Customer Reviews
Milkweed 
2008-03-11
The mischevious little boy, Stipthief, lives in a small town in Warsaw, Poland.No one knows his exact age, but he is said to be around eight years old.He is an orphanso he is forced to steal food because he has no money.
Stopthief encounters many interesting events alonghis hard journey in the ghetto. He also meets manynew friends along the way. He forms some great relationships with people, and unfortunately some of them are lost.
Milkweed is a sad, yet uplifting book, and I encourage everyone to read it. Throughout this story, you also have tho opportunity to learn some true facts about things that happened in the past. Some people can relate to the story. Ecspecially if they had a hard time in their life with something similar to what happens to the characters in the book. This story helps to encourage you that you should never give up even when you get discouraged. The characters in this story still had a good time even when they were in a very hard stressful situation.I hope that everyone gets the opportunity to read this book.
Very inspiring... 
2008-02-29
I didn't like to read books...i loved buying them and storing them in my room... Well not anymore. This book inspired me to give the books a chance. It is very sad and happy, both at the same time. It gave me some strength to be able to read thicker books. Thank you, Jerry Spinelli for this book. I admire you.
Magnificent Book!! 2007-12-14
He's a boy who has lived on the streets of Warsaw, Poland as long as he can remember. He doesn't remember any name, other than Stopthief, he has no parents, no home. But he's small and quick, so he manages to find enough to eat, and places to sleep, until the Nazis come. By then he has a name, Misha, given to him by another street boy. He has also befriended a girl, Janina, who has a family. So when Janina's family is herded into the newly created Jewish ghetto, Misha goes with them. He is able to slip in and out of the ghetto at will, so he brings food for Janina's family. But even for a survivor like Misha, conditions soon become unbearable. Misha must decide if he belongs in our out of the ghetto.
I believe Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli is a magnificent book that shows you a whole new perspective of life in Ghettos. I would recommend this book to anybody who is a teenager or older, and is interested on a different perspective of life in the ghettos. There was nothing questionable or controversial in the book.
Ghettos, War, Angels, Jackboots, and a Boy named Stopthief. 2007-08-27
Call him whatever you'd like. Everyone else does.
Stopthief. Jew. Gypsy. Fast. Happy. Runt. Filthy son of Abraham. Misha Pilsudski is the name that Uri, the leader of the street orphans, finally gives him, along with a made-up story about his past and his family history. It's the name that sticks. For a while.
This orphan boy from Warsaw, U.S.S.R., figures if someone calls him a name, it just might mean that it's true. Take "Fast," a name Uri calls him. If it wasn't true about him, how else would he explain how good he is at stealing bread from women walking on the street? Bread which he faithfully shares half with Doctor Korczak's orphans at the group home. He wouldn't be able to outrun the venders, the police, or the Jackboots. That's his name for the Nazi soldiers that can be seen marching around town. Someday, he'd like to be a Jackboot.
Then a Jewish girl named Janina from a poor neighborhood befriends him. With Janina, Misha feels he has a real family, a place he can belong. When families all over the city, Jewish families at first, start getting relocated into the walled-off ghettos, Misha moves in with her. Spinelli's sings the despair of the ghettos with a raw and tragic melody of characters. Outside the ghetto walls they call Heaven. Food is rotten and scarce. New bodies lie covered in the streets each day. And angels are everywhere, if you know how to look.
They call him Stopthief. Catch him if you can.
--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens
Perfect 2007-06-19
Jerry Spinelli does a perfect job portraying the hardships and struggles of the Jewish people during the most unfortunate of times, the Holocaust, in a manner in which younger readers can relate. Appropriate for almost all ages [I wouldn't read it as a bedtime story], this book had me hooked. It entails the struggles of Misha Pilsudski [later Misha Milgrom, and finally Jack Milgrom] through the Nazi invasion of Warszawa [Warsaw] Poland. I recommend anyone looking for a good, quick read to buy this book. I read it for a book report assignment back in 7th, and it was definitly well worth it.
A very disappointing read indeed 
2008-07-12
When I first started reading this book, I was impressed by the writing. The vivid descriptions. The emotions. The strong dialogue. The steady pace. Then when things were getting intense, the pace of the writing sped up like a runaway train hurling downhill. The author crammed a lot into the closing scenes and left me feeling exhausted and cheated. Many loose ends were never tied up. A very disappointing read indeed.
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli 2008-04-25
This is a great book. The way Jerry Spinelli developes the character, Misha Piludski, and makes it so that you really get a feel of what it was like to be Jewish during the Holocaust. This book is one of the best books i have ever read. It leads you through the story of a boy that with a little help will make it a long way. And learn to make with what he has. To be smart. And to care for others. Overall this is a great book for people looking for a page turner. The plot and the characters are so great that anyone who like historical fiction will like this book. You have to read this book!
Milkweed from a teen's perspective 2008-04-07
This book deals with a boy who has to deal with the time and events of the Jewish past. The main character (Misha or Stopthief) has to learn what's really happening in the present time and how to survive it. The incidents of the past might confuse him on what was really happening and what's in the world. But luckily he doesn't have to do it on his own. Throughout his adventure he'll get help from his friends Uri and Janina. Maybe all together they can crack the code which is his past.
Reading this book thousands of emotions might come through you and might change throughout the book. Just reading the first couple of pages will make you think and ask questions about the story. And also the first couple of pages will get you through a tough roller coaster which is a story of life and the past.
Warning: lead character may piss you off!!;]
Informative History book 2008-03-31
I enjoyed reading this book because it helped me to understand a little better how things were during WWII in Warsaw, Poland. I also enjoy the author and his other writings.
Milkweed 2008-03-11
The mischevious little boy, Stopthief, lives in a small town in Warsaw, Poland.No one knows his exact age, but he is said to be around eight years old.He is an orphan,and he is forced to steal food because he has no money.
Stopthief encounters many interesting events along this hard journey in the ghetto. He also meets many new friends along the way. He forms some great relationships with people, and unfortunately some of them are lost.
Milkweed is a sad, yet uplifting book, and I encourage everyone to read it. Throughout this story, you also have tho opportunity to learn some true facts about things that happened in the past. Some people can relate to the story. Ecspecially if they had a hard time in their life with something similar to what happens to the characters in the book. This story helps to encourage you that you should never give up even when you get discouraged. The characters in this story still had a good time even when they were in a very hard stressful situation.I hope that everyone gets the opportunity to read this book.
