Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Tundra Books (2016), 240 pages
Description
17-year-old Natan has a safe and happy life in fourteenth-century Strasbourg, France. He works with his father in his rag trade, helps his mother around the house, and studies the Torah at night with his young brother, Shmuli. But there is growing tension between the Jewish community and the rest of the citizens, and soon the jews are blamed for the deadly plague sweeping through towns and cities nearby.
Awards
National Jewish Book Award (Finalist — Young Adult — 2016)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member Beorn_se_Bacaire
Disclaimer: I received this novel as a member of the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program, in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw the book description--a piece of historical fiction, taking place in 14th century France as the plague begins to sweep the land--I was somewhat excited even though
At the first paragraph I knew I wouldn't enjoy it. The author has an extremely stilted voice, with foreshortened sentences...not incomplete ones, really, just short. And those, are something I can't stand to read. The majority of the sentences also seem (and I did count on a couple of pages) to begin with "I" or "Me"--it got tedious after a while.
While I couldn't finish the novel, and knew it from the first pages, I did force myself to read the first quarter of the book before giving it up as a lost cause. So much potential, but I couldn't get past the writing style.
When I saw the book description--a piece of historical fiction, taking place in 14th century France as the plague begins to sweep the land--I was somewhat excited even though
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it is a YA book, since it is a period of history I enjoy. I figured it wouldn't be an issue, since I occasionally still revisit authors like Brian Jacques, or Diana Wynne Jones.At the first paragraph I knew I wouldn't enjoy it. The author has an extremely stilted voice, with foreshortened sentences...not incomplete ones, really, just short. And those, are something I can't stand to read. The majority of the sentences also seem (and I did count on a couple of pages) to begin with "I" or "Me"--it got tedious after a while.
While I couldn't finish the novel, and knew it from the first pages, I did force myself to read the first quarter of the book before giving it up as a lost cause. So much potential, but I couldn't get past the writing style.
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LibraryThing member SheilaCornelisse
The year is 1349; the location Strasbourg. A deadly plague is spreading across the countryside and a villainous group of citizens led by Kaspar the butcher are plotting to place the blame on the Jewish people. Caught in the this conflict are 17-year-old Natan (the son of a rag dealer), Hans (the
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apprentice to the master draper), and Elena (daughter of the master draper and a love interest to both of the young men). Murdered by Kaspar, Natan finds himself transferred into the body of Hans. It is Natan's mission to save his people. Based on historical events, this story depicts how the Jewish people have been persecuted for centuries. A great read that I couldn't put down. Show Less
LibraryThing member lilibrarian
In 1349, the bubonic plague struck Europe. Strasbourg has until now been a safe haven for the Jews, although they are limited in occupation and residence. But they are made the scapegoat for causing the plague, so that the entire community is endangered. One young couple does their best to prevent
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disaster. Show Less
LibraryThing member kimpiddington
Fast paced and interesting! Quick read.
LibraryThing member KarenM13
I received this book to review thru LibraryThing, and was excited because I enjoy both historical fiction, and YA, and the period in which it is set interested me. I was getting into the story decently well, and found Natan to be a good character, however when it took a supernatural twist about a
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quarter of the way in I was a little put off. I prefer my historical fiction to be more believable. I took a few days away from it, but did eventually finish the book to see what happened. I was a little concerned with how graphic several scenes are portrayed in a book aimed at 10-14 year olds, but I did enjoy the historical aspects of the setting and the story. I think a little more background to some parts of jewish culture might be needed for those of other faiths reading it. Overall I thought it was well-written and not a bad read once I got used to the trend towards supernatural. Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
This is a story illustrating the hatred of the Jews in medieval Europe. Taking place in 1349 Strasbourg, the Jews were blamed for the plague and were driven out or killed. Our story is about Natan, a 17-year old Jew who falls in love with a Gentile girl named Elena. Natan witnesses some men dumping
The style of writing is brusque and the story flies along. There are horrifying details of the terrible things done to the Jews with a few instances of heroism by the citizens of the city.
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garbage and a live cat into a well in order to poison it and blame the Jews. He is fatally beaten but his spirit is transplanted in Hans, a Gentile young man who works for Elena's father. This being is called an ibbur in Jewish mythology and is said to keep the dead person's spirit on Earth until he fulfills his mission. In this case, to alert the Jews of the plot.The style of writing is brusque and the story flies along. There are horrifying details of the terrible things done to the Jews with a few instances of heroism by the citizens of the city.
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LibraryThing member alynred
Set in Strasbourg, France in the 14th century, Natan and his family suffer under discrimination against Jewish people. When the town well is poisoned and the blame falls upon the Jewish members of Strasbourg, an incredible plot twist leaves Natan in a powerful position to save his people. Obstacles
Another Me by Eva Wiseman has all the makings of an amazing novel for Intermediate-aged students (grades 4-8): a beautiful cover, a fast-paced plot with a major twist, a love story, alternating narrative voices, and a historical setting that is not often used as a back-drop for books written for this age-group. While this will be an easy sell to tweens and may prove as a valuable teaching tool to educators (history and perspective-driven lessons abound), the awkward dialogue may be too difficult for advanced readers to ignore.
This was the first book that I received as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.
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including tension with his family, the Bubonic Plague sweeping through town, and the shifting attitudes of those around him create a fast-paced plot that moves the reader through the Medieval streets of Strasbourg.Another Me by Eva Wiseman has all the makings of an amazing novel for Intermediate-aged students (grades 4-8): a beautiful cover, a fast-paced plot with a major twist, a love story, alternating narrative voices, and a historical setting that is not often used as a back-drop for books written for this age-group. While this will be an easy sell to tweens and may prove as a valuable teaching tool to educators (history and perspective-driven lessons abound), the awkward dialogue may be too difficult for advanced readers to ignore.
This was the first book that I received as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.
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LibraryThing member RavenNight
"The crowd around us parted as the Red Sea must have parted before the ancient Hebrews escaping slavery in Egypt."
I received this book through the LibraryThing early reviewers group.
I really enjoyed Another Me. The story was interesting and was a very light and quick read. I enjoyed reading a book
However much I enjoyed the novel, I was not much a fan of the fantasy twist in the book. When Natan took control of Hans's body, I kind of lost interest for a bit. I also found it odd when Natan didn't try to pretend to be Hans or get used to his body, especially among those he didn't know well. I just didn't understand why he felt that, in order to tell everyone about Kaspar, he needed to mention that he was Natan in a different body instead of just saying how Hand must have felt. But that's just me.
I also found Elena and Natan's relationship very difficult to believe. It was so fast and something about it just felt off.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad I got the chance to read it.
I received this book through the LibraryThing early reviewers group.
I really enjoyed Another Me. The story was interesting and was a very light and quick read. I enjoyed reading a book
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set in the fourteenth century. I feel like it offers a new and intriguing perspective on history and helped me to understand parts of human history better. I loved that Wiseman added in the Black Death. The Black Death is a fascinating part of history and I loved the way it helped to shape and develop the characters. However much I enjoyed the novel, I was not much a fan of the fantasy twist in the book. When Natan took control of Hans's body, I kind of lost interest for a bit. I also found it odd when Natan didn't try to pretend to be Hans or get used to his body, especially among those he didn't know well. I just didn't understand why he felt that, in order to tell everyone about Kaspar, he needed to mention that he was Natan in a different body instead of just saying how Hand must have felt. But that's just me.
I also found Elena and Natan's relationship very difficult to believe. It was so fast and something about it just felt off.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'm glad I got the chance to read it.
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LibraryThing member kaylayackamouih
This book is essentially a story about how good Jewish hygiene saved Jews from the Black Death and made already prejudiced Christians suspicious. The setup is odd and a little disjointed, I didn't love the writing, but I did like the characters and the realistic portrayals of their relationships. A
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very short read, so I wasn't terribly bored. Show Less
LibraryThing member bgnbrooks
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this book.
This book centers around the persecution of Jewish people in 14th century Strasbourg, and I quickly learned this was a huge gaping hole in my knowledge. (This is why books are awesome.) For that alone, I'm very glad I read it.
I thought the book was well written,
I'm always a fan of romance and the supernatural, so I loved that there is a tiny bit of both. Neither, in my opinion, took anything away from the gravity of the plot. The again, when it comes to massacres and the black plague, I'm not sure much could.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I enjoyed this book.
This book centers around the persecution of Jewish people in 14th century Strasbourg, and I quickly learned this was a huge gaping hole in my knowledge. (This is why books are awesome.) For that alone, I'm very glad I read it.
I thought the book was well written,
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although the dialogue seemed out of place. I felt like I was reading something that had been translated too many times. From the dialogue alone, I would have had a really difficult time pinpointing the time period of the book. Perhaps that was just to make it more readable for a younger audience though. I'm always a fan of romance and the supernatural, so I loved that there is a tiny bit of both. Neither, in my opinion, took anything away from the gravity of the plot. The again, when it comes to massacres and the black plague, I'm not sure much could.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
This book is meant for readers ages 10 to 14. It's been a long time since I was that age but I tried to read it as if I was still a young person. With that in mind I could see how this book would impact someone that age.
Being Jewish in fourteenth century Strasbourg means being a second-class
This story is based upon actual events that took place in Strasbourg in the fourteenth century. The Plague did rage through Europe killing half the population. Jews were blamed in many places for the illness and forced to leave their homes or, as in Strasbourg, killed en masse. For a young person I think this story would be quite powerful. Certainly it would give new meaning to persecution and intolerance.
Being Jewish in fourteenth century Strasbourg means being a second-class
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citizen, subject to always wearing a yellow star on your clothing, living in a Jewish ghetto and paying high taxes for the privilege of doing so. Natan is seventeen years old and lives with his mother, father and younger brother Shmuli in the ghetto. When his father is injured by Christian hoodlums Natan has to take over the family business of selling used clothing. When he goes to the master draper in his father's place he meets his daughter, Elena. Both Elena and Natan are immediately attracted to the other and soon they are meeting secretly even though relations between Christians and Jews are forbidden. The usual mistreatment of Jews is ramped up because the Bubonic Plague is spreading through Europe and Jews are suspected of spreading it. On returning from one assignation Natan discovers three thugs poisoning the town well so that it can be blamed on the Jews. An altercation ensues and Natan is killed. Except that is not the end of Natan. His soul takes over the body of the master draper's journeyman. He has become an ibbur; that is a person whose soul takes over the body of another in order to save Jews. It is a tall order for Natan. This story is based upon actual events that took place in Strasbourg in the fourteenth century. The Plague did rage through Europe killing half the population. Jews were blamed in many places for the illness and forced to leave their homes or, as in Strasbourg, killed en masse. For a young person I think this story would be quite powerful. Certainly it would give new meaning to persecution and intolerance.
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LibraryThing member elizabeth1929
This book....was.....AWESOME!
Okay, granted....perhaps my opinion can't be trusted because I've been reading boring classics for the past few months.
Aaaaanyways!
There was always something going on! It was exciting! And it was different! I've never read a book about Jewish people before, and it was
Would I be revealing too much if I said the MAIN CHARACTER DIED?! I mean...it did happen near the beginning of the book, so....
But! He didn't REALLY die! He continues living his life in someone else's body....cool! And now that's he's in the body of someone else, someone with....uh...more influence in their...society...he has been given the task of saving his people!
So...yes. I enjoyed this book, and it was a very fun and easy book to read (yay!), even if I did get angry at how the Jewish people were treated most of the time. I...also didn't quite like the ending? I really wish it had ended differently....oh wells.
Okay, granted....perhaps my opinion can't be trusted because I've been reading boring classics for the past few months.
Aaaaanyways!
There was always something going on! It was exciting! And it was different! I've never read a book about Jewish people before, and it was
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interesting getting to know a little bit more about their culture. The ibburs were definitely cool. This was also about the black plague that happened...many, many, many, many....many, many years ago.Would I be revealing too much if I said the MAIN CHARACTER DIED?! I mean...it did happen near the beginning of the book, so....
But! He didn't REALLY die! He continues living his life in someone else's body....cool! And now that's he's in the body of someone else, someone with....uh...more influence in their...society...he has been given the task of saving his people!
So...yes. I enjoyed this book, and it was a very fun and easy book to read (yay!), even if I did get angry at how the Jewish people were treated most of the time. I...also didn't quite like the ending? I really wish it had ended differently....oh wells.
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LibraryThing member kpolhuis
A story written out of a true event in history, garnished with a supernatural twist. It gives an opportunity for the target audience to read about how Jewish people have been treated badly by Germans of another time period, and an understanding that they have been persecuted throughout history (not
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just during world war two). Show Less
LibraryThing member sszkutak
This book was not what I expected in a wonderful way. It is about a Jewish boy in France who falls in love with a non-Jewish girl and then finds out something that gets him killed. The story overall is about the persecution of the Jewish population during the plagues. Many Jewish people were
Another Me follows Natan as he works with his father and meets a young girl, they are drawn together and while out late one night visiting her he notices some people poisoning the community well - they are dropping in rotting food, feces and even killing a cat. Knowing that this cannot be helping the plague that is ruining other cities, Natan tries to do something about it. In the process, he dies, BUT his spirit is still around trying to tell someone what has happened and who should be blamed.
The story has a lot of sadness and the unfair treatment of many people, but there is also bravery and love and some hope through it all. It was a very good read. It is fiction but everything seemed like it could/would happen during this period in history.
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thought to have brought the plague to others since less Jewish people were dying from it, that is not to say that none died, but in a time when people had no idea about disease and how it spread if a population was doing better than others - it was their fault.Another Me follows Natan as he works with his father and meets a young girl, they are drawn together and while out late one night visiting her he notices some people poisoning the community well - they are dropping in rotting food, feces and even killing a cat. Knowing that this cannot be helping the plague that is ruining other cities, Natan tries to do something about it. In the process, he dies, BUT his spirit is still around trying to tell someone what has happened and who should be blamed.
The story has a lot of sadness and the unfair treatment of many people, but there is also bravery and love and some hope through it all. It was a very good read. It is fiction but everything seemed like it could/would happen during this period in history.
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LibraryThing member JRlibrary
Really enjoyed this book and was surprised to learn that it was based on a true event. Although I thought I was familiar with a lot of history, this was not an event I'd heard of before now.
LibraryThing member thornton37814
The setting is 14th century Strasbourg where the Jews are accused of poisoning the well water. Kaspar the butcher and his friends have begun persecuting the Jewish community. A Jewish boy named Natan became fascinated with Elena, the daughter of another draper but one who is fair. When Natan
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confronts Kaspar's gang about what he saw, he is killed and becomes an "ibbur," residing inside the body of Hans, Elena's father's apprentice. Soon the bubonic plague breaks out in the city, while the persecution continues. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, and this title sounded very promising. However, when the plot took on the "ghostly" element, my enjoyment plunged. To be fair to the author, the concept of the "ibbur" began to take hold in the late 13th century. I just felt it was unnecessary in this plot and the plot would be stronger had she allowed Natan to escape. I found the plot implausible. I enjoyed the historical parts about the persecution of the Jews and about the bubonic plague; however, I felt Wiseman's writing was not all that strong. The book is a bit of a mixed bag with some parts enjoyable and others not and with some parts plausible and others not. I received an electronic e-galley of the book from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes. Show Less
LibraryThing member bucketofrhymes
I received a free copy of Another Me from the publisher through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review -- thank you!
Another Me deals with a truly horrifying and little-known instance of anti-semitism from the 1300s. With the bubonic plague ravaging Europe, Jews were blamed for poisoning the
It's within this social climate that we find Natan and Elena. Natan is determined to disprove what people are saying about the well water. But his quest to share the truth and his blossoming relationship with Elena both take a sharp turn when something happens to Natan -- something that changes the way the people around him see him.
Rich in historical detail as well as an unexpected supernatural twist, Another Me is a heartfelt examination of love, bigotry, and how important it is to look past the superficial.
Another Me deals with a truly horrifying and little-known instance of anti-semitism from the 1300s. With the bubonic plague ravaging Europe, Jews were blamed for poisoning the
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well water and put to death as scapegoats.It's within this social climate that we find Natan and Elena. Natan is determined to disprove what people are saying about the well water. But his quest to share the truth and his blossoming relationship with Elena both take a sharp turn when something happens to Natan -- something that changes the way the people around him see him.
Rich in historical detail as well as an unexpected supernatural twist, Another Me is a heartfelt examination of love, bigotry, and how important it is to look past the superficial.
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LibraryThing member emmyson
I feel like this is an important read for young adults. The more we learn about these things, the less likely we are to allow them to happen again. I’ll recommend this for my top readers.
LibraryThing member sensitivemuse
**possible spoilers you've been warned**
For such a small thin book that should not take long to read, it was filled with emotional powerfully packed scenes that remain unforgettable. It's amazing what prejudice, greed, and ignorance can fester and induce major harm on people just because they don't
It's definitely not an easy read as it progresses and there's a scene where once done reading, it stayed with me and I think it's going to be a memorable scene that will stick for a long time (and not in a positive sense). It's horrifying what people would do to others but it's also the sad reality of humanity.
I was not expecting the 'body swapping' moment and thought this was well done for the plot to further along. Characters are standard and nothing which stands out but you're really reading this book for the plot and historical subject.
May not be an easy read. Definitely not a light one. But it's good to be aware and learn of this subject.
For such a small thin book that should not take long to read, it was filled with emotional powerfully packed scenes that remain unforgettable. It's amazing what prejudice, greed, and ignorance can fester and induce major harm on people just because they don't
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share beliefs, or other similarities to the majority. It's definitely not an easy read as it progresses and there's a scene where once done reading, it stayed with me and I think it's going to be a memorable scene that will stick for a long time (and not in a positive sense). It's horrifying what people would do to others but it's also the sad reality of humanity.
I was not expecting the 'body swapping' moment and thought this was well done for the plot to further along. Characters are standard and nothing which stands out but you're really reading this book for the plot and historical subject.
May not be an easy read. Definitely not a light one. But it's good to be aware and learn of this subject.
Show Less
ISBN
1770497161 / 9781770497160