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Sworn Enemies
Aaron and Zev have been protected from serving in the Czar's army for very different reasons--Aaron's father has always paid to keep his scholarly son free. Zev takes the job of khapper, kidnapping other poor, young Jewish boys to fulfill the czar's army quotas.
Zev's jealousy of Aaron turns to hate when he discovers that the girl he loves is to marry Aaron. When Zev decides to rid himself of Aaron forever, he kidnaps him and turns him over to serve in the army. He knows Aaron's fate is sealed--few survive the forced labor. A trick of fate, however, pits the boys against each other face-to-face. Sworn enemies, they must endure the cruel captivity together. Will they join forces to survive or will they destroy each other?
Zev's jealousy of Aaron turns to hate when he discovers that the girl he loves is to marry Aaron. When Zev decides to rid himself of Aaron forever, he kidnaps him and turns him over to serve in the army. He knows Aaron's fate is sealed--few survive the forced labor. A trick of fate, however, pits the boys against each other face-to-face. Sworn enemies, they must endure the cruel captivity together. Will they join forces to survive or will they destroy each other?
144 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 11, 2008
Sworn Enemies is a good book, but it has alot of boring parts. I really wish the end was longer because that was the best part, and it only lasted for 3 chapters. I like how the author showed two different points of view between Aaron and Zev, it is a good idea, however it takes too long to get to the good part.
My favorite part in the book is when Aaron, Josef, and Samuel, steal the gaurds money to escape, when Zev walks in, and ruins the whole plan, by telling them if they don't tell him whats going on, hell scream at the top of his lungs. Then a gaurd wakes up, and Josef knocks him out, and they steal the gaurds horses. Unfortunately, Zev tags along...
My favorite characters in this book were Aaron, because he knows that even if something is wrong, its not as bad as giving up and dying, Josef, for looking out for his friends, and making desicions others wouldnt be able to make under so much pressure, and Miriam, for being sharp, and not being easily tricked. The character i hate the most is Zev, for being a selfish jerk, but he thinks hes doing the right thing wich is even worse.
Im glad that the ending of the book was somewhat unpredictable, i mean, i knew that in most books the protagonists always get thier way, so i was sort of right. I guess thats what kept me reading, wanting something exciting to happen, something "unexpected", so i guess the book gave me that.
I was actually very surprised that the simplicity of the choice of words the author used caused me to feel emotions that the characters were describing, part of it was from past experiences, but I definitely felt what Aaron was feeling: Hate, anger, confusion, all of these emotions that he had never knew before, kind of like what happened to me once, all of these emotions coming at you all at once.
My favorite line from the book was when Aaron was talking to Miriam, and he says "Miriam, you must not be so hasty and say you will follow me. I am no longer the person you once knew. I-I-Miriam, I converted. Until a few weeks ago i wore a cross around my neck. I wanted to kill Zev I hated him so much. I have so much hate and anger in me. I'm not worthy of you anymore. And i don't know what i'll do with my life. I still want to study Miriam, but it can never be the same! I can never be the same!" then Miriam says "I'm glad youre no longer perfect, Aaron. It is the one thing that worried me about our marraige. because I am so imperfect. You are human, that is all. You say you wanted to kill Zev. But you didn't, did you? To have those feelings, that is normal, to act on them-that is inexcusable. I love you" that was the best part of the book for me.
I wouldn't reccomend this book to everyone, too many people might think its boring, but i would reccomend it to anyone who might want to know what it was like for Jews in Russia/Ukraine, or who just want a good easy to read book
My favorite part in the book is when Aaron, Josef, and Samuel, steal the gaurds money to escape, when Zev walks in, and ruins the whole plan, by telling them if they don't tell him whats going on, hell scream at the top of his lungs. Then a gaurd wakes up, and Josef knocks him out, and they steal the gaurds horses. Unfortunately, Zev tags along...
My favorite characters in this book were Aaron, because he knows that even if something is wrong, its not as bad as giving up and dying, Josef, for looking out for his friends, and making desicions others wouldnt be able to make under so much pressure, and Miriam, for being sharp, and not being easily tricked. The character i hate the most is Zev, for being a selfish jerk, but he thinks hes doing the right thing wich is even worse.
Im glad that the ending of the book was somewhat unpredictable, i mean, i knew that in most books the protagonists always get thier way, so i was sort of right. I guess thats what kept me reading, wanting something exciting to happen, something "unexpected", so i guess the book gave me that.
I was actually very surprised that the simplicity of the choice of words the author used caused me to feel emotions that the characters were describing, part of it was from past experiences, but I definitely felt what Aaron was feeling: Hate, anger, confusion, all of these emotions that he had never knew before, kind of like what happened to me once, all of these emotions coming at you all at once.
My favorite line from the book was when Aaron was talking to Miriam, and he says "Miriam, you must not be so hasty and say you will follow me. I am no longer the person you once knew. I-I-Miriam, I converted. Until a few weeks ago i wore a cross around my neck. I wanted to kill Zev I hated him so much. I have so much hate and anger in me. I'm not worthy of you anymore. And i don't know what i'll do with my life. I still want to study Miriam, but it can never be the same! I can never be the same!" then Miriam says "I'm glad youre no longer perfect, Aaron. It is the one thing that worried me about our marraige. because I am so imperfect. You are human, that is all. You say you wanted to kill Zev. But you didn't, did you? To have those feelings, that is normal, to act on them-that is inexcusable. I love you" that was the best part of the book for me.
I wouldn't reccomend this book to everyone, too many people might think its boring, but i would reccomend it to anyone who might want to know what it was like for Jews in Russia/Ukraine, or who just want a good easy to read book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
Aaron is the top student is his small village and is betrothed to Miriam. He has a bright future. Zev, on the other hand, struggles in school and is constantly belittled by his father, who holds Aaron up to Zev as the shining example. The Czar has decreed that each Jewish village must fill a quota of young men to be conscripted into the army - and consequently forced to convert to Christianity. Zev has been working for the government, kidnapping boys to help meet the quota. He finds Aaron alone and sees his chance for revenge, handing him over to the Russian army. Aaron is subjected to torture in order to convert but he gains strength in the friendship he makes with Samuel and Josef. Samuel is a devout Jew; Josef an atheist. But when Zev finds himself forced into the army, they see each other again and distrust and revenge almost ruin their only chance for escape.
Such an interesting book.
Such an interesting book.
January 31, 2019
I appreciate the author chose the era of Jewish conscription in the Czar's Army, circa 1850s, for a young adult book. It was a quick read, but I wouldn't have wanted to read this book as required reading in elementary school.
November 10, 2022
Would be 4 stars, but it’s just too short. And the ending is abrupt. Quick read though. And I learned some things about history.
January 11, 2016
I feel stupid reading this. It seems to me that characters are not young adults but annoying 9-year-olds. Good thing this is crisply short otherwise I would've thrown this off the dust bin
February 12, 2016
Good historical fiction that brings that era to life.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews