The day the books burned in the plaza, Estrella’s life began to change. She caught her first glimpse of a different side of her best friend. She felt the evilness which had come up and inhabited her town. She saw a part of her mother that scared her the same way her grandmother always had.Estrella’s town has always been divided. Years ago, the Jews we all made to convert to Christianity or leave. Some refused both, and were forced to the outskirts, living behind a gate. On the other side of town lived the Muslims, also not allowed too close to the Christians. But they were not quite as forbidden, and Estrella made trips to see them with her mother when she went to sell her yarns.But after the book burning, things get bleak. Her neighbors are arrested, accused of being Marranos. Hidden Jews. Estrella is lost in confusion. These are good people who attend her church. Worse yet, one night she spies someone in their house…spying through a window she finds her best friend, Catalina, and her mother going through the Arrias’ things.Catalina and Estrella have been growing apart. Estrella has feelings for Andres, Catalina’s cousin whom she plans to marry, regardless of whether Andres feels the same. Catalina envies the pearls Estrella was given on her sixteenth birthday. She envies her looks. Estrella begins to see Catalina in a new light.But not a light that would make her believe her own best friend would destroy her family.When the notices are posted in the plaza on how to spot a hidden Jew, Estrella grows fearful. Though she was raised Catholic, all of the things on this list are things her family does. She worries, but time passes, and things seem almost to return to normal.Until Catalina catches her with Andres.Her family is taken, one by one. And thus the dominoes begin to fall. She can’t believe how far its come, this evil that has overtaken her home, which no longer feels like a place she belongs, or wants to be. She struggles in vain to help her family, and cling to what little hope she has left.
Catalina and Esrtrella are best friends who live in a small village in Spain. They are such good friends that people cal them Raven and Crow. THey look like each other even. THe first part of the book dewcribes the life of Estrella who the story revolves around. The mother is ffreinds with a family in the muslim quarter with a doctor and a wife who is terminally ill. Her mother is a knowledgable healer and knows how to seww clothes. THe Grand father teaches students late into the night and grandmother is bossy and over bearing. Catalina has a cousin named Andres who she is in love with and wishes to marry. Things in her village are quiet andd conteent until one things start to drastically change. In the Plaza of the town there is a book burning everyone in the village is involved. , they are burning Jewish books. Estrella desribes what happens as a monster or being rreleased from the bowels of the earth. This beast will soon devour the entire village. Families will dissapear into the jaws of thee inquisition. A mere acccusation that a marrano or seccret Jews is [praccticing judaism is enough too seend a whole family to death. Meanwhile Andres and Estella fall in love whoich makes Catalina jealous. Jealoussy destroys friendships and soon Catalina is makingg accusations against Estrella's family. So as not to spoil th ending I willl say the Inquistion will havee a verry negaativee impacct of Catalina's family.An intersting note is that it was the Catholic Church, civilized European Christians who were respensible ffor this murder andd mayhem. Prior to Spain being re-Christianized muslims andd jews lived side andd thrived together. It as also worth noting that Muslims were burned at the stake along side with the Jews. Ultimateely it was the Turkish Sulltan who allowed the Jews safe haven.
A very quick read, perfect for a rainy weekend. This is a historical novel, about a young girl and her family. They are Jews living as Christians during the Spanish Inquisition era. Such a sad story of betrayal, human cruelty and ultimately survival. I actually got teary-eyed at the end of this book, which is unusual for me! I read lots of horror, fantasy and mystery/thriller type books, but when it comes to horror, nothing compares to the reality of how cruel humans have been (and continue to be)to one another over beliefs.
—Christine Greeley
I started this book yesterday morning and finished it by the evening. It's not a long book, but it is a very heavy and emotional story. From the beginning, I knew I was going to be swept away into a very dark time in Spanish history. A time that always angers and saddens me so much. And I was right. I felt every bit of Estrella's narration, very deeply. Estrella and her neighbour, Catalina, have been best friends since they were babies. Estrella always likes to say that they look like sisters, and even had similar pet names when they were little--Estrella was Raven, and Catalina was Crow. They do everything together, but when they're both sixteen years old, a great evil comes to their town. In the form of the inquisition. It all starts with the burning books of a Jewish man who lives behind the gated part of town, where all the Jews who refuse to renounce their belief live. Then it becomes a physical threat as Estrella watches her neighbours being taken away to be judged guilt without a fair trial. After this, she starts to realise something about her own family. Little things, actions, and rituals she's known all of her life soon start making sense.Estrella and her family aren't who she always thought they were. And because she falls in love with her best friend's cousin--the boy Catalina is suppose to marry--Catalina's true self comes through. In the process, she causes Estrella's family a very unfair and painful conclusion. It's amazing what jealousy can do to a person.This book made me so sad. It's haunting and beautifully written, in a way that gets deep into your soul until you feel like all you want to do is cry. I loved it. I loved Estrella and her family, so when everything comes together, I felt it deeply. :(The subject matter is very dark, but I found Esther to be a shining star...
—Yolanda Sfetsos
Ok it was a little weird, but still interesting. This was a novel about a girl living in Spain during the Inquisition when anyone accused of being a Jew in hiding was killed, whether they really were a Jew or not (there was no fair trial, no nothing). It was a lot like the Salem witch trials in that neighbors accused each other and once someone was accused they were a goner. I did not know that things were that bad during that era of history so in that way it was very informative, and I learned some things about Spanish culture during the 1500s. I felt like I did not ever get to know the main character in depth which made me kind of sad. The story itself is interesting and compelling but I felt that it could have been more developed. The story is written in a way that makes it seem mystical so that was kind of cool. Also, it shows how people's true colors come out when things get desperate and how greed, jealousy and selfishness are extremely destructive. Basically, it is a short read and worth it if you want a really different kind of story or want to read about the Spanish Inquisition without picking up a textbook. It made me really interested to find out more about the history, but I was expecting more from the book honestly.
—Kitty
