Lisa is empowering a really reaches out to jews worldwide. It is about a girl who bravely fight in the resistence. A great read!

I just read a really great book! Lisa-the main character-is a young girl living in Denmark at the time of World War II. This wouldn't be a problem, but Lisa is a Jew. Lisa and her best friend Susanne (who is not a Jew) want to help the Jews in their country. Something happens to Susanne's family, which makes her hate the German's even more. She is traumatized by this event, but after a while she is back to life. Lisa gets suspicious of her brother and his best friend (Stefan and Jesper) of doing things against the Germans. Eventually Lisa and Susanne catch on and start to help them. Some very important news is told to Lisa's family and Lisa will have to be braver than ever before. Will Lisa and her family survive living during World War II? - Read the book to find out! You won't be sorry!

I love reading about the Holacost. It really in interests me. I was able to relate to Lisa in so many ways. We are both young Jewish girls who are bright, kind, and brave. If I were in the Holacost I would want to be just like Lisa.

Thirteen year old Hannah Green is growing up as a proper southern lady of Jewish background during the Civil War. Her father and brother's have joined the Confededrate Army. The women and younger brother's, along with their three slaves, are left to take care of the home. Hannah's view of the world was that Negroes were inferior to whites and that all Union "Yankees" were bad. As the war outside their home carries on a war develops within between Hannah and her sister Joanna, after Joanna falls in love with a Union Captain. Hannah cannot bring herself to think past her own world. She considers her sister a traitor. Once Hannah is discriminated against because of her religion she begins to think differently.

When I first started to read this book, I did not think that it would be as interesting as it was.I especially like how the story is told by a young girl and her experiences during the war. This young girl that the story focuses on is named Hannah. Hannah was going about her daily business when the Civil War traveled to her small town. Everything from that point in her life changed, her father and brothers went off to war. Also her family owned a small store in town that they had to close down. The part in this story that really shocked me was that her sister,Joanna, fell in love with a soldier from the Union. One night during dinner,the soldier that Joanna fell in love with was over. Hannah and her little brother kept snickering because they knew that he was on the other side in the war. The Union were the soldiers that forced Hannah and her family out of their comfortable home. The main reason that they were force out of their house was because they were Jewish. This story focuses on the experiences that Hannah had during the war. She vividly explains her thoughts and feelings in a diary during the Civil War.

This book caught me by surprise I thought that it would be about a young boy in the south during wartime. However it was about a young American girl, whose religion made her along with her family unwanted. The family was removed from their home and their town because they were Jewish. Through out the hardships she encounters, she learns hard lessons about life and about the equality of man and woman. It is a great twist on the view of the Revolutionary war. I enjoyed this book a lot because there are few books that are based on the point of view of a girl through a war. This would be a great book to introduce the importance of treating others they way you wanted to be treated. The author does a great job at teaching respect for each other.

"Code Name Kris." This was an Excellent book!. It tells the life of a Danish resistance fighter, Jesper, and what he has to do during World War II. The line that told me this was a good book was in the first paragraph. "The Nazis are getting more desperate, as they get more desperate they get meaner." In the book, the main character, Jesper, must choose between many choices all at one time. He tells it first person, trapped in a jail cell in Holland. This wonderful book broke my heart and made me happy many times over. If this book sounds interesting, read "Lisa's War." It tells the lead up story to "Code Name Kris."

Even though I rarely read historical fiction I have found that the novel: Code Name: Kris, is an amazing peice of work that I would most definently suggest to both friends and family.

I loved this book. I first read it in 6th grade, and I have read it in 7th, 8th, and 9th. It is wounderful, and shows history, and a valuable point of view that will get you thinking. Worth checking out!

I was truly amazed by this books content. The detail of it was intriging. It starts out with Jesper (Kris) in a concentration camp. The Nazi's have taken off his fingernails and one of them give him a pen and paper when the pain is so immence that he can't write. Then he thinks back to when he was fighting the Germans. This story brings you the real potential of his life. I would really reccomend this book. I liked it because it was short and to the point.If you read all the way to the end, you will find horrifying and devestating things that happen to him and his friends. But I can't tell you any more or else it will spoil the story. But I really think you would dig into this book. Me, I read it in less than a week. Please, next time you are in the library, please rent this book. You would truly love it.

"Kris's War", by Carol Matas is about Jesper, a Danish boy, growing up in Denmark during World War II. When he was just a boy the Nazis overtook the country. Growing up he became best friends with Stephen, who was a Jew. Despite all of the troubles around them Jesper fell in love with Stephen's sister Lisa. As things progressively got worst, the Nazis started going after the Jews. Jesper helped out many Jewish families, including Stephen and Lisa's, escape to Sweden to avoid being sent to a concentration camp. To protect his family from being tortured because of his involvement with the Jews, he goes underground and becomes a member of the Danish resistance. By doing that he loses his identity, and goes by the code name Kris. He no longer has a family but instead joins with others in the dangerous fight for freedom. At the young age of sixteen, he becomes part of the resistance. He sees friends die, and others betray their country. He learns how to commit and act of sabotage, how to shoot a rifle,and how to kill an enemy. He grows up fast having to face the horrors of war. If you're into reading books about World War II, this is the book for you. This book taught me a lot about the war and about racial cleansing. "Kris's War" is an intense and exciting book. I recommend this book to everyone.

I first read this book 10 years ago when I was a teenager and I still enjoy it. I find the book intriguing and somewhat unforgettable because of the way the Author goes into descriptions of certain key points in the book. I especially liked the description of the night where they have to collect a drop, it was very well written from how they knew where and when just by a simple broadcast on the radio. Although there is a war going on, The Author still had time to find love in this book, in both this and Lisa's War. (Sequel) I found it a little annoying to read this book and then Lisa's war because it makes mention of her in Kris's war often, especially when Stephen comes back. That was my only plight. It also has very good twists to the story. I won't spoil it by telling you about them, but it had me in tears at one stage. This book moved me more than Shindler's list and Elle. It's been over a year now since I have read this book because my library no longer has it and cannot get another copy. But I can still tell you all about this book without having to read it again. It's a book that any teenager should read, and would lover to read again, it's a moving story that will live on forever.

Third in the Minds series (Of Two Minds, More Minds), Out of Their Minds continues the psychic adventures of Princess Lenora of Gepeth, who possesses the ability to make whatever she imagines come true, and Prince Coren of Andilla, who can read minds. About to be married in Andilla, where reality plays second fiddle to imagination, Coren and Lenora discover that all is not well. First Lenora starts having nightmares about her old nemesis Hevak. Then it is discovered that all the Andillians have lost their mental powers and are now forced to live in a crumbling and long-neglected reality. And then there are the Skwoes, the people with absolutely no imagination...

Out of Their Minds is a fun new installment in the series, but the plot is noticeably more derivative. Fewer new and intriguing ideas are brought up; the series appears to be running a little low on fuel. Hopefully the newest one, A Meeting of Minds, will be fresher. In the meantime, enjoy this one for what it's worth.

I am giving this book 4 stars since it isn't as good as the first two but still a good book. I especially love how Matas & Nodelman brought back the characters Leni and Cori. These books are so cool and I hope they write more of them together, since they make such a great team.

This is one of the best books I have ever read! If you are looking for a follow up to Harry Potter, you got it right here. The whole trilogy keeps you on the edge of your seat and giggling the whole time!

During the last four or five years, so many books with Jewish content have dealt solely with the subject of the Holocaust that juvenile Jewish reading is getting a bit depressing. Although some books about the subject have been notable like Number the Stars by Lois Lowry and The Devil's Arithmetic, by Jane Yolen (both Jewish authors), should this be the only subject matter for Jewish children?

Surprisingly enough, The Garden, by Carol Matas goes beyond the atrocities of the Holocaust into the spirit of rebirth as the state of Israel becomes a reality. Unfortunately, The Garden is not without it's bloodshed, but this time it is for a noble purpose -- a place to call Home.

Written in the present tense takes a little getting used to, yet it makes the reader feel like a real participant in the struggle for independence made by these gallant youth. Many of the "soldiers" of this unofficial war were young people between the ages of 15 and 25. Some of them had already been forced to grow up very fast because of their Holocaust experiences and felt that with this fight they had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Woven into Matas' story are the contrasting philosophies of the Irgun and the Haganah as well as others who had strong feelings either for or against "partition" which, suggested by the UN General Assembly on November 29, 1947, would have divided Palestine between the Jews and the Arabs.

In case the reader is not Jewish, all Hebrew transliteration is converted to English translation and the glossary at the end of the book provides the reader with much useful information.

The garden referred to in the title of the book belongs to Ruth who is a Holocaust survivor. The garden is both therapeutic and symbolic. It is her way of putting behind her all the pain and losses of the Holocaust as she looks optimistically toward her future in this new land.

After being a witness to an innocent girl's senseless death, Ruth explains to us how the garden helps. "I'd tried to blot out those memories -- lose them in the fragrance of my flowers." Although Ruth realizes that more deaths will come during this struggle to give Jews a place to call their own, she looks to the memory of those garden flowers to give her the strength to cope.

The graphic references to some violent scenes make this book more suitable to a child old enough to understand that sacrifices needed to be made for the cause of independence. The recommended reading level on the book jacket is ages 12 and up. Personally, 12 seems a bit young for all the gory details of this book and the underlying love affair. Perhaps a young adult of 15 or older would be more suitable an audience. Adults would get much from this book also as many of the details of the 1947-48 period are made quite clear in the simple text.

This story depicts a, now, sixteen-year old Ruth Mendenberg who is forced to fight Arabs in Palestine to hold onto the little piece of independence she has experienced at Kibbutz David. Ruth endures many intrapersonal conflicts throughout her journey to freedom. She knows that she has to fight in the war but worries if she can do this in a fair manner, without disappointing her fellow Jewish comrades. Ruth does not want to disppoint herself, for she knows that she is the only one who has to absorb the guilt of killing another human being. At times, Ruth becomes so frustrated by all of the violence, she wonders if she knows the difference between right and wrong anymore. The temptation is thrust under her nose to kill those enemies who killed the ones she loved. "An eye for an eye" is one of the many radical ideals her brother, Simon, proclaims as he fights with the Irgun soldiers. Ruth is torn in making the decisions that will affect her life forever. Will she do what she believes is right and just during this tumultuous time? All she knows for sure is that she wants to return to a time when she planted her beautiful garden which brought her heart peace. This story is full of thought-provoking questions relative of all of our lives.

This is a wonderful book, the sequel to AFTER THE WAR. THE GARDEN is much longer than AFTER THE WAR. It sheds more light on the life of Ruth and her family when they get to Isreal.
I read this book without knowing it would help me understand Middle Eastern conflict of today. Confused about Yassir Arafat and Sharon? Than read this book. It is the root struggle of the conflicts of Isreal today. This book will make you feel compassionate towards both Isreali and Arab peoples - I reccomend this to people who can understand both sides of a conflict without a bias opinion.

I actually found this book kind of hard, and difficult. I really hated how it started and ended. I really loved all the other ones but in a sense, if you read the other ones you sort of have to know what happends but it will kill you to get there. I really did not enjoy it. :|

I must say I was pretty disapointed in the ending. I like the first one because I thought the characters were so realistic and loveable you just had to like them. Of course the plot of all the book hasn't been the same since "Of TWo Minds" but it was been ok. I thought this book was kind of a waste of time. And when are they gonna get married? The authors have pro-longed this stupid wedding for 4 books. Each time something total un-realtic happens. I really hope that the authors keep the books alive. I hope there will be more cahracters and a better plot.

Lenora and Coren suddenly find themselves trapped in a different world. Just seconds before, they were standing in Coren's palace, discussing their wedding plans. Previously, Lenora's powers had landed her in mysterious worlds along with her fiance, Coren. Normally, Lenora would be able to use her imaginative powers to imagine herself and Coren back to the palace. But in this new world, her and Coren's powers are not functioning. As you can tell, Lenora has the power to imagine herself places, along with imagining any item she desires. Coren, on the other hand, has the ability to read peoples' minds. Now, instead of worrying about their powers, they must figure a way out of this confusing world. The people here use paper money to trade for things and worship a god named Sayley ( which has an extraordinary resemblance to a child they know). What does this all mean? More importantly, who transported them here? This is an exceptional book. If you liked the Harry Potter series, you will definitely enjoy this book. This complicated, yet easy to comprehend story will never let you down. Lenora and Coren's antics will keep you reading. Although this book is quite interesting, I would rate it four stars out of five because the end is a bit of a letdown. The authors do a wonderful job describing and animating the characters, but when it comes to the end, they skimp on the descriptions. Even though the ending is disappointing, the rest of the book is great.

By Amanda H

What happens when a trusted rabbi, someone you respect, violate you and your family? When you ask for help, how does the rest of your community respond? How often do community members turn against those who were violated? How do sexual predators get away with it? The Primrose Path is an extremely important fictional book, which outlines how this happens. It's interesting as I was reading The Primrose Path I was haunted by the way the book mimicked the Case of Rabbi Ephraim Bryks, who was accused of doing similar things, back in the 1980's in Canada.
The Primrose Path, a story about a young teenage girl named Debbie, who was trying to deal with the many losses in her life. Her grandmother dies, her parent's marriage is on the rocks, and while she is away at summer camp her family moves to a new town.
Even though Debbie's family is from a reform background, her mother connects with an orthodox rabbi, and starts on a spiritual journey, becoming more observant.
Nothing in Debbie's life will ever be the same. Summer camp comes to an end. Debbie joins her family in their new home. She learns that when the school year starts, her mother enroll her in an Orthodox Jewish Day School. Debbie is confused, struggling to find her identity. Think about it, all these changes are a perfect set-up for a pedophile.
The Primrose Path is an educational experience for anyone interested in learning more about how a charismatic leader can manipulate a teenager, a parent, family, and community.

Carol Matas writes brilliantly. This story is powerful, realistic, disturbing, emotional, and frusturating all at once.
Told from the point of veiw of Debbie, a young Jewish teenager growing up in the nineties. When her Baba dies unexpectedly, her family decides to move.
Everything is different from then on. She goes to a Jewish Orthodox school now, something she is not used to. Things are starting to go well. She's meeting new, interesting friends, becoming more spiritual, and she likes her young teacher, Rabbi Werner. Even if the Rabbi does act a little strange around the girls... He tickles them, kisses them, hugs them, touches them...
But as he gains Debbie's trust, she becomes uncomfortable with his attention towards her. He often touches her innapropriately.
When Debbie does decide to tell someone about the Rabbi, it turns her world upside-down. Her mother, who has recently been taking classes with the Rabbi, accuses her of being a liar. Everyone believes that the Rabbi is too good of a person to do such terrible things. Everyone thinks the tickling is just a game.
The story is frusturating, because the Rabbi has enough power to convince everyone, even his victims, of his innocence. The story is realistic, because you feel Debbie's emotions and confusions and everything seems so true.
The story is powerful, because Debbie fights.
It becomes clearer and clearer that Rabbi Werner has pulled many into his trap. Debbie, her friends, and her mother find themselves under his power and following his absurd rules.
Debbie is shunned. And shut out. And punished, because she stood up. But she knows what the Rabbie does is wrong.
Through stages of denial, confusion, and depression to a suicidal point, Debbie comes to the truth about Rabbi Werner and his relationship with her and the other girls, and even the grown women that he teaches.
This book expresses universal denial. And the abuse that has to stop.

Why is it so hard to believe that an Orthodox rabbi would be capable of doing such a hideous crime? We hear all the time on the news and in the paper about Catholic priests who sexually abuse children and yet you can sit there at your computer and tell me that Orthodox rabbis are not capable of this. You are doing what most people like to do when we don't like what we see - look the other way. We are all humans and unfortunately some of us don't understand or are incapable of understanding right from wrong. So the next time you decide to read a book with some subject matter you're not exactly hip to, please try to look at it with more of an open mind. This is the real world please try to live in it. If anything the author should be praised for portraying reality no matter how ugly it is.