Publishers Weekly
09/02/2019
In his posthumously published second novel for young readers, Holocaust survivor and award-winning author Appelfeld (Adam & Thomas) tells the WWII story of an 11-year-old Jewish boy, Michael, whose father entrusts him to Grandpa Sergei, a Ukrainian former army master sergeant, who worked in the family lumber business before becoming blind. After changing Michael’s name to Yanek and putting a cross around his neck to “make the camouflage complete,” Grandpa Sergei introduces Yanek to a wanderer’s life, saying, “True wanderers want to purify themselves, to draw near to God, and thereby to help those in need.” Together, they walk from village to village, eating by campfire, sleeping outside, and begging near churches on Sundays. During their travels, Grandpa Sergei asks Yanek to read aloud the Psalms and trains him to be a fit soldier, because a “sound body will protect you and your soul.” Their whimsical conversations strike variations on themes—trusting God, contemplating the soul—while Mintzi’s spare, black-and-white drawings convey both melancholy and wonder. While some readers may find the narrative dull and disjointed, others will appreciate this poignant tale of loss and survival. Ages 10–14. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"Appelfeld (1932-2018) was a master storyteller, and his approach here resembles that of Isaac Bashevis Singer. But there is also a kind of naivete—Yanek does not quite understand what has happened to his parents and grandfather—that is reminiscent of Morris Gleitzman’s Once trilogy. While Grandpa Sergei instructs Yanek to wear a cross to protect himself against anti-Semitic harm, the danger they both face is prejudice against wanderers. The illustrations are strong yet stark and add to representation of the wanderers’ existence. This book adds a simple yet unexpected depth to the cadre of Holocaust refugee narratives. It offers memorable characters and little-known experiences. It could become a new favorite." -Barbara Krasner, Association of Jewish Libraries newsletter
"[A] poignant tale of loss and survival."-Publishers Weekly
"This haunting account of a young Jewish boy in World War II Ukraine embodies both myth and history. . . . The subtlety with which Appelfeld avoids comforting conclusions about human indestructibility in the face of evil is one of the most profound achievements of this novel. . . . .Although Long Summer Nights is not a picture book, Vali Mintzi’s illustrations — interspersed throughout the text — are an essential complement to Appelfeld’s text. Drawn in the style of charcoal sketches, they capture the link between human beings and nature which reflects Yanek and Grandpa Sergei’s life in the countryside. People are dark silhouettes or have minimally defined features, lending a folkloric quality to this tale of the lost world preserved in Appelfeld’s poetry of anguish and love. Long Summer Nights is highly recommended for both children and adults." -Jewish Book Council
Kirkus Reviews
2019-07-13
Holocaust survivor Appelfeld's (The Man Who Never Stopped Sleeping, 2017, etc.) posthumous middle-grade novel.
When Jewish Michael is still a boy, his father sends him to assume a gentile identity as Yanek and live on the road under the guidance of Grandpa Sergei, a Ukrainian former employee and soldier. Their relationship is mutually beneficial: Grandpa Sergei is blind and appreciates assistance in navigating the countryside while Yanek needs help surviving as a wanderer. Grandpa Sergei has one goal: to deliver his charge safely home after World War II is over. Along the way, he shares his insights with Yanek, training him to fight for justice. Appelfeld's prose, translated from Hebrew, is spare, slow, and matter-of-fact. Focusing on the wisdom of Grandpa Sergei, who at one time wanted to be a priest, the narrative is heavily religious, and lessons are presented with little subtlety. Ableist language, while perhaps historically accurate, is used throughout, and there is a particularly surprising scene in which Grandpa Sergei casually endorses statutory rape. Contemporary readers who are unaware of the historical context and changing gender norms may struggle to make sense of the repeated message that crying denotes weakness. Characters default to white.
While some will find the story profoundly moving, overall this is a ponderous and outmoded narrative for a niche audience. (Historical fiction. 10-14)
