MILKWEED

He can't remember anything before stealing food from street shoppers. People mistake him for a Jew, but he's really a Gypsy. Day by day Warsaw, Poland, becomes more dangerous as "jackboots" (Nazis) take over every aspect of city life. When this young boy is "adopted" by an adult street person, he learns about orphans, angels, carousel horses, and survival in this dark time in history. Ron Rifkin uses a gentle, somber voice that fits the reflective recollection of the main character's flashback into time. His nuances help readers laugh in all the right places, proving that even in the grayest landscape, hope and laughter can be found. J.M.S. Winner of 2004 ALA/ YALSA Recording (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 04]