A Boy of Old Prague

This was my favorite book in the world for a time when I was a tween, so I am thrilled to see that it's to be reissued this year... this is one book that fully deserves a second life. The author's exquisite prose (reminescent of Isaac Bashevis Singer) transported me to a world so vivid (and often cruel) that life in a Prague ghetto in the Middle Ages felt more real to me than life in suburbia in the 20th century! The tale gets a bit bleak at times, but then, life for Jews and for serfs at that time was not exactly a cakewalk. Even difficult themes are handled tastefully in this powerful little novella. I could not recommend this book more highly-- and for teachers interested in World Religions-Social Studies-English cross-curricular collaborations, a study of this book would be eyeopening for middle or high school students trying to make sense of medeival social hierarchies and antisemitism on a personal level. Just keep in mind that less mature readers might be frightened by the grim undertones... but give it a try. You and your students, or children, are sure to like it!

A boy of old Prague is set in the sixteenth century in Prague. The story is told by Tomas, a Gentile boy, who is bonded to a old man who is Jewish. There is alot of injustice and predjudice practiced against the Jews of Prague, who are restricted to a ghetto. Tomas - from a poor farming family, discovers that what is said about the Jewish people are not true and is witness to terrible actions carried out against the people living in the ghetto by the Gentiles. The illustrations by Ben Shahn are dark and brooding. Read it if you can find it!