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Description edit
A powerful retelling of Sleeping Beauty that is “heartbreaking and heartwarming.” An American Library Association “100 Best Books for Teens” An American Library Association “Best Books for Young Adults” Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma’s... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
For all of her life, Becca has listened to her grandmother, Gemma, tell her own version of Sleeping Beauty. After Gemma dies, Becca realizes that the only thing she really knows about her is that she survived the Holocaust. While going through Gemma's things, the Becca finds clues to the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters edit
- Becca Berlin: Becca promises Gemma that she will find the castle that Gemma thought she lived in. She will solve the mystery of Gemma and learn what happened in Gemma's past.
- Gemma: Gemma is the grandmother of the family, who keeps telling the same story, Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty). Her last words are," I am Briar Rose."
- Magda: Polish girl who translates and helps Becca in her travels.
- Shana: Becca's sister
- Sylvia: Becca's sister
- Stan: Becca's boss
- Josef Potocki: The so called "Prince"
- Howie: Becca's brother-in-law
- Aron: Member of the rebel group
- Father Stashu: Priest in Poland who knows much of Chelmo's history.
- Harvey Goldman: Old man
- Alan: Add a description of this character.
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Mike: Becca's brother-in-law
- Benjamin
- Genevieve: Becca's mother
- Gitl Mandlestein: Alias of Gemma
- Ksiciniczka: Means "Princess" in Polish. This was the name Gemma took when she awoke.
- Marge
- Jamie
- Shirley
- Mrs. Benton
Quotes edit
-
“A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”
Becca's Father Dr Berlin, quoting Winston Churchill -
“Just calling myself all kinds of fool.”
Becca -
“No, time may heal wounds, but it does not erase the scars.”
Stan -
“If one is not optimistic in Poland, then there is too much to weep about. In the not-so-past history are many tragedies. Every family can recite them. The blood of so many martyrs are still wet on our soil.”
Magda -
“Ah, you want an ending to the story. Not every story has an ending my friend.”
Magda -
“I cannot forgive them, you know. I can love them but I can not forgive them. But then- I do not have to. I am not God.”
Father Stashu -
“Wars do not make heroes of everyone.”
Josef -
“Wars may make heroes of men, but not all the time.”
Josef -
“There is a road to freedom. It's milestones are:Obedience, Industry, Honesty,Order, Cleanliness, Sobriety,Truthfullness, Spirit of Sacrafice andLove of Fatherland.”
Sign upon entering Sachenhausen. -
“We rescue one, they kill one thousand. Still-one is enough.”
Josef -
“Sometimes living takes more courage than dying.”
Magda -
“Poland is filled with heroes, six feet deep.”
Auntie -
“Truth is never tidy.”
Magda -
“You watch too much television. Too much Geraldo and Donahue. Too much women's rights. In the old days it was a prince.”
Gemma
Setting & Locations edit
- Poland
- Chelmno
- America
- Fort Oswego
- Lodz
- Paris
- Germany
- Bydgoszcz
- Warsaw
- Sachenhausen
- Chelmno: A secret extermination camp
Organizations edit
First Sentence edit
"Gemma, tell your story again," Shana begged, putting her arms around her grandmother and breathing in that special smell of talcum and lemon that seemed to belong only to her.
Table of Contents edit
Chapters 1-33
Author's Note
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Terri Windling's Fairy Tale Series. (publisher edition list)
This book is in Endicott's Adult Fairy Tales Reading List. (community list)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Tor Teen
Country: United States
Publication Date: March 15, 2002
ISBN: 978-0765342300
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Tor Teen
Country: United States
Publication Date: March 15, 2002
ISBN: 978-0765342300
Page Count: 224
Awards edit
- Mythopoeic Fantasy Award (1993: Adult Literature, #1)
- Nebula (Finalist, 1992: Best Novel)
- Locus Fantasy Award (Finalist, 1993, Nominee)
- World Fantasy Award (Finalist, 1993: Novel)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.54
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