People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

**This is the 2009 One Book One Community selection**

In 1996, Hanna Heath, a rare book expert, travels to war-torn Sarajevo to conduct the job of a lifetime: analyze and conserve the famous Sarajevo Haggadah. During her initial analysis of the book, she discovers little artifacts - an insect's wing, wine stains, salt crystals and a white hair - that add to the remarkable history of the Sarajevo Haggadah. Brooks takes her readers through an imagined history of the Haggadah, linking Hanna's artifacts with the path the Haggadah has taken through generations. Along the way, Hanna learns some life-changing aspects about her own family and its past.

People of the Book is an amazing book. Brooks takes the little knowledge known about the real Sarajevo Haggadah and constructs a plausible history of the book. The narrative switches between contemporary times and early periods in history, chronicling the journey of the Sarajevo Haggadah and the reasons behind the little artifacts Hanna finds in the book, which provides an excellent connection between present time and past times. It was very hard for me to put the book down - I wanted to keep reading about the Haggadah's journey. Brooks is an outstanding storyteller. Those who like to read historical fiction should give this book a try!

Reviewed by Jessica