Book Reviews of Briar Rose

I read this book for the first time when I was on a car trip, and it stuck with me. Reading it again a good 7 years later, I can see why. Briar Rose is incredibly haunting and the premise sticks with you for a long time.

I can already tell (finished this book yesterday) that Briar Rose is going to be a book that stays with me. Yolen tells such an amazing story - both heartbreaking and hopeful. Her story is unlike any retelling of Sleeping Beauty I've ever read. I highly recommend it.

Not a book for children. Some may disagree but it is my opinion. There are too many adult situations for a younger audience. That said, Miss Yolen brings an intriguing story to paper that comes to a complete ending. I like the way she pulls the story together chapter by chapter, never giving any thing away until necessary.

Brief but very interesting take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. Definitely not disney.

An awesome perspective of the Holocaust!

I loved this book - they way it utilized the fairy tale of sleeping beauty (Briar Rose) and the Holocaust... wow! Erie and enchanting.

A powerful and personal story about the holocaust through the classic story of sleeping beauty.

The story is interesting in concept but very watered down to what it could have been. The plot is forced, character development is not only incomplete, but I found the characters dull, flat and one-dimensional. This book had great potential but for me I couldn't finish it. There are many more books worth my time than this one.

This was a very different book than any of the other holocaust memoirs and stories I have read. I wasn't as blown away by this novel as I was by her "devil's arithmetic" this book is nothing like that! This is a very contemporary view. It covers not only the jewish element of the holocaust, but there is significant coverage given to the homosexual side of the issue and also a passing nod at Jehovah's Witnesses, although that is only fleeting. I wasn't impressed by her melding of the fairy tale and the story of the grandmother, it was a fabulous literary device, but her final climax fell flat for me. I am glad that someone is writing more about the polish extermination camps in the east, but somehow this seems not as well done. I definately would preview this even if giving to a teenager as some of the scenes are graphic, and not just about Nazi Violence but also homosexuality. 3 Stars, it was okay.

In Briar Rose, Yolen retells the story of Sleeping Beauty. The plot begins with Becca visiting with her ailing grandmother before she passes away. Her grandmother always told the tale of Briar Rose but as she dies, proclaims that she is indeed Briar Rose. Becca's sisters pass the words off as an old woman's rants but Becca takes the words to heart and begins to investigate her grandmother's past. Becca's quest takes her to Germany where, after a lot of digging, she discovers the truth in her grandmother's words.

This is a beautiful and haunting tale and Yolen is a wonderful storyteller. The story does deal with the Holocaust and because it is young adult literature it deals with mature themes so readers should be advised. I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of fairy tales!

This is a good book for people who want to make a connection to Fairy Tales and modern literature or those who are interested in the travesties of WWII. It has a few polish words that are explained when you read them. However, people who know Poland and the Polish language might find it funny that Yolen calls the city of Woodts Lodz. You see in Polish has an L with a cross hatch through it that makes the W sound. This is often confused with the L, which is an L in Polish. It won't take away from the book at all though. I loved it and have recommended it to my friends.

This is a very interstesting take on the original Sleeping Beauty story. The parallel to the holocaust is done pretty well although in a few spots it got a little thin.

Likable but sad. Good read for young adults. Interesting take on one of the saddest events in history.

Please see my review here

Very interesting and unusual take on the Sleeping Beauty story.

I read this book when I was in middle school and over the years I have remembered it and wanted to read it again. I'm sure that I will not stop, having read it twice already. It is a quick read but it is also such a good book that shows such a different style to understanding the holocaust.

Briar Rose was a little slow to get into, but considering it is a short book it didn't take too long. The story that was told was heart breaking and horrifying. It was only made worse by the knowledge that it was based on actual events. This is not to say that the book was not good, it was, just be prepared, there is no happily ever after to Briar Rose.