Customer Reviews

Chernowitz (Signet)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The protagonist in this book is singled out for harrassment by the high school anti-semite. As the situation worsens he finds his former friends attacking him and his world against him. The book takes an interesting turn as the character plots revenge in the most bloodthirsty manner and then outgrows this to come into a maturity of sorts.

There are some problems with the book. It is young adult and has simple prose. Also the anti-semitism described in the book is more prevalent in schools with more Jews and since the character is a fairly assimilated Jew, many kids in whitebread communities don't know who is and who is not a Jew. (just like one assumes everyone in high school is straight until the class reunion). The ending with the Holocaust films was melodramatic.

Besides that it is one of the more realistic portrayals of what it's like to be an outsider in school and to have everyone against you for one reason or the other.

Chernowitz is scary because this is exactly how bullying starts. Cherno is the average kid who plays sports, takes guitar lessons, has friends, etc. Then along comes a big, angry kid from a broken home, who starts picking on Cherno with insults aimed at his name. Then the other kids join in, calling him "Christ-killer", "sheeny", "Jew-bastard", etc. Even his best friend turns on him.

This isn't as much a book about anti-semitism as it is about the anatomy of bullying. You have an antisocial kid who is angry at the world, spots an easy target for his anger, and starts firing away. Other kids are attracted to his toughness (which in reality is just anger) and join in.

One piece of advice for kids reading the book: Cherno makes a decision not to tell his parents or teachers and that's where he makes his mistake. By not telling his parents, he gets no advice on how to deal with it.

This should be required reading for any teacher or parent who wants to understand how bullying works.

This book was in great condition although it was a used product. I will buy again from Amazon.com Thanks so much for your great service.

Let me express my appreciation of this book by writing an ad for it--or as I would advertised it to my students:

"Cherno" isn't good enough. If you're Jewish, you've got to sound it. Not Cherno--Chernowitz. Like Herowitz. That way everyone knows your're a "Jew bastard" and "Christ Killer." Who feels this way? Emmitt Sundback, a ninth-grade bully. Not too bright in most ways, but he's sure got it right--so he feels--about Jews.

Every day Bobby Cherno dreads going to school. Not only does he have to face the sneering comments of Emmitt, but also his "gang"--students who used to be Bobby's friends.

Finally, after over a year of torture, Bobby decides to fight back dirty--just like Emmett. He's going to get revenge.

A powerful story.

[You can see this and other such ads in the 2011 edition of THE CREATIVE TEACHER: ACTIVITIES FOR LANGUAGE ARTS (GRADES 4 THROUGH 8 AND UP)]

The Creative Teacher: Activities for Language Arts (Grades 4 through 8 and Up)

Great book for the study of bullying, if you can get past the cover. Most students turn their noses up when they see the outdated cover, but it is a compelling story, well-worth the read.

The book I read was chernowitz. It was about a boy in 9th grade named bobby. He is Jewish. Bobby was being picked on by another boy named Emmit Sundback because he was Jewish. Emmit and some former friends of bobby's do some bad and mean things to bobby. Then they go too far and bobby goes off the deep end. Bobby does something to get back at Emmit for all the pain he's caused. To find out the outcome of the story read this book. I really liked this book and it deals with prejudice only in modern times. I rate this book five out of five stars for a good multicultural book. This book is related to the other books I have read about discrimination, prejudice, and the holocaust. One of those books I read was Number the Stars. It was about a Jewish family's struggle during World War 2. The only difference between these two books is that one was a long time ago and the other is in modern times. for a good multicultural book. This book is related to the other books I have read about dicrimination, prejudice, and the holicost. One of those books I read was Number the Stars. it was about a jewish family's struggle during world war 2. The only difference between these two books is that one was a long time agao and the other is in modern times.

I had to read this book as a school assignment and I was supposed to finish it in three weeks and finished it in two days. The details of how far these Anti-Semites will go is amazing.