This is a first for me: receiving an Early Reviewer's copy and not being able to finish it. I have started this book at least three times. My most recent efforts got me halfway through.

THE BABY EXPERIMENT concerns a young 18th-century Jewish girl who "interviews" and qualifies for a job caring for orphaned infants. These babies are under the care of an "evil scientist" who wishes to study the impact of a complete lack of nurturing upon childhood development--a modern concept indeed. Unable to participate in the evil, the girl flees the orphanage, taking with her one of the babies in her charge. Another young female orphanage nurse, unaware of her colleague's Jewish identity, accompanies her. They begin a trek west from eastern Europe to Amsterdam.

First of all, the premise of the book struck me as far too modern: a Jewish girl applying for a "job" at an orphanage where a scientist investigates the impact of emotional deprivation? Too twentieth-century. Add an exploration of anti-Semitism to the mix, and the implausible felt even more heavily freighted. Had the writing been crisper and more lively, I might have been able to persist. But it wasn't...and I didn't.

So...in the end, for me, this was an unconvincing plot lurching forward on legs of weak and anemic writing.

Can I see older children reading this book? No. Even with my best efforts, the book couldn't hold my interest. As much as I admire anyone who tries to forge a world out of words, I cannot recommend Anne Dublin's book. ( )

It is dangerous to be a Jew in Hamburg, Germany in the 1700's, and it leaves 14 year-old Johanna conflicted about who she is and why her life is so constricted. She takes a job caring for infants, but has to invent an identity. Sneaking home on her limited time off, lying to her mother about where she is employed, and keeping up the subterfuge at work takes a toll on Johanna as she becomes increasingly aware that the babies are dying from neglect--or something more insidious. She kidnaps "her" baby and takes off to Amsterdam.

The premise might work if there were plausible details or engaging suspense. Instead, Johanna seems to move through the dangerous environment with few real impediments.

Still this book might hold interest for middle-schoolers interested in history or just getting away from mom. ( )

I'd been expecting a bit more about the actual orphanage for some reason the experiments on the babies (hence the title) but what you get is instead a little insight to life for a young girl in 1700s Hamburg over the course of a few weeks. I'm making the assumption that the historical accurateness is there as the author is an award-winning author of historial fiction - it was interesting to see how much Jewish people were persecuted that far back in time and is something I wasn't aware of. This is unfortunately all I've really gained from reading this novel (novella?).

It became all about her religion and how she had to change who she was, which is fine but not when the title doesn't lead to you this. Furthermore, what an easy time Johanna had on leaving the orphanage - a nice easy jaunt across the country in two days; I was surprised that it wasn't difficult or fraut with danger as her partners in crime had led me to believe. It isn't a book I'd recommend and I'm please I came across a copy rather than purchasing it but at least it was only an hour of reading. ( )

I received this book through Early Reviewers. I actually started it while on vacation at Disney World and could not put it down. Although it is a short read, it is captivating from beginning to end. I appreciate the historical side to this novel as it brings out some cruel experiments and lives of different cultures in 1700s. ( )

Jews have long been blamed for everything from plague to anything bad that happened. They have been persecuted for centuries. We know from our recent history how Hitler made a point of trying to wipe them out. But, did you know that in the early 1700’s they were just as persecuted and looked down on? I didn’t. Anne Dublin has crafted a story set during this time, in Hamburg, Germany. It is here we meet a young girl by the name of Johanna Eisen. She had seen a sign advertising for girls to work in an orphanage. She lies about her name to get a job to help her mother. She lied about her name because she was sure that with a Jewish name she would not be hired. Although her mother is against it, she lets Johanna go. It is immediately clear that there is something wrong in this orphanage. They are not allowed to speak to the babies and they are not allowed to hold them beyond changing their diaper or tending to their physical needs. Soon the babies begin to die.

Johanna overhears a conversation between the concerned doctor and one of those in charge. It is shortly thereafter she decides she must rescue one of the babies she has fallen in love with. She makes the arrangements to escape and is caught by one of the other girls who wants to go with her. From this point on the tension is taken up a notch. Will she succeed in escaping? What about her mother? What about her friend Cecile? What will happen when Cecile finds out Johanna is a Jew?

Read the book to find out answers to all of these questions and more. I would gladly recommend this book to my students and anyone who loves historical fiction. I look forward to reading more by this author. ( )