But Can the Phoenix Sing? [Paperback]

Christa Laird (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998

Misha Edelman escaped from the Nazis through the sewers of the Warsaw Ghetto and joined a partisan band trying to save as many Jews as possible. Survival came at a heavy cost, and years later he writes a letter to his stepso n to try to explain himself. '

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto recalls his experiences in Nazi-occupied Poland in this sequel to Shadow of the Wall. Ages 12-up. (Apr.) r
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?British teen Rich Buchanan is alienated from his stepfather, Misha Edelman, because of the man's seemingly strict disciplinary standards. Rich is also worried about the consequences of his involvement in an anti-Semitic incident at school. Just before a trip to Australia to see his long-lost sister, Misha gives the boy a manuscript he wrote describing his family's Holocaust experiences in Poland and his fear-filled, harrowing ordeal to survive; he wants his stepson to understand his life and why he acts the way he does. His account constitutes most of the novel and is as vivid and believable a first-person narrative as any written by a Holocaust survivor. Through letters to his girlfriend Katie, Rich reveals his increasing empathy for his stepfather and his guilt over the way he has treated him. An afterword tells of Rich's journalist father's death in Uruguay and contains a letter to Katie about his emotional reconciliation with Misha, who rushed back from his reunion with his sister to be with him at this time. Readers may see the young man's sketchy missives as an unwarranted interruption in the flow of Misha's exciting narrative, but they do show how he changes his mind about his stepfather. An inspiring affirmation of life in two generations.?Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: HarperTrophy (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688158609
• ISBN-13: 978-0688158606
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,479,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars -, March 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: But Can the Phoenix Sing? (Paperback)

I've read it over and over again and it still makes me cry every time!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was very captivating., October 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: But Can the Phoenix Sing? (Paperback)

I thought this book was very interesting. One of the reasons I liked this book is because it tells about partisans who fought against the Nazis. All the events in this book are descriptive. Reading about what different things the partisans did was very interesting and exciting.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Journey, April 14, 2003

By 

Karolina (Monroe, NC, U.S.A) - See all my reviews

This review is from: But Can the Phoenix Sing? (Paperback)

BUT CAN THE PHOENIX SING? By: Christa Laird

Christa Laird makes a powerful statement in But Can The Phoenix Sing? Can a person be dynamic after a terrifying experience in World War Two? The book is based on a true story of the life of Misha Edelman.
The book starts when 15-years-old Misha Edelman is send to the front line of Poland during World War Two to help Jewish people. His mission is to save people from different concentration camps around Poland. He meets amazing people: Eva, Henryk, Vasily, and Doctor Korczak. They become a "family", but there are many obstacles in his life's journey. There are many unexpected events that happen in his journey to Warsaw. Is he going to survive? "My whole body was mass of pain." Is he going to be himself again? "Polish Jew, protégé of Dr. Korczak, ex-partisan and resistance worker." Is he going to find another love?
If you want to find answers for all these questions you should definitely read this book! This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is extremely moving and it keeps you guessing the whole time. I love this book because you can learn a lot about World War Two. I deeply recommend this book to both kids as adults. It is just amazing how brave a little boy can be and how much courage he has for his country. If you love to read sterling war stories you should definitely read this one! I guaranty you will not regret it...you might even learn a valuable lesson!