LitPick Review
Black Radishes is the story of a French Jewish family living during the Nazi occupation. Gustave and his family are living peacefully in Paris during World War II when they are alerted that the Nazis might soon be invading France. His family moves to Saint-George's, a small country town in France, thinking they will be safer there. When the Germans do arrive, they are able to take over only part of the country and, luckily, Gustave and his family are on the safe side. Sadly, his family leaves close friends and relatives behind in Paris (now occupied by the Germans) and would like to bring them to safety, fearing that they might be taken into "camps" and killed. To make matters worse, Gustave's family's food rations are very low. When Gustave meets Nicole, a member of the French Resistance, though, everything changes. They are able to receive better food and feel less threatened. Nicole is even able to help Gustave's relatives get across to the safe side of France.
Opinion:
I liked this book because I love historical fiction. Gustave is brave and determined to bring his family back together and takes many risks to achieve his goal. He is terrified of the Nazis, who he fears might capture his family, especially since they are Jews. But his bravery helps him achieve his goal of bringing his friends and relatives across to the safe side of France. The setting is described with much detail, set mostly in Saint-George's, a dusty, country town with a smaller population than Paris's. The contrast between these two cities is vivid and enhances the plot. The plot itself is well written and expresses Gustave's feelings towards the Nazis - fear and hatred - but it also shows how some Nazi soldiers treated the French citizens with respect. The book especially conveys French citizens' feelings of hostility towards the Jews. This book taught me a lot about World War II and how France was involved. I gave this book an 8 because I felt it spends too much time in Saint-George's, telling about Gustave's daily life. This got a little boring after a while. Other than this, the book is terrific. It would be a great historical reference for many readers and is full of adventure. I would recommend this book to readers ages 10 and up.
