 | Not nothing Author: Forman, Gayle | |
| Price: $7.37 | ||
Summary:
When troubled twelve-year-old Alex is assigned to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living facility, he forms a unique bond with a Holocaust survivor and learns lessons that change the trajectory of his life.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG+ Reading Level: 5.50 Points: 8.0 Quiz: 551953 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (12/01/24)
School Library Journal (+) (10/11/24)
Booklist (+) (07/01/24)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/09/24)
The Hornbook (00/09/24)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 07/01/2024 *Starred Review* Twelve-year-old Alex, now living with his aunt and uncle following his mother's disappearance, is court ordered to volunteer at Shady Glen, a care home, where he meets 107-year-old Joseph Kravitz, a resident who hasn't spoken in five years. Sensing a bond, Joseph begins sharing his memories with Alex, detailing his life as a Polish Jew, his incarceration at Plaszow concentration camp, and his subsequent rescue. In interspersed chapters, Joseph reveals both his own Holocaust experiences and Alex's troubled backstory. Forman (If I Stay, 2009) is a master of the slow, heart-wrenching reveal, and this story does not disappoint. Both characters feel deeply responsible for past mistakes and want to find a way to rise above them by making a good difference for others. Well-developed secondary characters add richness to the story and provide some lighter moments: Alex's social worker, Frank Johnson, puts his reputation on the line to get this second chance for Alex; Maya-Jade, a Chinese adoptee, volunteers at the home and becomes a real friend; and several other residents have comical foibles that often conceal their own past accomplishments. While the subject matter (hate crimes, antisemitism, mental illness, death) makes for some difficult reading, those who stick with this story will be richly rewarded. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
