Recent Reads: Another Me by Eva Wiseman

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers and Tundra Books in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Another Me by Eva Wiseman
Publisher:  Tundra Books
Publication Date:  September 13, 2016

 

Format:  Hardback
Rating:
 


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Set against the backdrop of plague-ravaged Europe, this spellbinding new novel from one of Canada's foremost writers of historical fiction for young people will have readers racing to the electrifying climax.

Seventeen-year-old Natan has a safe and happy life in fourteenth-century Strasbourg, France. He works with his father in his rag trade, helps his mother around the house, and studies the Torah at night with his young brother, Shmuli. He's even feeling the first stirrings of love with Elena, the daughter of the master draper who is his father's best customer.

But something is rotten in the streets of Strasbourg. There is tension between the Jewish community and the rest of the citizens, and there is fear as the deadly plague sweeps through towns and cities nearby. When rumors begin to circulate that Jewish residents are contaminating the town's well water to try to hasten the plague's arrival in their city, Natan knows that there are dangerous days ahead. When he sees who really poisoned Strasbourg's water, he is determined to speak the truth and save his people from the false accusations being made against them. But a moment of violence threatens to derail his plans and change his life in ways he could never have imagined."

Review: 
This book was not what I expected in a wonderful way. It is about a Jewish boy in France who falls in love with a non-Jewish girl and then finds out something that gets him killed. The story overall is about the persecution of the Jewish population during the plagues. Many Jewish people were thought to have brought the plague to others since less Jewish people were dying from it, that is not to say that none died, but in a time when people had no idea about disease and how it spread if a population was doing better than others - it was their fault.

Another Me follows Natan as he works with his father and meets a young girl, they are drawn together and while out late one night visiting her he notices some people poisoning the community well - they are dropping in rotting food, feces and even killing a cat. Knowing that this cannot be helping the plague that is ruining other cities, Natan tries to do something about it. In the process, he dies, BUT his spirit is still around trying to tell someone what has happened and who should be blamed.

The story has a lot of sadness and the unfair treatment of many people, but there is also bravery and love and some hope through it all. It was a very good read. It is fiction but everything seemed like it could/would happen during this period in history.