114 pages • 3 hours read
Milkweed
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Book Brief
240
Novel • Fiction
Warsaw, Poland • 1940s
2003
YA
10-14 years
510L
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
31,849 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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 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.
31,849 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
240
Novel • Fiction
Warsaw, Poland • 1940s
2003
YA
10-14 years
510L
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