Rate this book

The Other Half Of Life: A Novel Based On The True Story Of The MS St. Louis (2009)

by Kim Ablon Whitney(Favorite Author)

3.86 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0375852190 (ISBN13: 9780375852190)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Knopf Books for Young Readers

review 1: Id never even heard of the ship before. i liked that the book showed another side of WWII that id never seen before, one where the US wasn't always ready to help. i play chess but ive never been good at it, and this book showed me ill probably never be since i dont think ahead...oh well. :) besides a crushed dream...i really liked the ending, not really caring (*spoiler*) that it wasnt happy. wonderful book!!
review 2: This middle-grade historical fiction is based on the real-life voyage of the M.S. St. Louis, a luxury liner that took Jews away from Nazi Germany only to be turned away from Cuba, the USA and Canada. (All 947 passengers were returned to various countries in Europe, and many died in concentration camps.) Whitney tells the story through the eyes of... more 15-year-old Thomas, a prickly youth who carries guilt over his father going to Dachau and leaving his mother behind. I found Thomas hard to identify with until halfway through the book, but I liked the way the author used another passenger, mischievous 14- year-old Priska, to enliven Thomas as well as provide love interest. The game of chess is another sub-theme (chess players may best appreciate the details of strategy and moves). I had mixed feelings about the two epilogues that showed us Thomas’ life ten and seventy years after the ship that was supposed to take its passengers to freedom instead was forced to return them to Europe. This book humanizes a little-known historical incident and includes maps and additional reading suggestions. less

Download links for: The Other Half of Life: A Novel Based on the True Story of the MS St. Louis

Advertising