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15th out of 108 books
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92 voters
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Stones in Water
by
Donna Jo Napoli (Goodreads Author)
When Roberto sneaks off to see a movie in his Italian village, German soldiers raid the theater and pack them onto a train bound for a work camp. Roberto and his best friend, Samuele, vow to stick together. But Samuele has a terrible secret which, if discovered, could get them both killed.
Mass Market Paperbound, 224 pages
Published
November 1st 1999
by Puffin Books
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Stones in Water. Napoli, Donna Jo.
Rating: ***
Summary: Roberto and his friend sneak off to go see a movie in a small town. During the movie German soldiers take all the young boys to a camp. The boys witness shootings and many other graphic situations. The two boys try to stick together as the boys are separated. Luckily the boys stay in the same group. However, Samuel has a dark secret that could get him killed if the soldiers find out. Roberto sneaks food across lines since ...more
Rating: ***
Summary: Roberto and his friend sneak off to go see a movie in a small town. During the movie German soldiers take all the young boys to a camp. The boys witness shootings and many other graphic situations. The two boys try to stick together as the boys are separated. Luckily the boys stay in the same group. However, Samuel has a dark secret that could get him killed if the soldiers find out. Roberto sneaks food across lines since ...more
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An almost surprisingly poignant book set during WWII, told from the point of view of an Italian boy forced into labor by the Nazis. Despite being a childrens' book, the author gives an honest view of the cruelty of Axis forces toward those they considered both friends and enemies.
There's nothing truly graphic enough in the horrors described that would be too much for young readers, though those especially sensitive to the suffering of others at the hands of ordinary men behaving li...more
There's nothing truly graphic enough in the horrors described that would be too much for young readers, though those especially sensitive to the suffering of others at the hands of ordinary men behaving li...more
Stones in Water is a thrilling book written by Donna Jo Napoli. When a young Italian boy by the name of Roberto gets captured from a movie theatre in Venice with his brother Sergio and two friends Memo and Samuelle, they are taken to a concentration camp in Germany. At the camp Robert and Samuelle get separated from Memo and Sergio, they must help each other survive. but Samuelle has a life threatening secret and they are both dying to keep it.
The best part about this book was the end...more
The best part about this book was the end...more
Stones in Water in a great book written by Donna Jo Napoli. In short, during World War Two, a young Italian Boy named Roberto goes to see an American film with some friends and his older brother. Before the movie starts, Nazi's fill the theater and usher them out and on to a train, headed for Germany. The boys must now live in a brutal work camp and keep Roberto's friend Samuele's secret, that he is Jewish, and in the middle of a work camp.
I think the best thing about the book is tha...more
All Roberto and his friends, Memo and Enzo wanted to do was see an American movie at the theater that afternoon. However, WWII and Hitler are marching through Venice and are intent on rounding up young boys to be their manual labor under some of the cruelest conditions. They are boarded onto a train, taken away from their families, and work nearly the whole day with little to eat or drink. Conditions are brutal, but not as bad as the plight of the Polish Jews who are penned within barbed wire ne...more
This book reminded me of how bad people really had it during World War 2. It's crazy what starvation and the cold can really do to people. People were really strong during that time. I don't know if I could have handled all that most of the prisoners went through.
Roberta is a young Italian boy, relatively unaffected by WWII, that just wants to see a good old Western with his friends. It is a little bit of a concernt obe going with his best friend Samuele since he is a Jew, but not a big enough deal to change plans. The four boys, including Roberto's older brother are enjoying their movie when the lights come on followed by a bunch of German soldiers. No need to worry, they are on the same team, probably just sendin them home for watching an American film...more
The main issue or problem to this story is WW2. These boys in this story are right in the middle of the war. They are sent to these camps to work by the Germans. The setting of this book take place around 1940's in Itly, Germany, and Hungary. Roberto and Samuele. They go through alot together. They are very brave and strive to never give up. "I wish I could keep living, jsut to seet his war through with you. How lucky I've been to have you for a friend." this was said by Samuele. The ...more
In "Stones in Water" starts out in Venice, Italy. Memo, Roberto, Sergio and Samuele, who is Jewish, all go to the next city over to watch a American Western during the time of WWII. Right before the movie starts German soldiers come in and force everyone out of the theater and force them onto trains. They travel there for a while and then they get off at a train station and are forced into groups to follow the soldiers. Sergio who is much older gets put with the older boys. Memo, Rober...more
This book was so good I was actually dreaming i was Roberto during WWII.
"Stones in Water" is a book about a boy named Roberto. The story takes place in Italy during World war II. At the beginning of the book, Roberto goes to see a Western with his friends Memo and Samuele, and his older brother Sergio. But when they arrive at the theater they captured by Nazi soldiers and sent to work camps. Now Roberto must fid a way to get back home to Venice. I would recomend this book to anyone intrested in the World War II time period, that is from ages twelve to adu...more
I gave this book 3 stars because I really like the plot and some of the things the boys did but I didn't like the characters. Especially how they treated the other boys they had been sent to camp with. I also didn't like how they were so different in parts of the book with each other. So really the only thing in this book that I didn't like were the characters, something about them and how they acted really bugged me. I liked the plot because it was very different than all of the other books...more
Stones in Water By: Donna Jo Napoli Book Review Brian Bredemann
Reading 8-McG
Book Review 4/27/08
If you love historical fiction and World War II, then you will love Stones in Water. This book is about a fourteen year-old named Roberto, who lives in Venice, Italy during the time Italy was part of the Axis forces in 1942.
The story begins with Roberto, his friends Memo and Samuele and his brother, Sergio, getting captured in a movi...more
Reading 8-McG
Book Review 4/27/08
If you love historical fiction and World War II, then you will love Stones in Water. This book is about a fourteen year-old named Roberto, who lives in Venice, Italy during the time Italy was part of the Axis forces in 1942.
The story begins with Roberto, his friends Memo and Samuele and his brother, Sergio, getting captured in a movi...more
A great book! If you're like me and like to learn about history through stories, than this is a great read for you. It's about WW2 and is told from the perspective of a young Italian boy who is captured with a bunch of other young boys to serve on Germany's side in the war. It's about learning to stand up for what you believe is right no matter what. Dealing with the fiercest of trials and taking them head on and not letting it get you too down. These boys had it bad, but were able to stay posit...more
I love historical fiction and thought this was an excellent story about Italian boys who are rounded up by the Nazis, then hauled to Germany and other areas to do labor - make airport runways, build primitive concentration camps, etc. The story flows well, lots of exciting parts, plus it's based on fact, so that makes it even better. Some good lessons about war, human nature, and the silliness of hating another because of nationality or religious affiliation.
A young boy just means to sneak into a movie with his brother and their buddies, but when German soldiers come bursting through the doors, everyone’s life changes. The boys are thrown onto a train and monitored by gunpoint. They end up in German work camps during the Holocaust. Will they make it out alive? Just as it happened in real life, very few survive. Read the book to find out who lives.
I thought this book was really good, but then I got to the end, and it just cut off. I really liked the boy Samuele because he always kept his religion no matter what. I hated how you never really find out what happens. It is like the author just got tired of writing. It has a great moral and deals a lot with friendship and service. It is not a typical WWII story.
Patricia Sanders-smith
added it
I read this book in middle school, primarily because it was banned, but still remember it very well. It was an excellent book about two children during WWII. I remember some of the more graphic parts and today as an adult who has visited the Holocaust Mueseum in Washington D.C. realize just how truthful the author was in her telling their tale.
Napoli outdoes herself in this novel about Italian middle-school boys conscripted by the Germans to do manual labor on behalf of the Axis war effort. The story is a gripping, non-stop adventure that also manages to be a powerful indictment of war and a touching portrayal of the sacrifices people can make for one another in terrible times.
These brothers Roberto and Samuele are close. Although they are not the richest family nor luckiest. These 2 boys get captured and brung to a nazi camp. They are forced to work really hard in the cold. They are torchered and just want to leave so they try and escape. I thought this book was very interesting. Also that sometimes it did honestly get a little boring but sometimes it was really good. I would recommend you to read this book if you like history and conflicts also somewhat a mystery i ...more
Ursula
added it
if this is the book I think it is, I thought it was very good. I loved how it started out happy and it really went through the process of going through everything, as tough to read as it was. It's been a while considering I read it in fifth grade, but I remember I liked it very much
I really enjoyed this book. It gave a perspective on WW2 that I hadn't known of before (Germany kidnapping Italian boys and forcing them into work camps). The prose was well-written and the story flowed nicely. I thought it very age-appropriate and would like to read something else by Napoli in the future.
I read this book on my daughter's recommendation becasue she had to read it for school. She knows that I love WWII anything, so I read it. Very sad, touching and yet inspiring too. Good Read and makes me once again realize all the sacrifices made by everyone touched by that war.
this is a really sad story about an italian jew who's life is completely destroyed by world was II. if your looking for a sad book or are trying to study world war II for a history test this is totally your book.
Mercedez
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People who like books about WWII
Recommended to Mercedez by:
Mrs.Kimberley
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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In English we had to read books that the other students said made an impact on them. This was one of the books. It is about an Italian and a Jewish boy during the Holocaust. It was pretty good.
Story of the Holocaust from the point of view of the Italian Resistance, which we don't often see in literature. Excellent story of survivors in World War II Italy.
Excellent...the only book I've ever in my life felt screamed out for a [so far nonexistent] sequel. The ending seemed too abrupt.
THis book was so amazing! There needs to be a sequel though because it left you hanging!I love anything about WWII but this was awesome!
i learned something about history from this book that i knew nothing about. the images are still vivid in my mind.
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From her website:
Donna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction.
Donna Jo has five children. She dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist. She loves to garden and bake bread.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked...more
More about Donna Jo Napoli...
Donna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction.
Donna Jo has five children. She dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist. She loves to garden and bake bread.
At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked...more
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