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Jerry Spinelli

Milkweed

Jerry SpinelliFiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2003

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Book Brief

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Jerry Spinelli

Milkweed

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2003
Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Warsaw, Poland • 1940s

Publication Year

2003

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

10-14 years

Lexile Level

510L

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Super Short Summary

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli follows a young, unnamed orphan boy in Warsaw, Poland, during the Holocaust, who is taken in by a group of orphans led by Uri. Uri renames him Misha Pilsudski and they witness the Nazi invasion. Misha befriends a Jewish girl, Janina, and they struggle to survive as the situation in the ghetto deteriorates. Sensitive topics include the traumatic experiences of the Holocaust.

Mysterious

Dark

Challenging

Emotional

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.3

31,849 ratings

74%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli is praised for its poignant portrayal of World War II through the eyes of an orphaned boy. Readers commend the novel for its emotional depth and vivid historical setting. However, some critics find the narrative occasionally simplistic and the protagonist's perspective inconsistent. Overall, it is seen as a powerful, accessible introduction to the Holocaust for younger audiences.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Milkweed?

Readers who would enjoy Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli are typically young adults with an interest in historical fiction and coming-of-age stories set during World War II. Fans of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne or Number the Stars by Lois Lowry would find a similar emotional and narrative depth in Spinelli's work.

4.3

31,849 ratings

74%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Warsaw, Poland • 1940s

Publication Year

2003

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

10-14 years

Lexile Level

510L

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