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claire11's review
3.0
IT ᗰIGᕼT ᗷE ᗷEᑕᗩᑌᔕE I ᗩᗰ ᖴᖇOᗰ ᗩᗰEᖇIᑕᗩ ᗩᑎᗪ TᕼIᔕ Iᔕ Iᑎ GEᖇᗰᗩᑎY Oᖇ I ᖇEᗩᒪᒪY ᒍᑌᔕT ᗰIGᕼT ᑎOT ᕼᗩᐯE ᒪIKEᗪ IT. I ᗪOᑎ'T ᑌᑎᗪEᖇᔕTᗩᑎᗪ ᗯᕼᗩT ᗯOᑌᒪᗪ ᗪᖇIᐯE ᔕOᗰEOᑎE TO ᗪO ᗯᕼᗩT ᔕᕼE ᗪIᗪ. ᔕᕼE ᔕᕼOᑌᒪᗪ ᕼᗩᐯE ᑕᗩᒪᒪEᗪ TᕼE ᗩᑌTᕼOᖇITIEᔕ Iᖴ ᔕᕼE ᗯᗩᔕ ᔕᑌᖇE TᕼᗩT Iᔕ ᗯᕼᗩT ᔕᕼE ᔕᗩᗯ. OK ᖇEᗩᗪ ᗷᑌT I ᗪOᑎ'T ᑌᑎᗪEᖇᔕTᗩᑎᗪ IT.
libscote's review
4.0
This heartbreaking book is about a girl named Mascha, who spends the summer with her grandparents. Normally she is forced to hang out with their elderly neighbors, but this summer she notices two new kids: Julie and Max. They seem to be hiding something though: Max talks angrily to imaginary friends, and Julie has bruises she's trying to hide. When Mascha confides her fears to her grandparents, they tell her to stay out of it. Mascha can't help herself. She's got to do something.
What Mascha does, which I leave spoiler-free, is perhaps not the best solution. I do not think it would be the reaction I would have either. However, my heart breaks for her because she's hoping she can do some good, but just going all the wrong ways about it.
What Mascha does, which I leave spoiler-free, is perhaps not the best solution. I do not think it would be the reaction I would have either. However, my heart breaks for her because she's hoping she can do some good, but just going all the wrong ways about it.
tashrow's review
5.0
Mascha has been sent to spend the summer at her grandparent’s house. Their neighborhood is perfect in many ways with neat yards, gardens and neighborly gatherings. When Mascha meets Julia and Max at the playground, she is desperate for friends. There’s not a lot for a 13-year-old to do. Soon though Mascha realizes that something is wrong and then witnesses for herself Julia and Max being abused by their father. Mascha tells her grandparents and even other neighbors, but no one is willing to do anything. So Mascha decides to step in herself and stop the abuse.
This German novel has already won several international awards. The writing is haunting and beautiful. My quibble with the translation is that I wish it had maintained its German setting rather than being moved to the United States. It reads as a European book and I’m not sure the story works as well with an American setting. But that is a minor factor in such a powerhouse of a book.
First, the setting in an upper-class community focused on image rather than real warmth is a cunning choice. It reveals the thin veneer of neighborliness, the unwillingness to look deeper at what could be happening, and the ability to turn away from the ugly truth to see only the good. Mascha herself is a brilliant heroine. Facing the death of her mother and sent to stay long term with her grandparents, she is not connected to this community at all. She sees the truth, speaks the truth and then is forced to find her own solution. And what a solution it is. It is clever but flawed, a plan only a child could produce. It is entirely believable and therefore a truly riveting read.
A great book, this novel about abuse, friendship and the importance of protecting the vulnerable in our world is one of the best of the year. It is startling, provocative and timely. Appropriate for ages 10-13.
This German novel has already won several international awards. The writing is haunting and beautiful. My quibble with the translation is that I wish it had maintained its German setting rather than being moved to the United States. It reads as a European book and I’m not sure the story works as well with an American setting. But that is a minor factor in such a powerhouse of a book.
First, the setting in an upper-class community focused on image rather than real warmth is a cunning choice. It reveals the thin veneer of neighborliness, the unwillingness to look deeper at what could be happening, and the ability to turn away from the ugly truth to see only the good. Mascha herself is a brilliant heroine. Facing the death of her mother and sent to stay long term with her grandparents, she is not connected to this community at all. She sees the truth, speaks the truth and then is forced to find her own solution. And what a solution it is. It is clever but flawed, a plan only a child could produce. It is entirely believable and therefore a truly riveting read.
A great book, this novel about abuse, friendship and the importance of protecting the vulnerable in our world is one of the best of the year. It is startling, provocative and timely. Appropriate for ages 10-13.
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