by Barbara Krasner
Calkins Creek Books
9/13/2022, hardcover
SKU: 9781635926255
Convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union against the United States, Ethel Rosenberg shares the story of her beliefs, loves, secrets, betrayals, and injustices in this compelling YA novel in verse.
In 1953, Ethel Rosenberg, a devoted wife and loving mother, faces the electric chair. People say she's a spy, a Communist, a red. How did she get here? In a series of heart-wrenching poems, Ethel tells her story. The child of Jewish immigrants, Ethel Greenglass grows up on New York City's Lower East Side. She dreams of being an actress and a singer but finds romance and excitement in the arms of the charming Julius Rosenberg. Both are ardent supporters of rights for workers, but are they spies? Who is passing atomic secrets to the Soviets? Why does everyone seem out to get them?
This first book for young readers about Ethel Rosenberg is a fascinating portrait of a commonly misunderstood figure from American history, and vividly relates a story that continues to have relevance today.
Target Age: 13 to 17
Reviews:
"Told in verse, this is a story of persistence and resilience. Rosenberg stood up for what she believed in, called out injustices, and was committed to the fight to end poverty and bring rights to the worker. Excellently written and expertly researched, Krasner's work tells an important story not to be forgotten by time. A painful tale of familial betrayal, and yet another failure of the U.S. justice system... Jaw-dropping true story for any YA reader interested in U.S. political history." -- School Library Journal
"Krasner's daring historical novel is a collection of fictionalized first-person poems that...build tension through Rosenberg's consistently proud, defiant voice, and her confidence that she and Julius did nothing wrong... Family photos, interspersed throughout, lend poignancy; an epilogue and timeline provide context and additional historical background". -- Publishers Weekly
About the Author:
Barbara Krasner is the author of many books across genres, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and children's literature. Her recent titles include 37 Days at Sea: Aboard the M.S. St. Louis, 1939, Civilian Casualties in War and Ethel's Song: Ethel Rosenberg's Life in Poems. Her book Goldie Takes a Stand! Golda Meir's First Crusade was a recipient of the Sydney Taylor Honor Award.