SVT #89 Sweet Valley and the Rise of National Socialism

[roseability_]

And once Roseability had many Sweet Valley books, and they were High and Twins and Unicorn Club. Verily, they were placed into the confines of her loft space for many years, and considered lost.

But one remained.

It was the one where they learn about the Holocaust, and it was awful.

This book is dedicated to Isabella Leitner, the

Comments

[enogitna]

Some other really good YA books about the holocaust, (I know because I read most of them. When I was between the ages of 9-14 any book my grandmother bought me was about the holocaust): Number the Stars, Alan and Naomi, Behind the Secret Window (a relative of mine actually wrote that). There are so many.
Maybe not so much with the Sweet Valley Twins.

Not every YA series out there has to cover the holocaust, especially if the universe they are in wouldn't do it justice. You don't need a Very Special issue of Gossip Girl to discuss genocide, you know? There are better YA books out there that covers the issue is a much better way.

[disco_trash]

I was just going to point out Number the Stars by Lois Lawry (?)

[e_scapism101]

Don't forget Behind the Bedroom Wall and The Devil's Arithmetic.

The World Must Know is also a good - adult - resource, although the photographs can be upsetting. There's also Briar Rose, which is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty that takes place during the Holocaust.

[redacted]

I think "hearing impaired" encompasses both fully-deaf people and those who are hard of hearing. As far as I know it's not any kind of PC thing.

This was a good recap - I think you balanced the funny with the serious really well. I had been working on this same book (kind of, I've pretty much abandoned it) that had a fairly different tone. I may post it if I ever finish it, as long as you don't mind.

[esc_key]

Hi, unrelated to this topic, did you send me your address for the tote bag?

[redacted]

I did - see my reply on the post you made.

I don't want to miss out on my chances of tote bag greatness!

[esc_key]

Can you send it again? I may have misplaced it. bintwin@yahoo.com

[katranna]

Hahahahahh, Aaron Dallas is Jewish now? All-American dumb football playing blonde Aaron? (Or am I confusing him with Ken Matthews?) Still

[roseability_]

I have to admit, when I got around that age I had difficulty relating to my granny. I wasn't sure what I should tell her about my life, things she'd disapprove of, etc. But Aaron's grandad is really great! He takes him fishing and makes food and watches sports with him. So it just makes him seem dickish.

Also, your relatives had to learn german and go spy on people?

[esc_key]

When did Aaron get jewed!? Was it a drive-by jewing? I didn't know that could happen!

[irinaauthor]

Who knew Aaron's mom was Jewish! This is the same mom who later abandons Aaron and his dad to run away with her boyfriend to the other side of the country, causing raaaaaaaage. I wonder what Grandpa Saul thought of that. Bet he was pissed off.

[redacted]

I think they tried to get around this by claiming the Jewishness was on his mom's side. Still.

Aaron Jewish?

[anonymous]

Technically Aaron didn't have to be Jewish just because his grandfather is.

[lizisafatvirgin]

But if Aaron's mom is Jewish, then he's Jewish. It's passed down maternally. God love the lack of all research in this series.