The Secret Seder

The Secret Seder is the story of a young Jewish boy's experience during the time of Nazi Germany. It vividly portrays the fears that were prevalent among Jews at that time. Even the Passover Seder had to be observed in secret. The book is very well written and the portrayal of events is very accurate. The somber watercolor illustrations add to the darkness of the story. Although I feel that this is a well-done book, I do not believe that the subject matter is appropriate for a five-year-old as the age recommendation indicates. Some of the text may be too harsh for such a young reader: "Papa yanks me into an alley. The clicking is closer and louder. Papa pulls out the knife. I hold my breath..." This may be a more appropriate book for a child who is eight or nine years old.

The Secret Seder receives Emily Arnold McCully's realistic illustrations as it tells of one Jacques, who is hiding from Nazis in a small village in France, pretending to be Catholics. They haven't given up their beliefs, and Jacques is determined to celebrate Passover with his father, risking his life to attend a secret seder in the mountains.