Briar Rose in Into the Forest

Aug 26, 2012 Leah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: into-the-forest-2015

Not since Bitter Greens and Deathless have I read a fairy-tale retelling that truly embraced the power of historical context. I think one of the best types of retellings understands that fairy tales were not written (or read) in a vacuum. Much like horror stories, fairy tales have always explored the tellers' fears and desires, and often subverted mainstream societal norms and constraints. By choosing to blend history (whether real or imagined) with fairy tale, the retelling gains a quasi-realis Not since Bitter Greens and Deathless have I read a fairy-tale retelling that truly embraced the power of historical context. I think one of the best types of retellings understands that fairy tales were not written (or read) in a vacuum. Much like horror stories, fairy tales have always explored the tellers' fears and desires, and often subverted mainstream societal norms and constraints. By choosing to blend history (whether real or imagined) with fairy tale, the retelling gains a quasi-realism and authenticity that both enthralls and educates. Maybe even inspires the reader to search out non-fiction based on actual people, places and events.

Having said that, the fairy tale in Yolen's book was not being retold as much as it was being used as the catalyst for a granddaughter's research into her grandmother's history, a past her Gemma never spoke directly about. She would instead tell her three granddaughters the tale of Sleeping Beauty. And at the end of her life, their Gemma began telling them that she was Sleeping Beauty, that it was her story. Of course, most of the family thought her senile, possibly demented. But with her dying breath Gemma begged her youngest (and favorite) granddaughter, Becca, to find "the castle." When Becca promised she would, the quest for Gemma's true story was underway.

Be warned: If you're looking for a story along the same lines as Sleeping Beauty by Jane Yolen or Princess Sonora by Gail Carson Levine, Briar Rose is not the book for you. Yolen went dark, we're talking pitch black, with her retelling of this well-known tale of Sleeping Beauty. What else would a reader expect when the jacket blurb includes the word Holocaust? How could anyone actually expect anything less than brutal and heartbreaking? My advice to anyone looking for fluffy fairy tales: skip this book. However, if you're looking for a mix of historical fiction and fairy tale, or an exploration into how fairy tales and stories (or fiction in general) might be used by someone to cope with tragedy, read this book!

4.5 stars

(view spoiler)[In response to reviews mentioning the "graphic" homosexuality in Briar Rose and its being "inappropriate" for young readers:

Seriously?!! I was shocked at the multiple reviews I read that condemned this book for its inclusion of homosexuality. Were readers unaware of the fact that homosexuals were also persecuted in the Holocaust? (Or throughout history?) I did not remember reading anything "graphic" in Briar Rose, so I went back and re-read Josef's story.

First, though, reviewers commented on Becca having a lesbian friend. That's it. Just having a lesbian friend was offensive to those reviewers.

Second, Josef Potocki's part of the story, "Castle," which reviewers said had "graphic" descriptions of the character's "promiscuity" and gay sex. There were brief references to losing his virtue in college, to being in his lover's arms. I counted three lovers over a span of several years, perhaps even a decade.

Here's the only "graphic" description I found. Josef was talking about his lover, a Viennese politician, "They made love during Hitler's victory speech, a horrible, angry, passionate thrusting, that left Josef bruised and somewhat stunned. He had planned to have a long talk with his lover about being more gentle the next morning. But when he woke, he found the man dead in the marble bath, his wrists still bleeding soft red lines into the tub (135)."

One reviewer even commented they didn't like that there was a homosexual priest, which made me laugh because that reviewer obviously did not pay attention enough to know that Josef was not a priest. He was a friend of Father Stashu, the priest at the church in present day Chelmno. I was able to easily glean that information during my first reading.

I was saddened to read those people's reviews. It breaks my heart for those reviewers to hold so much hate in their hearts. Yet their ignorance and intolerance reminded me that we're still a long way away from the world I dream of, one in which everyone is allowed the freedom to be who they are and one in which differences are celebrated instead of persecuted. (hide spoiler)] ...more

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Nov 10, 2017 Margaret rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, fairytale-myth-inspired, historical-fiction

When Becca's grandmother dies insisting the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale she told Becca and her sisters as children is real, and that Becca must find the castle, Becca sets out to discover the truth of her grandmother's past. That truth leads her to Poland and to the Holocaust.

Yolen presents a different take on this history than I've seen in other fairytale Holocaust novels. I had not heard of Chelmno before reading Briar Rose. And while I knew about the pink triangle and the horrific treatment of ...more

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Sep 14, 2015 Jen rated it really liked it

Rebecca's grandmother has always told the story of Briar Rose to her grandchildren, with some strange differences. When she dies, she tells Rebecca that she is Briar Rose and to search for her truth of her past. Rebecca does so and her journey is the story of this book.

I thought the plot of the book was a bit weak since Rebecca just conveniently gets all the information she needs at each step of her journey. The highlight of the book for me are the characters. The author manages to create some v ...more

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Jun 16, 2015 Abby Jones rated it liked it

This is one of those books that I would argue against labeling as YA. Mostly, because I feel like the story and the themes, as an armchair WWII historian, speak to all ages. This book is not just for teens. It is well written and deep. I think any adult will enjoy it, especially if you enjoy WWII oriented stories.
Using the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty and the history of the Holocaust creates a haunting and beautiful story. It's also just plain clever. I love the familiarity of both things bein ...more

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Apr 11, 2012 SBC rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: g-fairy-and-folk-tales, g-ya-historical, set-eu-germany, retell-sleeping-beauty, time-wwii

I didn't really enjoy this but it was interesting to see how Yolen dealt with the fairy tale and other content. I only stuck with it because there were so many good comments written about it all over and, Jane Yolen(!) - 'one of America's most celebrated writers' and 'a national treasure' etc. The book embraced the legend on different levels: 1) the girl, and her family, all asleep after the death of her grandmother, then the prince wakes them to knowledge with a kiss (Stan, and paradoxically, l ...more

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