Stones in Water

by Donna Jo Napoli

Book Overview

When Roberto sneaks off to see a movie in his Italian village, he has no idea that life as he knows it is over. German soldiers raid the theater, round up the boys in the audience, and pack them onto a train. After a terrifying journey, Roberto and his best friend Samuele find themselves in a brutal work camp, where food is scarce and horror is everywhere. The boys vow to stay together no matter what. But Samuele has a dangerous secret, which, if...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141306009
• ISBN13: 9780141306001
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

PRISONERS OF WAR

Stones in Water is book of many emotions; it begins in a small village outside of Venice, Italy. Roberto, a Gondolier's son, and his best friend Samuele are captured one day by German soldiers in a movie theater. They are taken to Nazi work camps where they are pushed into hard labor and grueling work. As the book continues work gets harder and one day the boys are moved to a camp in Ukraine. Trouble comes when a boy at the work camp discovers a dangerous secret about Samuele that could get Roberto and Samuele both killed. When Roberto escapes out of the camp his journey home begins. He must battle rough terrain and harsh weather as well as Nazi soldiers storming cities to get back home to those he loves. With Enzo already dead from the cold Roberto thinks he has nothing to loose. He runs and runs not thinking about death but about perseverance and to never give up. He makes do with nature and survives eating sea creatures and sleeping in trees. While traveling through Russia trying to get to the Mediterranean Sea, he uses methods Enzo has taught him, and tries to survive in this deadly climate. With Enzo gone he has no company, but While Roberto is traveling he comes upon two friends Rigazzo and Maurizio who help him travel land and sea and try to help this unhappy gondolier son get back to his loving family, or will Roberto make a terrifying decision that could change his life forever. My first reaction in Stones in Water was the friendship. Roberto and Samuele would literally do anything for each other. Even if it was a deadly situation It was all the way from trading food, to acting like they weren't friends, to hiding that Samuele was a Jew, sacrificing his life to be with each other, and being a great friend and telling good night stories to each other because they missed there family so much. It even showed about making friends when it is most important. Even when Roberto was tired, hungry, and cold he still went out of his way to be friendly to Rigazzo. This book really brought out the true meaning of friendship. Most of all, this book was passionate it really showed what life was like in labor camps and it almost felt like you were experiencing there situations. Another reaction that I had was survival. Roberto did what every he could to stay alive. He ate disgusting sea creatures, slept in trees, and hid in the snow. The only reason he knew these methods was because of Samuele, Samuele taught him many tings things that kept him alive. The last thing that I observed in the book was symbolism. The German boots represented so many different things. The most important thing to Roberto was that they reminded him of Samuele because Samuele was wearing them when he died. In addition, they kept Roberto worm. The last symbol of the German boots was a dreadful symbol, which almost caused Roberto to die. This is so, because when Roberto was in a village many people thought he was a German soldier and shot at him and almost got hi

Trials

A Review by JoshStones in Water is about the adventure of Roberto, a 13 year old boy and his friend Sameule, who is also known as Enzo during WWII. The story starts when Roberto, his brother Sergio, and his friends Memo and Sameule are kidnapped at a movie theater by German soldiers. All of them are split up except for Sameule, who is now Enzo, and Roberto. Roberto and Enzo face many different trials and work at a prisoner of war camp. Roberto ends up escaping from the camp by meeting a group of Italian deserter soldiers and he follows them to Ukraine. While Roberto is in Ukraine he meets a boy and they fight to stay alive during the cold winter.I really liked this book because of how it was based around a snowy area, which is my favorite type of surrounding. The book has a wonderful adventurous storyline. I like the main characters in this book because they are very nice.The book puts you in a first person point of view on WWII, which really helps you to understand the trials of WWII. I would recommend this book to everyone because of how well it is written.

5 Stones for Stones in Water!

When Roberto sneaks away from home to watch a movie with some friends, he encounters nazi soldiers who take him away to all parts of Europe. Roberto is left alone with his friend Samuele or Enzo. Roberto remains strong througout his journey until his friends is frozen to death while in the cold harsh climate of Ukraine. Sad and angry for his friend, Roberto knows he does not want to die here. He runs away from the slave camp but amazingly he is not shot. Not yelled at, not bothered at all! He then survives the wilderness by using his survival instincts. Dodging soldiers, salvaging what ever he can from destroyed villages is all Roberto can do until he is befriended by an Italian soldier who helps him find the way home. Did he make it? Was he able to get through the rough waters of the Mediterranean? I read this book after a friend asked me these questions. After reading the book, I felt Roberto's pains and reliefs, and because of it, I enjoyed this suspenceful book. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stones which is what this book deserves!

STONES IN WATER

STONES IN WATER takes place in World War 2 mostly in a work camp. Roberto the main character gets money for his friends his brother and him for a filmstrip. When the strip was over German solders came and took all the kids including roberto and his friends. Roberto got split up from his brother but he wasen't alone he went Roberto's friend memo, and Roberto whent with Enzo a jewish boy. The Germans took Roberto and Enzo to a work camp. Camp was Real hard for Enzo. Enzo died in camp that's when Roberto finally siad he was going to sneak out of camp. I think this book is for 11-15 year olds because it has big words and it has lots to understand. This book is worth the money you spend on it because if you like reading about the holocaust and if you like historical fiction then this is the book for you.

A glimpse at the lives of 2 young men in a Nazi work camp.

I really got into this book. Roberto and Sameuel are captured by German Soldiers and sent to work at a work camp, putting in long hard hours and under fed. Roberto gets his insprition to survive through a small stone given to him by a young jewish girl. Roberto faces many trails with and without Samuel. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all readers, young and not so young.