I must be living under a rock.  I didn't realize this had been made into a movie.  I hope that doesn't mean the movie didn't turn out well.

So, here's the book version, which I'll be recommending:



And here's the movie version, which I will try to see (someday when I have time to watch movies again!)



(It looks good!)


Back to the book.  I've been eying up this book on the book orders for awhile, and finally decided to get it after reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.  I thought she did a great job, so Jane Yolen (another high caliber author) must have done a well, too.  Not to mention the interesting title.  I think kids may need a little help with what the title means, but it is explained in the book.

I read this book in a few short days. I'm not sure why I grabbed it from among many books I've been wanting to read, but it was perfect timing.  I read the book during Passover. Our Lutheran church celebrates the Seder which is the setting for The Devil's Arithmetic. That certainly helped pull me into the book!  I could taste the bitter herbs with Hannah. 

Hannah is at the Seder, but like most kids, finds traditions somewhat meaningless and boring. She ends up being transported back in time to a Jewish wedding wish soon becomes a horrible experience. Hannah has studied the Holocaust in school and quickly realizes that her new friends and family are being sent to a concentration camp.  She tries to warn them, but who would believe her?

The story was riveting for me. Absolutely real. I would love to use it in a classroom with Number the Stars and Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl .

If you use WebQuests, this looks like a great one:  The Devil's Arithmetic WebQuest.

Here's a teacher's guide from Jane Yolen.