Authors note: I really liked this book so it was not very hard to right this essay.
Uri Orlev the author of “Man from The Other Side” was able to write a fictional story but still show the struggles of the very real Nazi occupations’. This book shows bravery and friendship, sadness and happiness, death and life. Merrek goes through struggles that most people will never have to face. He sees things most people won’t and wouldn’t want to see.
“Man from The Other Side” shows friendship when Merrek a 14 year old boy and a Jewish man are brought together. They are brought together after Merrek robbed a Jew and his mother cried for Merrek and his evil doings he promised her he would give it to another Jew. Therefore they had met. Merrek then took the man and brought him to his grandparents for awhile. They became good friends within that time.
The bravery of Merrek kicks in when he helps the man reach the ghetto to help the resistance. The resistance was made up of Jews and Poles. On the way the Germans blow up a tunnel that would get Merrek home so Merrek fought for the resistance until his stepfather came to get him and a number of other people. During the fighting he watched his new friend get attacked as him and the German fell off the building to their deaths. Merrek runs down there and gets another boy to help him pull them apart because their hands were still clenched to each other.
After they were separated Merrek carried his friend’s body around, blood had covered him, than someone found him and took him to his stepfather. Merrek had insisted on the man having a proper burial, showing he cared dearly for his friend. They then went through more tunnels to their escape from the ghetto making a quick getaway. These events made Merrek a stronger man in his life.
As you can tell there is a lot of friendship and bravery in the book. I would suggest to friends to read this amazing book. Most of the people reading the book will never face these obstacles in their life and should be happy to life a happier life than Merreks. This book keeps you involved and interested page after page.
