Customer Reviews

The Return

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Return by Sonia Levitin was a very good book. It was a little bit hard to get into, but if you continued to read then you would find that it got more interesting. It is about a girl named Desta who lives in a small village on top of a mountain in Ethiopia. She is a Jew, and in her country that is not a good thing because they are often blamed for things, beaten, or killed. She lives with her Aunt and Uncle (because her parents are dead) her older brother Joas, and her younger sister Almaz.

Desta and her family live a quiet life, until one day when word of a dream that Weizero Channa (an old wise woman from another village) travels to their village. In her dream a "ram" leads his "sheep" to Jerusalem. They believe it, but would not go because of all the dangers they would face traveling because they are Jews. Joas, however, does want to leave and starts saving his money so that he can make the trip. When he talks to Desta of the trip she says there is no real reason why they should go and does not want to have anything to do with it.

Her sign that they should indeed leave soon comes. There is word from another village that men are coming to take the boys and force them to join the army. It is decided that they have to go now to save themselves from bad things or even death. With a group from another village (Kess, Weizero Channa, Dan, who is supposed to marry Desta, and a few others) they start on their hard journey to their freedom, in Jerusalem.

To make it through this journey, they need all the strength and faith they have to make it through all of the hardships. The story is very inspirational. I liked it so much I could not put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read or has much faith in his or her religion because this story can teach you how your faith can help you through the worst of times.

Over the summer, I was required to read 'The Return' for school. I am not at all a person who really likes to read. I did not want to read this book at first, but once I picked it up, I could not put it down.

This book was about a young girl Desta, who was forced to make changes that would effect her for the rest of her life. She was hated by many people because of her religion which led to one of the biggest decisions of her life, should she stay or should she leave.

That decision changed her life forever, in good ways and in bad. Throughout the entire story there was action and suspense which led to some of the major themes in this story. Three of the major themes were bravery, love, and faith. The book was based on Desta's faith in her religion, her love for her family, and her bravery which helped her through the hardest parts of her journey.

I would definitely recommend this book to anybody. I enjoyed reading it very much because I admired Desta. I admired how she was so brave and daring when she had to be, I admired how she would do anything for her family, and I admired her determination to be free.

I think not only teenagers, but adults as well, would enjoy reading this book very much. It is an excellent book!

The Return, overall, was a great book. It was full of suspense and at some points it even maid you feel a little emotional about certain topics that they talked about in the book. At many different times in the book it was also full of drama and tragedy. Most of all this was a very educational book about how people were treated because of their religion. When you read a book like this, it makes you feel glad that you live in a country where you can walk home from places and not be yelled at for the religion that you practice or the ways in which you practice it. In the beginning of the book I found it really easy to get sidetracked with something else because in the beginning of the book. The beginning of the book wasn't as eventful as most of the other chapters after that. For the most part, the beginning of the book was to me, pretty much the explaining period of the book. The beginning showed you how they had to live up high in the mountain because if they lived anywhere else they would be made fun of for the religion in which they practice. The book is about a young girl named, Desta. Desta lives with her Aunt Kibret and Uncle Tekle up in the mountains in Ethiopia, along with her younger sister, older brother and the others that lived in the village. Up in the mountains they hid in fear of being killed for the religion that they practice. Many people have tried to escape to start a new life in the promised land, Israel, but they were caught. Desta used to attend school with her best friend, but they stopped attending school because they were called names that made them feel uncomfortable. So she lives with her Aunt and Uncle and works up in the mountains and kept her younger sister safe. One day, Dan, the grandson of Weizero Channa, came to bring the news that his grandmother had a dream that visitors are coming. Desta doesn't really care for Dan in the way of marriage, but ever since she was little they made it so that Desta must marry Dan and that's why he always visits the village up there so that he can see Desta. As time passed, Weizero Channa's dream came true. Many Jews came as visitors to Ethiopia from New York. Many of the people of the village asked many questions because they believed that they were the only people that practiced that religion. The visitors told the people of the village many stories of how they are free where they come from and about many other things. After the visitors left, Desta's older brother, Joas had an idea to leave Ethiopia and take Desta and Almaz with him to the promised land of Israel. Desta told Joas that she didn't really want to go because she was afraid that they would get caught and therefor be killed. After awhile, though Desta decided to take Almaz and go with Joas on the long journey to the Promised Land. Late one night Desta went out back to talk to Kess Haim and Dan to make plans about leaving the lands of Ethiopia. Desta never realized how much she cared for Dan until he risked a lot to help get them out of Ethiopia with out anyone seeing them. They took off on the long, dangerous journey which was filled with them being hungry and thirsty most of the time. Kess Haim and others led the way to the Promised land and everyday Joas, Desta, and Almaz tried to catch up to them so they could find the place together. On the way to the Promised Land they faced many rough tasks including death. What I mean by this is that Joas the older brother was killed. He was shot. Desta and Almaz were both shocked and they hid and didn't move like Joas told them to because whoever shot Joas would come after Desta and Almaz also. With Joas being gone they continued their journey to the Promised Land. After a long and treacherous journey they made it to the Promised land and started a new life together in the Promised Land of Israel. There they can live without being mad fun of because of their religion because where they are they are with people of their kind, the Jews. I thought that The Return by Sonia Levitin was a great book. It made me look at what happens to people of a different religion from a whole different angle. I have some family members who converted to the Jewish religion and this book really helped me to understand the history of what it was like for people of that religion to grow up and have to hide their real beliefs of what they believe in.

At first I thought this book would be really boring, but after I read a few chapters I really got into it. I got to learn about Desta, who the book is about, her culture, and her family. They left their home and everyone they loved to better their lives in the Promised Land. Wow was that a journey! They had days when they were starving and when they were stuffed, days when they were cold and when they were hot, days when everything was happy and days when there were tragedies. I was so touched by the way everyone, including the children, believed and trusted in God. This book helped me relate to the Ethiopian culture. I learned some of their vocabulary and their way of life. I feel so bad for the people who made fun of Ethiopian Jews because they had to be so ignorant and arrogant. They could not be peaceful with each other because of what they were not who they were. I found myself completely immersed in the journey of Desta to Jerusalem. I really loved reading this book. I highly recommend this book for people who do not no how the people of this culture live, and for people who want to learn more about these people.

This book is about a Jewish Ethopian family, who unwilling to change their religion and wanting to escape torture, took a dangerous path to freedom. After Joas, Desta's older brother was shot, Desta had to guide herself and her sister, Almaz, to a safe path whereupon they met their friends. After hiring a guide, they set on going to their destination. Upon reaching the border that led to Sudan, their guide left them on their own. All of them were able to pass the border except Desta's bethroth

Dan, he saved the rest but was later released. While Desta and her friends had to face many hardships in Sudan. They were able to take a refugee bus that took tham to a refugee plane to Ethopia. In Ethopia, they were given all the necessities of life. Dan was able to escape and made his way to Ethopia. When Desta and her little sister and a friend went to visit weziero they were surprised and happy to see Dan there. It was decided right there in front of everyone that Desta and Dan could go on with their studies and they will see about marriage in the future. This is a book that makes you really understand a refugee and freedom.

I think that "The Return" by Sonia Levitin was overall a good book. At times I would loose interest in it, but then there were exciting events that would make you want to keep going and finish. But, some of the words were hard to understand and I would have to look then up in the glossary. I think that in the first few chapters there was too much detail, it came to the point where you lost interest because they told you every little detail. When I first started reading the book, I was not at all interested, but once I got to about chapter three, I was interested. I was interested because Joas was telling Desta about how he wanted to go to Jerusalem, and she was not sure if she wanted to go because it was such a long journey, and they might be caught. From there on I was interested. I think that now I understand how hard it was for some people a long time ago, and how much everyone takes things for granted. I thought it was strange how Dan and Desta where told to get married, and she really did not have much choice because of all the pressure. It seemed as if Desta did not really like Dan until she realized how much Dan cared for her. I do not know how to describe the book, because some of the moments were very sad and some where very good. I thought it was very sad when Joas was killed, and Desta and Almaz were left alone to find Dan, Melake, and Weizero Channa. It was also very sad that Desta and Almaz got rocks thrown at them because they were Falashas. I do think that was wrong for people to do to two children. But then there were good things, like when they found them, and when they finally reached Jerusalem. I would recommand this book because it is not what you expect. I think when you read the first chapter you expect something very boring, but once you are a few chapters into the book, it is very interesting. I would give this book three stars. I think that overall this book was good.

I read this book and was so touched that I was crying when I finished. It made me apprecaite so deeply what I actaully own and the privelege of living where I live where there is no religous discrimanation. I admit the the beginnning of the book is a litle boring but as you read on it will be like you are traveling ot Jerusalem yourself. An excellent book and I highly recommend it.

The story of Desta, Almaz, and the rest of the characters in a story warms the heart. The courage and strength of the heart and brain really make you think how lucky we are. The Ethiopian Jews never gave up hope and still said "next year in Israel." There are still those who must say that because of the cruel screwy government in Ethiopia. All in all, it was a remarkable story.

"The Return" is a book that I would defintely recommend to any one who enjoys learning about new cultures. This book informed the reader exactly how Desta(the main character)felt at different points of her journey in life. At one point Desta explains why she doesn't attend school any more, the author explains how ghastly the whole situation is from Desta's aspect. The whole event in some way ressembles the difficulty that Catholics experienced when they first immigrated to America(which was a mostly Protestant country). I ,myself, could never fully understand the extent of discrimination that any religion could face since I live in a country with no specific religous requirements. Desta is a 12 year old, Ethopian Jew. In the beginning of the book it almost seems like she is in love with Dan, the boy she is betrothed too. As the story continues Desta appears to be excited when she learns that if they escape she will not have to marry Dan. To her regret ,I'm sure, she later finds out that Dan and his family are escaping as well so she will have to marry Dan when they reach Israel. I think in some way she is saddened to leave her aunt and uncle because she wanted them to see her marry Dan. The part that saddens me the most is the way Desta leaves her small village behind. Before Desta, her older brother Joas, and younger sister Almaz left their village they were suppose to have a traditional celebration for travelers. The plans were unfortunately ruined because of the arriving of soldiers. This forced the 3 to leave in a hurry. They never got to properly say goodbye to their aunt and uncle . The funny part about the whole thing is that Desta forgets to bring the bread and her brother ansd sister appear to be angry because of her absent mindedness. Over all I ejoyed reading this book and encourage other people to read it. I like this author's writing style so much that it has inspired me to read other books written by Sonia Levitin.

The book entitled "The Return" written by Sonia Levitin tells the story of the plight of the Ethiopian Jews. The story is filled with so much tragedy and drama that when you start to read you will find it hard to put the book down. The Author Sonia Levitin, told the story of the Ethiopian Jews and the difficult time they had trying to practice their faith in Ethiopia, and their final journey out of Ethopia to Isreal. The story is made real to the reader, as the author tells the story of a Jewish family and their struggles. They were mistreated because of the way they practiced their religion. The family in this story experienced many difficulties. The main character is Desta. She lives with her older brother Joas, and her younger sister Almaz. Their parents died and they were left with there aunt and uncle who became there legal gaurdians. They took care of them and they gave them a place to live. They lived in a tiny village with other Ethiopean Jews seperated from the rest of the community. They practiced their religion differently from the others and refused to change their ways. They were tortured and presented as outcasts. They were even given the name Falasha which meant-Stranger. One day, Joas the oldest son decided that the best thing to do would be to leave Ethiopia and go to Isreal where they would be free to practice their religion. At first Desta's aunt and uncle refused to let them go because they thought it would be to dangerous. Then they realized that they couldn't let the children grow up in a country where they were not accepted,so they let them go...The story of the Ethiopian Jews was very interesting and I really enjoyed the book. I liked the fact that Desta was so brave and was willing to sacrifice everything to help her sister, and she did not give up ... I would recommend this book to my friends.