think that students would
react positively to this novel, and it would stimulate discussion and
higher-order thinking within the classroom.
Lindsey, I thought the language/structure was for a younger audience as well. I agree that it was clear and concise on its meaning. I think it was rather accurate as well and it was not impossible to read. Awesome blog!
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