Arnold, Elana K. Blood Years, The. Balzer + Bray, 10/2023. 400pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0629-9085-3. GRADES 8–12. OUTSTANDING.
Even those uninterested in history will be gripped as the child Frederieke grows to womanhood in the shadow of an idolized, egotistical sister, all while facing the worst humanity and fate can throw at her. Set in Romania during WWII, this breathtakingly intimate account is based on Arnold’s Jewish grandmother’s experience. First person narration and a fascinatingly complex main character combine with thorough research and a rich sense of place to deliver a powerful story of the bloody business of surviving to choose your own path. A timeline, photographs of real-life counterparts, an author’s note, and a reading list are included.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired