  | Bar mitzvah boys Author: Uhlberg, Myron | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Seventy years after he turned thirteen in a concentration camp, a man joins his beloved grandson in the Jewish ritual of coming of age when they are bar mitzvahed together.
| Illustrator: | Arcabascio, Carolyn |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (-) (08/15/19)
Booklist (11/15/19)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/15/2019 An old man, now 82, regrets that his detention in a Nazi concentration camp prevented him from having a bar mitzvah in his youth. Now that his grandson is preparing for his own coming-of-age ceremony, Grandpa decides to join him, and together they learn Hebrew, study with the rabbi, and chant their Torah portions. Their hard work results in a special bond: the boy matures as he studies while the old man seems to grow younger. When their celebratory day arrives, both become men, completing the generational chain that links this family. Arcabascio's full-color art makes good use of light and shadow and helps to focus attention on the main characters. The images are slightly blurry, which lends a nostalgic feel and helps to further the idea that the story's themes are universal. The text alludes to Grandpa's Holocaust experiences, but the illustrations remain firmly rooted in this family's safe present. A touching intergenerational story that will be welcomed in Jewish communities. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
