"Briar Rose" by Tristan Elwell
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen has been widely recieved as a wonderfully written book, that weaves the story of Briar Rose or Sleeping Beauty with the horrors of the holocaust and creates a haunting yet hopeful story. Written with an adult audience in mind, the book has been adopted by younger readers and now features in many secondary school curriculums. In fact, the book was re-released with a new cover in 2002 as part of Tors Starscape young adult line
Through the use of flashbacks, multiple perspectives, and multiple time frames Yolen has created a story that is introducing a new generation of young adults with the injustices committed in the past, passing on the stories and the facts. In this way, she is maintaining the legacy of the victims of the holocaust, and ensuring that it is never forgotten.
Briar Rose has been criticised, banned and even burned by certain groups regarding the homosexual content with reference to the character of Joseph Potocki, or the Prince. The book has also recieved some criticism regarding the vocabulary used, (believed to be in reference to a bedroom scene with the character Potocki) and its suitablility for a child or young adult audience.
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