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The Blood Lie
September 22, 1928, Massena, New York. Jack Pool's sixteenth birthday. He's been restless lately, especially during this season of more-times-at-the-synagogue than you can shake a stick at. If it wasn't Rosh Hashanah, then it was Yom Kippur, and if it wasn't Yom Kippur, it was the Sabbath. But temple's good for some things. It gives him lots of time to daydream about a beautiful but inaccessible Gentile girl named Emaline. And if she isn't on his mind, then he's thinking about his music and imagining himself playing the cello with the New York Philharmonic. Yup, music is definitely his ticket out of this remote whistle-stop townhe doesn't want to be stuck here one more minute. But he doesn't realize exactly how stuck he is until Emaline's little sister Daisy goes missing and he and his family are accused of killing her for a blood sacrifice.
Blood Lie was inspired by a real blood libel that took place when a small girl disappeared from Massena, New York, in 1928, and an innocent Jewish boy was called a murderer.
141 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 31, 2014
Jack has a crush on Emaline, a gentile. He knows their romance can never develop because he is Jewish, and their relationship would be unacceptable in 1928. The unthinkable happens when Emaline's younger sister, Daisy, goes missing--Jack is blamed for her disappearance.
This short novel shows the hatred and anti-semitism that existed in the 1920s. Based on a true story, this novel will teach young people what it means to hate, and more importantly, what it means to forgive.
This short novel shows the hatred and anti-semitism that existed in the 1920s. Based on a true story, this novel will teach young people what it means to hate, and more importantly, what it means to forgive.
November 8, 2012
(If you don't want to see any spoilers, stop reading after "The conclusion is good.")
I feel like Shirley Vernick's first novel deserves more than the three stars I'm giving her, I would have chosen three and a half if Goodreads allowed. The selling point of the story, especially from the point of view of a teacher, is the thematic elements.
In an era of ever-growing attention to bullying and bigotry, this novel puts forth the story of a Jewish boy who is accused of murder by the people in his town with absolutely no evidence. It immediately forces readers out of their comfort zone, especially when they know the story is based upon a true story. The boy's name is Jack and he is very well developed throughout the story. He is our main character, although Vernick repeatedly shifts the point of view away from Jack. He is shy, love-struck, family-oriented, musically driven, and has a spark of rebellion that prevents him from being an unrealistic, teenage male. His story touches the heart and the fear he feels is fully experienced by the reader.
The descriptive language and the style of writing are also very well done. I enjoy Vernick's attention to detail, although it can occasionally distract, and the shifting point of view really helps her story. Coming from a guy who isn't a fan of shifting points of view, this is quite an accomplishment. On top of that, using a combination of fact and fiction, Vernick paints a very real small town. Of course, the story is based upon an actual town in New York which were infused with her own characters and plot details, but this doesn't take away any of her set building ability.
After listing all of these positives, and there are more than the ones mentioned, you may be wondering why I gave the text a three, or a three and a half, out of five. The conclusion.
The conclusion is good. The conclusion wraps up the main story and offers a mature, realistic ending for a novel set in the 1920s, not the happy ever after that young adults may have preferred. However, the conclusion leaves a number of untied threads. What happens in this battle between Gentiles and Jews? Do they sweep it under the rug (which is what happened in real life) or do they head towards another outpouring of violence as the story suggests? Does Jack escape the town or remain trapped in Massena forever?
And most importantly … what the hell happened with Daisy out in the woods?
What do you mean, Adam? Daisy returned to her sister and told the audience what happened.
Yeah, except for three things. First, Daisy brings up the fact that her panties were torn, something about tearing them while climbing over something. Why does she bring that up? Okay, maybe that’s just an unnecessary detail to add to the story. However, the second thing that happens is that Daisy holds her sister tightly and starts crying. Okay, she missed her sister. Big deal.
Third, Emaline asks Daisy to thank the twins. Daisy stares at the twins, slams the door in their face, and, when Emaline scolds her, Daisy yells “No!” and holds the door shut until she hears that the twins have gone down the steps and walked away. Not to mention, Emaline is confused by the twin’s explanation of events and refers to them as “crazy and mixed-up” even though the story seems relatively simple to follow. Combine this information with the fact that Daisy has a bump on her head and doesn’t remember a portion of her adventure and …
You freaked out yet? You should be. Never mentioned again, Daisy doesn’t even appear after the family is reunited. I can only identify two possible scenarios. First, the whole scene is just a lot of bad character development. This seems unlikely due to the fact that Vernick has proved adept at developing characters, such as Jack and Emaline. The second scenario is that Vernick created this scene and either forgot about it or didn’t use the ending that explained the odd occurrences. I have heard that her editors told her to cut nearly a third of the novel out, so this scenario seems the most plausible.
Overall, I think Vernick’s book is interesting and worth glancing through. Her book kind of drops off at the end and only resolves one of her multiple plot threads, including the one that is equally as interesting and shocking as her main focus. Besides that, the only problems I had with the book were minor, small sections of the text that seemed out of place and distracting. The theme is intriguing, the main characters are interesting, and the whole novel can be a good place to introduce young adults to the ideas of hatred and bigotry in the real world.
I feel like Shirley Vernick's first novel deserves more than the three stars I'm giving her, I would have chosen three and a half if Goodreads allowed. The selling point of the story, especially from the point of view of a teacher, is the thematic elements.
In an era of ever-growing attention to bullying and bigotry, this novel puts forth the story of a Jewish boy who is accused of murder by the people in his town with absolutely no evidence. It immediately forces readers out of their comfort zone, especially when they know the story is based upon a true story. The boy's name is Jack and he is very well developed throughout the story. He is our main character, although Vernick repeatedly shifts the point of view away from Jack. He is shy, love-struck, family-oriented, musically driven, and has a spark of rebellion that prevents him from being an unrealistic, teenage male. His story touches the heart and the fear he feels is fully experienced by the reader.
The descriptive language and the style of writing are also very well done. I enjoy Vernick's attention to detail, although it can occasionally distract, and the shifting point of view really helps her story. Coming from a guy who isn't a fan of shifting points of view, this is quite an accomplishment. On top of that, using a combination of fact and fiction, Vernick paints a very real small town. Of course, the story is based upon an actual town in New York which were infused with her own characters and plot details, but this doesn't take away any of her set building ability.
After listing all of these positives, and there are more than the ones mentioned, you may be wondering why I gave the text a three, or a three and a half, out of five. The conclusion.
The conclusion is good. The conclusion wraps up the main story and offers a mature, realistic ending for a novel set in the 1920s, not the happy ever after that young adults may have preferred. However, the conclusion leaves a number of untied threads. What happens in this battle between Gentiles and Jews? Do they sweep it under the rug (which is what happened in real life) or do they head towards another outpouring of violence as the story suggests? Does Jack escape the town or remain trapped in Massena forever?
And most importantly … what the hell happened with Daisy out in the woods?
What do you mean, Adam? Daisy returned to her sister and told the audience what happened.
Yeah, except for three things. First, Daisy brings up the fact that her panties were torn, something about tearing them while climbing over something. Why does she bring that up? Okay, maybe that’s just an unnecessary detail to add to the story. However, the second thing that happens is that Daisy holds her sister tightly and starts crying. Okay, she missed her sister. Big deal.
Third, Emaline asks Daisy to thank the twins. Daisy stares at the twins, slams the door in their face, and, when Emaline scolds her, Daisy yells “No!” and holds the door shut until she hears that the twins have gone down the steps and walked away. Not to mention, Emaline is confused by the twin’s explanation of events and refers to them as “crazy and mixed-up” even though the story seems relatively simple to follow. Combine this information with the fact that Daisy has a bump on her head and doesn’t remember a portion of her adventure and …
You freaked out yet? You should be. Never mentioned again, Daisy doesn’t even appear after the family is reunited. I can only identify two possible scenarios. First, the whole scene is just a lot of bad character development. This seems unlikely due to the fact that Vernick has proved adept at developing characters, such as Jack and Emaline. The second scenario is that Vernick created this scene and either forgot about it or didn’t use the ending that explained the odd occurrences. I have heard that her editors told her to cut nearly a third of the novel out, so this scenario seems the most plausible.
Overall, I think Vernick’s book is interesting and worth glancing through. Her book kind of drops off at the end and only resolves one of her multiple plot threads, including the one that is equally as interesting and shocking as her main focus. Besides that, the only problems I had with the book were minor, small sections of the text that seemed out of place and distracting. The theme is intriguing, the main characters are interesting, and the whole novel can be a good place to introduce young adults to the ideas of hatred and bigotry in the real world.
August 15, 2024
Libby: Based loosely on real events. But didn't seem dramatic enough? Maybe I'm just used to the worst case senerios. Or maybe because because the MC was only 16 and a mostly clueless boy, but it just didn't feel as dramatic as the cover and title made it out to be.
Read by Christopher Gebauer. #booksin24
Read by Christopher Gebauer. #booksin24
November 30, 2011
It’s September 22, 1928, and sixteen-year-old Jack Pool is itching to leave his small town in upstate New York. A talented cellist, he has an audition at the Bentley School of Music in three days. Acceptance to the elite boarding school will be his ticket out of Massena. It will also mean leaving behind the girl that he knows he can never have: Jack is Jewish, and Emaline Durham is Christian.
In the opening pages of “The Blood Lie: A Novel,” by Shirley Reva Vernick (Cinco Puntos Press, 2011), we learn the connection between the two: their mothers had become friends as newlywed brides recently moved to Massena. The mothers’ unlikely friendship—and a such a close relationship between Jewish and Christian women was unlikely in a small town at that time—spawned a friendship between their children as well. But when Emaline’s four-year-old sister Daisy goes missing after playing with Jack’s little sister, Jack finds himself the prime suspect in her disappearance.
It is two days before Yom Kippur, the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews, and someone in town with a definite interest in the case has revived the centuries-old lie that Jews sacrifice Christian children for their rituals—the blood libel.
“The Blood Lie” is based on a true story, which is described in an author’s note at the end. As a sophomore in college, Vernick was given the assignment of identifying a local controversy—past or present—in her hometown, and writing a paper about the outcome. This is her interpretation of the story that she uncovered.
Vernick’s afterward also makes the point that the blood libel has not died. Stories of the Jewish sacrifice of Christian children persist, with a 2008 campaign in a Russian city claiming that Jews were “stealing small children and draining their blood to make their sacred bread.”
The book is not without its flaws. I found the ending a bit too abrupt. What’s more, after Daisy was found—safe, if a little unsound—there was speculation that the little girl had been molested, prompting some of the townsmen to vow that they would take their revenge on the Jews. I fully expected a dramatic confrontation, but oddly enough, there was none.
Still, “The Blood Lie” is an engrossing story of forbidden love, terrifying bigotry, and, eventually, forgiveness. The rabbi in particular has some graphic remembrances that would be disturbing to younger readers, but this book is appropriate to middle grade and young adult readers. And honestly? Adults, too.
This review originally appeared in the Sunday, November 20 edition of The News-Gazette. The review copy was supplied by the publisher.
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May 3, 2011Well, I wrote it!
September 28, 2011
A chilling story of anti-Semitism.
January 4, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I listened to the audiobook, and Christopher Gebauer provided an excellent performance that brought Jack’s plight to life.
This novel takes your heart out, rips it to shreds, and then leaves it lying there on the cold, hard ground. I should have guessed from the first Shirley Reva Vernick novel I read (“The Sky We Shared” - highly recommend if you haven’t read it) that Vernick would not hold any punches back in revealing a dark, painful chapter of American history. There is no happily ever after, no sparkle of a brighter future for any of the characters. While I was initially appalled at the abrupt ending, the author’s note helped explain this harsh tactic - there is no way to tie a pretty bow on this story because the blood lie continues to thrive in our modern society, feeding on prejudices and fear. As Lauren Myracle, a New York Times bestselling author, states concerning this novel, “A powerful - and poignant - reminder that no person can live freely until all people can live freely.”
0.5 star reduction due to the lack of a conclusion for Daisy’s disappearance. There are a few reasons I’ve theorized why Daisy’s disappearance was written the way it was, but I still would have preferred a more definite commitment to whichever scenario Vernick chose.
1. Another commenter mentioned Vernick’s editor told her to cut almost a third of the original novel out - did this really happen? If so, were the details that rounded out Daisy’s disappearance lost in the revisions? I’d be curious to see the original manuscript if this was the case!
2. A realistic (albeit painful to the reader) portrayal of mob mentality/ mass hysteria. Clearly, the townspeople with massive vendettas against the Jewish population (or even those simply fueled by misinformation and fear) didn’t care to find out the truth behind Daisy’s disappearance - they wanted a narrative that would suit their needs, and they “needed” a scapegoat for everything wrong in their lives. If the truth didn’t fit into that, too bad. Revealing the events surrounding Daisy’s disappearance would have required someone to investigate it further, and who was likely to do that - the Jewish population that had just been accused of murder and were walking on eggshells, or the townspeople spoiling for any reason to fight? No one was in a position to uncover or want to uncover the truth, and Daisy had returned home alive.
3. Daisy is 4 years old when she disappears. While her explanation of what happened to Emaline leaves some gaps - why does she have a bump on her head? Why does she slam the door in the twins’ faces and refuse to talk to them? — it could be Vernick’s attempt to accurately portray a narrative provided by a young child.
I’m partial to my second explanation for why Daisy’s disappearance is left open-ended, but I’d be curious to hear from Vernick why she left Daisy’s disappearance as a giant question mark at the end of the novel (outside of Daisy’s explanation that she “got lost”). Despite the incomplete aftertaste left by Daisy’s disappearance, it doesn’t detract from the overall storyline and its poignant, timeless message. If anything, it expands on the message by asking why society deems certain crimes or events worthy of a thorough, proper investigation, and what happens when marginalized or “other” members of society are lost or harmed.
This novel takes your heart out, rips it to shreds, and then leaves it lying there on the cold, hard ground. I should have guessed from the first Shirley Reva Vernick novel I read (“The Sky We Shared” - highly recommend if you haven’t read it) that Vernick would not hold any punches back in revealing a dark, painful chapter of American history. There is no happily ever after, no sparkle of a brighter future for any of the characters. While I was initially appalled at the abrupt ending, the author’s note helped explain this harsh tactic - there is no way to tie a pretty bow on this story because the blood lie continues to thrive in our modern society, feeding on prejudices and fear. As Lauren Myracle, a New York Times bestselling author, states concerning this novel, “A powerful - and poignant - reminder that no person can live freely until all people can live freely.”
0.5 star reduction due to the lack of a conclusion for Daisy’s disappearance. There are a few reasons I’ve theorized why Daisy’s disappearance was written the way it was, but I still would have preferred a more definite commitment to whichever scenario Vernick chose.
1. Another commenter mentioned Vernick’s editor told her to cut almost a third of the original novel out - did this really happen? If so, were the details that rounded out Daisy’s disappearance lost in the revisions? I’d be curious to see the original manuscript if this was the case!
2. A realistic (albeit painful to the reader) portrayal of mob mentality/ mass hysteria. Clearly, the townspeople with massive vendettas against the Jewish population (or even those simply fueled by misinformation and fear) didn’t care to find out the truth behind Daisy’s disappearance - they wanted a narrative that would suit their needs, and they “needed” a scapegoat for everything wrong in their lives. If the truth didn’t fit into that, too bad. Revealing the events surrounding Daisy’s disappearance would have required someone to investigate it further, and who was likely to do that - the Jewish population that had just been accused of murder and were walking on eggshells, or the townspeople spoiling for any reason to fight? No one was in a position to uncover or want to uncover the truth, and Daisy had returned home alive.
3. Daisy is 4 years old when she disappears. While her explanation of what happened to Emaline leaves some gaps - why does she have a bump on her head? Why does she slam the door in the twins’ faces and refuse to talk to them? — it could be Vernick’s attempt to accurately portray a narrative provided by a young child.
I’m partial to my second explanation for why Daisy’s disappearance is left open-ended, but I’d be curious to hear from Vernick why she left Daisy’s disappearance as a giant question mark at the end of the novel (outside of Daisy’s explanation that she “got lost”). Despite the incomplete aftertaste left by Daisy’s disappearance, it doesn’t detract from the overall storyline and its poignant, timeless message. If anything, it expands on the message by asking why society deems certain crimes or events worthy of a thorough, proper investigation, and what happens when marginalized or “other” members of society are lost or harmed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2019
This short book is quite interesting and heartbreaking at the same time. It reminds me of the mob scene in Harper Lee’s To kill a Mockingbird. How easy it is to turn against your neighbors when you are part of a mob or a group. Jack Pool wanted to escape his small town in upstate NY - but really — he could never escape the “blood lie.” The biggest blood lie- the Holocaust was yet to come.
March 16, 2012
The synopsis above essentially says it all. The Blood Lie is a rather short, extremely realistic, look at one Jewish boy's first look into what is now commonly termed "Religisim". When Daisy goes missing the townspeople look for someone to blame, and Jack becomes their target. Jack is shown that his religion can trigger people to hate him and it changes his whole perception of life.
What I did enjoy about Shirley Reva Vernick's take on these actual events is how innocent she shows Jack to really be. From the beginning of the story, his whole thought process is basically focused on Emaline and his music. Jack has big dreams. He hopes to remove himself from his tiny town. His thoughts are pure, and rather adorable at times. Then, when everything takes a turn for the worse, you can easily see how much it affects his psyche. Poor Jack. Just an innocent boy who is thrown into the middle of a blood libel.
Everything else about The Blood Lie was pretty cut and dry though. It read less like Historical Fiction to me, and more like Non-Fiction. I know that Vernick obviously had to make Jack's character a lot more vivid than the original story would have. Still, there is very little to the story that is overly dramatic or exciting. It moves at a nice pace, slowly inching along to the end. When I got there I was a little underwhelmed. I'm glad I read this. It provided me with new knowledge. However I didn't feel anything besides that about this book.
Truth be told this probably just wasn't a book geared for a reader like me. There is nothing wrong with the writing in The Blood Lie, or with the characters, or even with the pacing. It's just that the story is so realistic that it lost the wow factor that my fantasy based brain clings to. Therefore I still highly recommend this to others! If you like a realistic story line, if you are a fan of historically based books, this is one for you.
What I did enjoy about Shirley Reva Vernick's take on these actual events is how innocent she shows Jack to really be. From the beginning of the story, his whole thought process is basically focused on Emaline and his music. Jack has big dreams. He hopes to remove himself from his tiny town. His thoughts are pure, and rather adorable at times. Then, when everything takes a turn for the worse, you can easily see how much it affects his psyche. Poor Jack. Just an innocent boy who is thrown into the middle of a blood libel.
Everything else about The Blood Lie was pretty cut and dry though. It read less like Historical Fiction to me, and more like Non-Fiction. I know that Vernick obviously had to make Jack's character a lot more vivid than the original story would have. Still, there is very little to the story that is overly dramatic or exciting. It moves at a nice pace, slowly inching along to the end. When I got there I was a little underwhelmed. I'm glad I read this. It provided me with new knowledge. However I didn't feel anything besides that about this book.
Truth be told this probably just wasn't a book geared for a reader like me. There is nothing wrong with the writing in The Blood Lie, or with the characters, or even with the pacing. It's just that the story is so realistic that it lost the wow factor that my fantasy based brain clings to. Therefore I still highly recommend this to others! If you like a realistic story line, if you are a fan of historically based books, this is one for you.
May 23, 2012
Shirley Reva Vernick bases this suspenseful and gripping novel on a true event that occurred in Massena, New York, in 1928. When a four-year-old girl named Daisy goes missing in the woods, certain prejudiced bootlegging townspeople are convinced that the Jewish residents of the town are responsible. Happening the day before Yom Kippur, they believe that the Jews need the blood of a Christian child to bake their bread. This is called "the blood lie," hence, the title of the book. Several of the Jewish characters in the book fled such prejudice in Europe, and thought it did not exist in the United States. The incident in Massena was supposedly the first "blood lie" incident in America, according to the author's note at the back of the book.
Points of view shift in this story between Christian and Jewish characters. Jack, the main Jewish character, is accused of killing the missing child, but Emaline, the main Christian character and the girl Jack is secretly in love with, does not believe this. The story takes place over a four-day time period, during which violence erupts as the new police chief in town believes the blood lie and allows an angry crowd to search and, essentially, vandalize the town's Jewish businesses. I couldn't put this book down as I kept wondering with an anxious knot in my stomach if Daisy would be found, and would she be dead or alive? Would further violence erupt if she were found dead? I found it hard to believe that people could be so ignorant of Jewish customs that they would believe the "blood lie." It made me uneasy to think how quickly some the people accepted this idea without question. Thank goodness for multiculturalism these days!
I highly recommend this book to teen and adult readers, especially those interested in Jewish history and in the history of New York State.
Points of view shift in this story between Christian and Jewish characters. Jack, the main Jewish character, is accused of killing the missing child, but Emaline, the main Christian character and the girl Jack is secretly in love with, does not believe this. The story takes place over a four-day time period, during which violence erupts as the new police chief in town believes the blood lie and allows an angry crowd to search and, essentially, vandalize the town's Jewish businesses. I couldn't put this book down as I kept wondering with an anxious knot in my stomach if Daisy would be found, and would she be dead or alive? Would further violence erupt if she were found dead? I found it hard to believe that people could be so ignorant of Jewish customs that they would believe the "blood lie." It made me uneasy to think how quickly some the people accepted this idea without question. Thank goodness for multiculturalism these days!
I highly recommend this book to teen and adult readers, especially those interested in Jewish history and in the history of New York State.
October 20, 2011
Finally a good book with blood in the title that has nothing to do with vampires! "The Blood Lie" is a fascinating book based on a real incident that happened in 1928.
Jack Pool is a promising musician, falling in love for the first time, and Jewish. He longs for a Gentile girl, Emaline. He knows his music will take him away from his small town of Massena, New York, and that he and Emaline can never be together.
When Emalines little sister, Daisy goes missing, the town turns against the Pool family and the Jewish population living there. The rumor is that Jews use children's blood to make their special holiday bread. A shocked town starts accusing Jack of using the child's blood,(an actual myth that people believed), as the search for the child continues. When things start to get really ugly, Jack sees his chances growing smaller, for the future he wanted so badly. The Temple is raided, homes are searched and vandalism is perpetrated against the Pool family farm.
The speed with which the town turned upon Jack and his family, shocked me. The fact that it was based on a true incident shocked me even more.
This was a compelling story, written for the YA crowd, but it was interesting for an adult as well. I had wanted to get Vamp Child to do a joint review, but she did not get the chance to read it yet.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in true life, written as a fascinating novel.
I received this book from the author for review. Thank you so much!
Jack Pool is a promising musician, falling in love for the first time, and Jewish. He longs for a Gentile girl, Emaline. He knows his music will take him away from his small town of Massena, New York, and that he and Emaline can never be together.
When Emalines little sister, Daisy goes missing, the town turns against the Pool family and the Jewish population living there. The rumor is that Jews use children's blood to make their special holiday bread. A shocked town starts accusing Jack of using the child's blood,(an actual myth that people believed), as the search for the child continues. When things start to get really ugly, Jack sees his chances growing smaller, for the future he wanted so badly. The Temple is raided, homes are searched and vandalism is perpetrated against the Pool family farm.
The speed with which the town turned upon Jack and his family, shocked me. The fact that it was based on a true incident shocked me even more.
This was a compelling story, written for the YA crowd, but it was interesting for an adult as well. I had wanted to get Vamp Child to do a joint review, but she did not get the chance to read it yet.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in true life, written as a fascinating novel.
I received this book from the author for review. Thank you so much!
March 22, 2012
While this novella has a very important message of the damaging effects of hate, the way it is presented is not in the most effective manner. When a young girl disappears, a lie is created to divert police away from a different crime and in the direction of the Jewish "murderers". Rumors circulate, fingers are pointed, and an entire religion is blamed for the murder of a child.
My issue with this novel was that it just didn't read powerfully enough for such a huge subject matter. It takes place during Prohibition, but other than a few lines that seems a bit like forced role-playing the story really could have taken place in modern day. Maybe I'm just picky because historical fiction is my favorite, but if a story is going to be set in the past, it should really take place in the past. Other than that, the story peaks very early and then kind of just ends. There is no real build up, no suspense, no real emotion. That was my biggest issue, I wanted to connect to the characters and the plot, I just didn't care for any of them.
Based on a true story, the basis of the novel is very powerful in itself. Unfortunately, the power and raw emotion in such an event were not transferred well from page to reader. However, it was a very quick read (I read it in one sitting) and it is interesting how lie from one selfish person turns a town into chaos and socially turns against a religion.
My issue with this novel was that it just didn't read powerfully enough for such a huge subject matter. It takes place during Prohibition, but other than a few lines that seems a bit like forced role-playing the story really could have taken place in modern day. Maybe I'm just picky because historical fiction is my favorite, but if a story is going to be set in the past, it should really take place in the past. Other than that, the story peaks very early and then kind of just ends. There is no real build up, no suspense, no real emotion. That was my biggest issue, I wanted to connect to the characters and the plot, I just didn't care for any of them.
Based on a true story, the basis of the novel is very powerful in itself. Unfortunately, the power and raw emotion in such an event were not transferred well from page to reader. However, it was a very quick read (I read it in one sitting) and it is interesting how lie from one selfish person turns a town into chaos and socially turns against a religion.
October 29, 2011
Jack Pool loves Emaline. He knows that because of their faith, he is Jewish, she is Christian, that it will never happen, but he truly loves her. If he isn't thinking about Emaline, he is thinking about his cello audition in 4 days for a music school in Syracuse- he'd be able to escape his town without even an orchestra or band. Music is his key to escaping and becoming something. Then on his 16th birthday, he walks home Daisy, Emaline's 4 year old sister and goes to work. Daisy disappears later in the day and the true colors of his neighbors shows even more why Jack needs to get away. Because of his faith and the belief that for certain holidays Jews murder human children to sacrifice, Jack is suddenly a murder suspect.
Whenever you hear about prejudices against the Jewish faith and people who practice the faith, you automatically think of things that happened in other countries such as the Holocaust or unrest in Israel, not here in America; however, the prejudice was (is) alive and well here as well. The Blood Lie is a story that shows the reality of what it was like to be Jewish during the 1920s.
What surprised me even more was in the Author's Notes, Vernick mentions that this horrible stereotype of human sacrifice still exists today. I am always shocked (maybe naively) when I learn about the horrible racism that exists in our present time of diversity.
Whenever you hear about prejudices against the Jewish faith and people who practice the faith, you automatically think of things that happened in other countries such as the Holocaust or unrest in Israel, not here in America; however, the prejudice was (is) alive and well here as well. The Blood Lie is a story that shows the reality of what it was like to be Jewish during the 1920s.
What surprised me even more was in the Author's Notes, Vernick mentions that this horrible stereotype of human sacrifice still exists today. I am always shocked (maybe naively) when I learn about the horrible racism that exists in our present time of diversity.
March 3, 2012
This is a very meaningful, educational and eye opening read. One that everyone one should take the time to enjoy. I love stories the provoke deeper thinking and give you new insight into different cultures, lives and experiences. I feel the more I know, the more I understand, and the less chance I will judge. The events in this book are a prime example of what ignorance can to do to innocent people and how easily lives can be destroyed by one lie from one persons selfish reason.
The Blood Lie is about how one mans ignorant decision to purposely points the finger at a innocent sixteen year old Jewish boy for a missing four year old Catholic girl who happens to be a very close family friend. This miss direction sends ciaos and frenzy through out this small town of Massena, New York while the Jewish community takes quit a beating from uneducated mobs.
This is a very short book but packs quit a impact on its reader. The writing is clear cut and to the point. You get to see the story from different characters point of view as different parts of this horrible event unfold. But, mostly you get the story from Jack’s POV. It was a great read and I’m glad I was asked to review this book because I don’t often branch out of my usual genre of paranormal or romance picks but this book is definitely worth reading.
The Blood Lie is about how one mans ignorant decision to purposely points the finger at a innocent sixteen year old Jewish boy for a missing four year old Catholic girl who happens to be a very close family friend. This miss direction sends ciaos and frenzy through out this small town of Massena, New York while the Jewish community takes quit a beating from uneducated mobs.
This is a very short book but packs quit a impact on its reader. The writing is clear cut and to the point. You get to see the story from different characters point of view as different parts of this horrible event unfold. But, mostly you get the story from Jack’s POV. It was a great read and I’m glad I was asked to review this book because I don’t often branch out of my usual genre of paranormal or romance picks but this book is definitely worth reading.
October 8, 2011
In 1928 a four-year-old girl in the small town of Massena goes missing and soon the blame is placed on sixteen-year-old Jack Pool, his family, and other Jewish community members. Several of the local citizens on Massena believe the local Jewish population has killed the young girl as a blood sacrifice for their upcoming holy day, Yom Kippur.
A short review for a short book: What a heartbreaking novel. There was a lot of prejudice early on in the twentieth century and this book really shows that off. The book as a whole was really well written and a great glimpse into a few days of the life of a small town in Upstate New York. I liked the added plot line of Jack's crush on Emaline, I thought that added an extra depth to the story.
In the author's afterword she mentions specific examples of how this kind of prejudice still exists in our world. A lot of us don't see that on a daily basis and I think this book is a good reminder that we still have leaps to make as a society to overcome prejudices of all kinds.
Four stars to this really well-written historical YA novel. It's short and can be read in a couple hours so I do suggest you take the time and read it.
PS: Even though I won this book and it was provided to me for free, that did not affect my review.
A short review for a short book: What a heartbreaking novel. There was a lot of prejudice early on in the twentieth century and this book really shows that off. The book as a whole was really well written and a great glimpse into a few days of the life of a small town in Upstate New York. I liked the added plot line of Jack's crush on Emaline, I thought that added an extra depth to the story.
In the author's afterword she mentions specific examples of how this kind of prejudice still exists in our world. A lot of us don't see that on a daily basis and I think this book is a good reminder that we still have leaps to make as a society to overcome prejudices of all kinds.
Four stars to this really well-written historical YA novel. It's short and can be read in a couple hours so I do suggest you take the time and read it.
PS: Even though I won this book and it was provided to me for free, that did not affect my review.
October 11, 2011
Blood Lie by Shirley Reva Vernick is not a book that might be recommended as a light beach read. Instead, it's the kind of book middle school English teachers love to use to force students to think outside of their comfort zone.
And that's a good thing.
This book uncovers the naked truth about prejudice and discrimination as it existed in the early 20th century in a small town in New York. The whole book covers four days -- four horrible days when the very existence of Jews in this small town is questioned and threatened.
It's Jack's sixteenth birthday and he's excited for a very important reason. He's going to audition in a few days for a scholarship to a prestigious music school in Syracuse where he can study cello and have a chance to make something of himself.
Jack's mother has an unusual friend, a woman who is not Jewish. Jenna Durham and Eva Pool became friends when they first moved into town and they have remained friends. It's Daisy, Jenna's young daughter who is the unwitting cause of the problem.
Continue reading on Examiner.com The Blood Lie by Shirley Reva Vernick - Chicago Young Adult Fiction | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/young-adult-f...
And that's a good thing.
This book uncovers the naked truth about prejudice and discrimination as it existed in the early 20th century in a small town in New York. The whole book covers four days -- four horrible days when the very existence of Jews in this small town is questioned and threatened.
It's Jack's sixteenth birthday and he's excited for a very important reason. He's going to audition in a few days for a scholarship to a prestigious music school in Syracuse where he can study cello and have a chance to make something of himself.
Jack's mother has an unusual friend, a woman who is not Jewish. Jenna Durham and Eva Pool became friends when they first moved into town and they have remained friends. It's Daisy, Jenna's young daughter who is the unwitting cause of the problem.
Continue reading on Examiner.com The Blood Lie by Shirley Reva Vernick - Chicago Young Adult Fiction | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/young-adult-f...
January 1, 2016
Wow. To think that this was inspired by a true story … it’s sickening, really. Those poor (as in unfortunate) people. My heart aches for them!
That’s what I wrote on Goodreads immediately after finishing. It just really, really pissed me off. Reading how Gus, a diner owner who apparently hates Jews, fabricates some story just to divert attention so he can get his booze (this was during Prohibition) – ugh! I was very, very angry at that man.
So, clearly Vernick wrote this very well. It has quite the impact, and really made me think. I knew that in general Jewish people tend to be persecuted, but I had no idea the extent to which they are – outside the Holocaust, of course. I had never heard of the blood lie – what a horrible thing! Vernick’s characters – especially Jack – are interesting and make you feel for (or against, I suppose) them.
And beyond this, I’m left speechless. What does one say to this kind of thing? I know, I’m suppose to talk about the book. I did a little. Here’s more: Vernick writes well. The story flows well, is easy to follow, reads quickly, and has characters that make the reader feel. And it makes you think. Hard. My only complaint: It ends a tad bit too soon.
That’s what I wrote on Goodreads immediately after finishing. It just really, really pissed me off. Reading how Gus, a diner owner who apparently hates Jews, fabricates some story just to divert attention so he can get his booze (this was during Prohibition) – ugh! I was very, very angry at that man.
So, clearly Vernick wrote this very well. It has quite the impact, and really made me think. I knew that in general Jewish people tend to be persecuted, but I had no idea the extent to which they are – outside the Holocaust, of course. I had never heard of the blood lie – what a horrible thing! Vernick’s characters – especially Jack – are interesting and make you feel for (or against, I suppose) them.
And beyond this, I’m left speechless. What does one say to this kind of thing? I know, I’m suppose to talk about the book. I did a little. Here’s more: Vernick writes well. The story flows well, is easy to follow, reads quickly, and has characters that make the reader feel. And it makes you think. Hard. My only complaint: It ends a tad bit too soon.
September 12, 2014
I appreciated a number of things about this book. First and foremost is that this story was based on a true story, one that I had never heard of and I always love historical fiction that makes me want to research. Shirley Vernick is from the town that the book is set in, and you can definitely tell that thanks to the details she's presented. The conversations between secondary characters felt very authentic. It is a short book (more on that later) and because of that, I think it would fit in really well for teachers of middle grade/early YA with a unit on World War II or even with the Salem witch hunts.
Now, the improvements. This is a short book, short enough that we don't really get a satisfying conclusion to everything. I understand that the point of the book was more about how fast the townspeople jumped to conclusions and violence based on biases, however not actually figuring out what happened to Daisy, a little girl who disappears, means that the book feels unfinished. What happened in the town immediately after? What are the relationships in town like once they've reached such high tension?
This wasn't a bad book, it had a lot of really good things going for it. But I think that the brevity sacrificed some of the plot.
Now, the improvements. This is a short book, short enough that we don't really get a satisfying conclusion to everything. I understand that the point of the book was more about how fast the townspeople jumped to conclusions and violence based on biases, however not actually figuring out what happened to Daisy, a little girl who disappears, means that the book feels unfinished. What happened in the town immediately after? What are the relationships in town like once they've reached such high tension?
This wasn't a bad book, it had a lot of really good things going for it. But I think that the brevity sacrificed some of the plot.
January 1, 2016
I have read recently a non-fiction book about a pogrom that started after the populace blamed the disappearance of a child on the Jewish community. It is a tough and lesser known topic, which combined with the topic of antisemitism in the USA seemed to make an intriguing book. It did not really. The writing is ok, even if the author is very fond of "tell, don't show", which is bit annoying, as it does not let the reader imagine much. Also, the characters are bland for the most part - the almost holy clergyman who suffered a lot in his youth,the courageous teenager that saves the day, the love that cannot be etc. The tension is built up really well and some interesting things happen. But the end is disappointing and pointless. It leads to nothing,especially as I could not care much about the lead characters. I almost felt like this was just the setting for another book. It's interesting when it comes to mob mentality, but the story fails in its delivery.
April 15, 2012
1928 but it could have been today. Religion was the definer of who you were in your community. Jack, a Jewish boy, and his neighbore Emaline, a Christian girl, were friends who wished so much more of their relationship but this was forbidden, never an option, you just don't mix. One night, Jack is accused by many townspeople, including the law, of a crime so heinous on Em's sister and he must fight to prove himself and protect not only his family, but the entire Jewish community. I loved the premise of the story and the story itself, I just wish there was more to it. At 140 pages, it left out some aspects that could have been better explored and made into a bit of a fuller story. It is nice to have a smaller offering of this genre, as with reluctant readers who need to read historical fiction, this title will not be so daunting. Good overall.
October 17, 2021
The Blood Lie: A Novel. Based on a little-known historical event, this is the fictionalized account of a boy falsely accused of murdering a neighborhood girl as part of a Jewish ritual. Riveting and thought-provoking; shows how prejudice can often lie hidden beneath the surface and erupt when least expected. Set in 1928, but in an afterword the author provides modern examples of ritual murder accusations. Three stars because the writing is good, but not great, and the story feels a bit didactic at times. But it's a quick yet meaningful read, and one that deserves to be on middle school and high school library shelves.
October 28, 2013
3.5 stars.
Interesting book, simplistically told.
This is the true story of a child who went missing in 1928 Massena, NY. The search quickly devolved in an anti-semitic witch hunt. A Jewish boy was accused of killing the girl as a blood sacrifice for a Jewish religious holiday.
This is a great book for the middle grades. It's a book that teachers will love to use in the classroom because there is ample opportunity for connections to non-fiction texts and sociological developments. But it is not a book that will cause kids to love books or love reading. There is nothing to really grab the reader.
Interesting book, simplistically told.
This is the true story of a child who went missing in 1928 Massena, NY. The search quickly devolved in an anti-semitic witch hunt. A Jewish boy was accused of killing the girl as a blood sacrifice for a Jewish religious holiday.
This is a great book for the middle grades. It's a book that teachers will love to use in the classroom because there is ample opportunity for connections to non-fiction texts and sociological developments. But it is not a book that will cause kids to love books or love reading. There is nothing to really grab the reader.
February 28, 2012
This was an incredible read. I'm still astounded at how much information, action and emotion was packed into such a short novel. The main character gets to experience prejudice against himself and his religious brethern for the first time, under exceedingly harrowing conditions.
The main character is an average young Jewish American, until the day someone hiding from the law starts a horrible lie, a blood lie, that will ignite the fears and hatred of the town and forever change the way he views the world.
The main character is an average young Jewish American, until the day someone hiding from the law starts a horrible lie, a blood lie, that will ignite the fears and hatred of the town and forever change the way he views the world.
March 6, 2012
In September of 1928 a four year old Gentile girl goes missing in Massena, NY and the small community of Jews there are blamed and accused when a Greek café owner finds out it’s just days before Yom Kippur. This true story is filled out with fictional characters like 16 year old Jewish Jack Pool who has a crush on the four year old’s older sister, Emmaline and an audition at a music school in Syracuse right after Yom Kippur. This novella would be excellent reading for middle school and high school students and for adults.
August 22, 2014
"The Blood Lie" is about a four year old girl that has gone missing in the small town of Massena, New York. The community blamed Jack Pool, the main character, and the whole Jewish community. The people of Massena, plus the police department, believed this rumor, they also believed the reason they kidnapped her was because she was the blood sacrifice for the upcoming Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. Jack is also in love with a girl, Emaline, which is also Daisy's, the girl who went missing, sister.
I rated this book a four because the book was extremely descriptive and the description
I rated this book a four because the book was extremely descriptive and the description
June 29, 2012
Blood Lie makes a reader think about perceptions, real and false, stereotypes and bigotry. It makes you shudder to know how easily a lie, fear, hatred or a persons self serving attitude can domino effect a community to over react. I think this would make a great book discussion book with Middle Schoolers.
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July 27, 2013Graded By: Meghan
Cover Story: Flaunt It
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factor: Truthiness
Relationship Status: Study Buddy
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Flaunt It
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: Straight Up
Bonus Factor: Truthiness
Relationship Status: Study Buddy
Read the full book report here.
November 21, 2020
I was interested in this book because it takes place very close to where I live. It was interesting to hear references to the towns I am familiar with, but the there really wasn't much to the story. It was only a novella so there was not much character development.
February 4, 2012
This is a must read book. I first heard about it from Cinco Puntos but couldn't find it at the library at the time. Tried again a couple of days ago, and they now had it. It only takes about two hours to read but is filled with an incredible story--based on a true story.
May 16, 2012
such a great story but it was told in such a boring way i'm surprised that i read through it. i didn't take me long because there was no substance to the book. i literally just read some words on a page until i was finished. i can't even hate this book this book. i didn't feel anything for it.
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