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tessaofthepnw's review
2.0
Not very enjoyable. The only time she seems to write is to complain that she's bored until her cousin starts getting into trouble. And I really didn't enjoy the reverse racism. She doesn't seem to be able to form opinions of her own about the gentiles, she just lets her father's experiences color her judgment. Her father doesn't speak English very well, so of course he doesn't really have a good experience with any gentile. I don't think I'm going to read this one again.
beccadavies's review
5.0
I've read a few of the 'Dear Canada' books but this is without a doubt my favourite. Sally Cohen's diary really touched me and pulled at the heart strings. Being from Toronto, I really liked reading about places I knew but what really got me, was the racist attitudes the Torontonians had in the 1930s. I've always been proud to be Canadian in this multi-cultured city and I had never imagined that Canadians were so racist and (some) even supported Hitler in those days. Then to read that Canada had pretty much closed their doors to Jews fleeing the Nazis made me so angry and upset. In all honesty, this book made me change the way I thought of my country. The rose-tinted glasses have been taken off.
I'm so glad I've read this book. It was a little snap-shot of life for a young Jewish girl living in Toronto during the depression. It opened my eyes and made me appreciate the time I'm living in now- where racism and intolerance to religious beliefs are not acceptable in society. I think that's the whole point to these little books. Little girls reading these can look at what they have and what world they live in and be a little more grateful.
Of all the books in the series I've read so far, this book has been the most touching and the message is spoken loud and clear.
I'm so glad I've read this book. It was a little snap-shot of life for a young Jewish girl living in Toronto during the depression. It opened my eyes and made me appreciate the time I'm living in now- where racism and intolerance to religious beliefs are not acceptable in society. I think that's the whole point to these little books. Little girls reading these can look at what they have and what world they live in and be a little more grateful.
Of all the books in the series I've read so far, this book has been the most touching and the message is spoken loud and clear.
mmeagan's review
3.0
3 Stars. A mixed reaction for me.
Firstly, I appreciated how well researched the topic was and that the characters and their situations were rooted in the author's parents' childhood. The book really feels as if an 11 year old girl is writing about her everyday life in her diary. The "slice of life" feel of the book is both its the strength and weakness.
I know that I'm not the target age group for the book, so this might not be a fair accessment for an elementary school reading level, but the book didn't feel substantial. My personal opinion is that the story could have developed the characters more and explained history in greater detail. It lacks an structural story arc with little to no character growth. As well, the explanations of the history felt too vague for someone who's not well-versed in that part of history (and this book should be a starting point for young readers to get introduced to this part of history!)
I would recommend reading all the historical and author's notes at the end first before reading the story because I think that would give you a better understanding of Sally's POV, what her family is going through, and what the atmosphere of society was at the time.
Overall, I think it's a great addition to the Dear Canada series.
Firstly, I appreciated how well researched the topic was and that the characters and their situations were rooted in the author's parents' childhood. The book really feels as if an 11 year old girl is writing about her everyday life in her diary. The "slice of life" feel of the book is both its the strength and weakness.
I know that I'm not the target age group for the book, so this might not be a fair accessment for an elementary school reading level, but the book didn't feel substantial. My personal opinion is that the story could have developed the characters more and explained history in greater detail. It lacks an structural story arc with little to no character growth. As well, the explanations of the history felt too vague for someone who's not well-versed in that part of history (and this book should be a starting point for young readers to get introduced to this part of history!)
I would recommend reading all the historical and author's notes at the end first before reading the story because I think that would give you a better understanding of Sally's POV, what her family is going through, and what the atmosphere of society was at the time.
Overall, I think it's a great addition to the Dear Canada series.
elleneam's review
4.0
A very good book about life for a Jewish girl living in Canada during the Great Depression. It is very good as at the beginning she believes that people should stick to their own kind, and that Unions are bad, and that people shouldn't make a fuss about things, but as the book goes on this begins to change.
twilightren's review
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
readingcat1228's review against another edition
3.0
I began reading the book because I was waiting a history essay on the Great Depression and also because I like the Dear Canada series. However, this particular book was not that great because I found that Sally repeated things a little too much. And I know that she's Yiddish but she used a little too many Yiddish words and I was constantly turning to the glossary at the back of the book to understand what was going on.
hannahreads1070's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75