Journal Entry 1 by choclaholic from San Antonio, Texas USA on Sunday, November 27, 2005

A few months ago, I was at the bookstore browsing the YA books, looking for titles for a banned book project I was working on at the time. This book was not banned, but it caught my eye. This 1965 novel must have been on display for the newly released DVD of a movie of the same title. I had never heard of the book or movie until now, but it was promoted with such accolades and awards, that I felt I must have it, or I was missing out on something. (So I guess the marketing people did their job.) I impulsively bought it, even though I already had way too much to read at home already.

It was an easy to read novel of a boy who escaped from a concentration camp during WWII, where he spent 11 of the last 12 years of his life. It was the story of David's journey to reach freedom in Denmark. Most of the story takes place in his head, as he rans, stows away, and hitchhikes across Eurpope. The poignant part was his struggle to understand the outside world, and come to terms with his emotions and his own image of God.

I know they say that "truth is stranger than fiction", but I really felt this story was really pushing the envelope on beleivablity. David was a bit of an Oliver Twist -- wise and brave and resourceful beyond his years and experience. I guess it could have happen, but the odds of even the most remarkable boy surviving the way he did, given his resources, are really quite astronomical. He must have been the luckiest boy ever to have been born on to this Earth. Anyway, I guess it was a decent book, because it was the fastest I've been able to read a book in its entirety in at least four months. Still, I didn't find it particuraly rembarkable, and for a book on a similar topic (a young person trying to escape a fate in concentration camps) I recommend Lois Lowry's Number the Stars, which I read last year at about this time.

Update 12/4/05:
I rented the movie last night, since it was billed as "The Best Movie of the Year" (for 2004, I think). I must admit that having read the book, I thought it would make a particularly boring movie, unless they changed it signigicantly, and I wanted to see if and how they changed it. Although they did change it some...mostly to make it more beleivalbe, they didn't change it in a way to make it any more exciting. It was as boring a movie as I expected from the book. I'm sorry to say the best part of the whole experience with book and movie was that the kids and I had a good laugh over David's issues with soap (I know, we're mean), but it will be a good running joke for some time :)

I'm going to give this book to the 12 year old boy that I mentor for the next time I see him, as he says he loves to read. I'm curious what his reaction to it will be. I hope he reads it and reports back.

Choclaholic