Congratulations to Eva Wiseman! Puppet is the winner of the 2010 Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards in Youth Literature.
Jury citations:
Puppet recounts the story of a blood libel trial that took place in Tisza-Eszlar, Hungary, in 1883, marrying historical accuracy seamlessly with dramatic events and rounded characters. Moral dilemmas are treated with subtlety: the chief witness against the Jews is a young Jewish boy, Morris Scharf, desperate to free his father and brainwashed by the authorities to believe his own lies. Meanwhile, his gentile friend. Julie, the story’s engaging young narrator, struggles with her own dilemma: Should she reveal evidence that will exonerate the Jews? Maintaining the suspense of a good detective story, Puppet keeps the readers on the edge of their seats until the truth comes out, dramatically, at the end of the trial. But Wiseman goes beyond plot, evoking the atmosphere of an impoverished Hungarian town whose visitors find relief in blaming Europe’s traditional scapegoat for their hardships. The Jury commends Puppet for introducing young readers to a relatively unknown event, and for broaching moral issues that will provoke intense discussions at home and in school.
Please join us at the award ceremony!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
8:00 PM | FREE
Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal JCC
750 Spadina Ave (at Bloor Street)