The Devil's Arithmetic

By: Jane Yolen

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award and an American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists", The Devil's Arithmetic plunges the listener into the terrible realities of the Nazi concentration camps. Chaya's tale is a celebration of the strength of the human spirit and a dramatic introduction to the darkest period of modern history.

©1988 Jane Yolen (P)1996 Recorded Books

My thoughts

I think this book is really interesting. I never really liked to read but this book I got really into. I think people that are in to wars and like to read about what happens on the past would really like this book. This book talks about what life was like in the concentration camps and what it was like, what all the symbols are and what people went through. If your family are Jews and you are going to a sadder don't complain how boring it is.

Informative, Engaging and Heartbreaking

My son was assigned this book to read in 5th grade and I was interested myself after reading a few chapters. I am not sure children will capture the full feelings evoked in this book— a feeling of overwhelming sadness about the horrible truth of the Nazi concentration camps- but it’s important that they know the history and have a place from where to start conversations. I cried almost the entire book and will talk to my son about this. Well written, well read, and a book all people should read.

How real it was

It was so overwhelming all of the tortured Jews. I loved how real it all became.

Riveting but sometimes confusing

I listened to this novel with my 12-year old and 10-year-old. We all really enjoyed it, and felt the great sorrow of the Holocaust. Yet are comforted by the survivors who continue to share their story!

Excellent audio version

This was incorporated into our middle school curriculum this year, and many of my students prefer to listen to novels as we read them in class. This reader conveys the heartbreaking realities and emotions of this story. While this was mixed with independent and teacher-led reading in class, I listened to this entire novel, and her reading is engaging as a listener. I feel middle school students and beyond would benefit from reading this novel.