Natalie ComardelleMr. LeBlancEnglish IV AP19 March 2014"Briar Rose," written by Jane Yolen, is a heartbreaking story of Sleeping Beauty intertwined with the evils of World War II. Yolen took the story of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty) and developed two parallel stories. Becca is Gemma's niece, soon to be discovered as Briar Rose. Becca promises her grandmother Gemma to find out the truth about her. Thanks to the help of Stan and Josef, Becca discovers the truth: her grandmother had survived the Chelmno extermination camp, and then the partisans. The sheer amount of death and genocide can sometimes be very difficult to understand when it is simply another page in the history books. However, this novel helps provide a tangible perspective of such madness and atrocity through a fairytale lens. It also allows us to contemplate and remember an unconsciously dark chapter in human history. Briar Rose is an interesting book that connotes realism, optimism and a sense of mystery in the ending of a timeless fairy tale, "happily ever after". Although "Briar Rose" is completely fictional, Gemma's plot reflects much of the truth in any modern fairy tale ending. Yolen's ability to create a fairytale story without the typical fairytale ending is what sets this book apart. For example, the contrast between the beauty and brutality of life during this period is an important theme. Briar Rose's story does not end when she is "kissed by the breath of life", she still faces numerous hardships just to survive. Furthermore, Argon's tragic death is simply unfair: but that's how life often goes. You don't always reach the perfect ending, sometimes you actually get... middle of paper... an interesting retelling of Sleeping Beauty. This book contains many emotional moments that evoke feelings of joy, sadness, and wonder. Yolen's ability to write about the Holocaust from a more personal perspective made the novel a very enjoyable read. This moving novel highlights the power of myth and metaphor. Becca searches for the truth behind the Sleeping Beauty story that her grandmother, who said she was Briar Rose, has told her her whole life. The search takes Beccca on a journey into the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. Becca discovered her grandmother's past while also finding herself. Although told in a very different version than most other fairy tales, Yolen created a breathtaking story. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Holocaust. This disturbing story takes advantage of the concept of happy endings, while advocating truth and positivity.