Customer Reviews
Enjoy - By: , 31 Mar 2003 
Becca Berlin grew up listening to her grandma (Gemma) tell the tale of Sleeping Beauty, a story about castles & thorns & mists. For years, Becca & her family thought it was just a story, until Gemma starts insisting that the princess is her. On her deathbed, she extracts a promise from Becca that her past will be uncovered & the story will come true.
Briar Rose moves through several layers of storytelling technique. The chapters alternate between episodes of Becca's search for Gemma's past & lyrical "memories" of Gemma telling the story of Briar Rose. Near the end of the novel, Becca's travels enfold an account of the lives of several partisansin the German forests.
Yet it is because of this resonating current that Becca's pilgrimage engages us as readers. For a moment, we almost become Becca. Despite whatever connections we may or may not have to this dark periodin history, there is a part of us that is only able to comprehend the true enormity of such stories when they are hiddenin depths of older tales, for these old tales existin the dualities of light & dark, pain & joy, life & death.
Jane Yolen's Briar Rose speaks with unflinching & brutal honesty. It tells the truth - as much as fiction can. Yet that truth reveals one much deeper - the ability of people & stories to overcome & endure.
A Wonderful fairytale/holocaust/self-discovery book - By: , 06 Jul 1999 
In this novel, Jane Yolen cleverly intertwines her grandmothers life during the holocaust with the beloved fairytale Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty). It was a wonderful book that I heavily enjoyed & I have yet to find another book quite like it.
This is the greatest book ever that should recieve 10 star. - By: , 09 Jun 1999 This is an incredible book. Once you pick this book up you will never ever put it down. This story haunts you at night & keeps you thinking about this story. It is nicely weaved into the story of the Holocaust. It is so interesting. You have to right it. TRUST ME. YOU WILL LOVE IT.
This is the greatest book ever that should recieve 10 star. - By: , 09 Jun 1999 This is an incredible book. Once you pick this book up you will never ever put it down. This story haunts you at night & keeps you thinking about this story. It is nicely weaved into the story of the Holocaust. It is so interesting. You have to right it. TRUST ME. YOU WILL LOVE IT.
great book - By: , 13 Apr 1999 Briar rose is a great book, it is a little hard to understand the beggining, but over all it is understandable! Gemma & Becca are very strong characters, Becca was my favorite because she never gave up on finding out about Gemma's true identity!!
