Boris
Author: Jaap ter Haar
Illustrator: Rien Poortvliet
Original language: Dutch
Translated by: ?
Published: January 1994
Publishers: Harcourt Brace & Co
ISBN13: 978-0153022326
Price: $ 21.00 (HC, 2nd hand)
Age: 9 - 12 years
Our book of the week is Boris, by the Dutch historian and author of young adult novels Jaap ter Haar. In the Netherlands the month of May is every year about remembrance of the Second World War. The people who died are remembered on the 4th and freedom is celebrated on the fifth of May. But back then it was not only in the Netherlands a difficult time. In 1965 Jaap ter Haar met a Russian young man in Leningrad, he was the real Boris, his story became this book.
Boris is an exciting and moving book. The story is set in the Russian city Leningrad, in 1942. This city is already a year besieged by German soldiers. A young Russian boy takes care of his sick mother, but there is no food to be found in the entire city. Boris and his friend Nadia go searching for food outside of the city, but that's a dangerous journey ...
In the original edition from 1973, the gripping black and white drawings were made by Rien Poortvliet. The drawings are realistic and, in their austerity, beautifully capture the essence of the story. This book remains very important for young readers, especially in today's troubled times.
The printed books are only in used condition for sale, the hip ebook is instantly available. Which is fortunate, because it is an awesome book that remains important for each new generation, as long as war exists in the world.
3 hopeful bright stars for Boris, from the snazzie readers and their out-loud-readers!