What Age Group Is Prisoner B 3087 Appropriate For?

For days after I finished the book, it haunted me and there are many reasons why I think this book should be read by ‘Prisoner B-3087’. I think that this book should be read by middle-grade to young-teen readers (10-14 yrs old). The writing is very simple, so it’s really easy to read. But the content is very harsh and in some parts very gory, so I think if younger readers are going to read this then teachers and parents should give them enough background information of the Holocaust before they read the book. Also, they need to check in with them after they have read certain parts.

Older readers will also benefit from reading ‘Prisoner B-3087’ as an introduction to more in-depth studies of the Holocaust. Combining ‘Prisoner B-3087’ with survivor testimonies, maps and historical timelines will enable readers to distinguish between fact and fiction, and to explore and examine in greater depth the historical events of the Holocaust, asking their own questions along the way. I would personally be wary of giving this to a sensitive 10-year-old reader to read on their own and would consider giving it to an older reader first.

As for the book being suitable for readers of different ages, I’d say the book is suitable, but important to remember that there are many younger readers of middleschool age, for example, who are more mature than others of the same age, and so it really is a matter of individual maturity rather than age, and adults reading the book with children should be prepared for some very difficult discussions with them afterwards.

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gringas is a book that I would recommend for mature upper-elementary and middle-grade readers (10-14 years old). I always let parents and caregivers know that there is some graphic content, readers will learn about the harsh circumstances that the main character faced as well as experience his emotional pain as he deals with loss in the book. I would recommend pairing this book with Number the Stars by Lois Lowry to give readers a gentler introduction to the time period and then letting them read this on their own or discussion in a book club with a trusted adult. Audiobooks may soften some of the details, but others may make it seem even more immediate. I recommend based on the reader.

For teens who want a historical fiction account of WWII’s struggles but want it to be realistic and easy to read, I recommend this novel. I would even have some discussion questions on hand for book clubs. The novel is important and worth reading with caution, though.

I would teach ‘Prisoner B-3087’ in late elementary/middle school (grades 6-9) with support of students. The story is straightforward and the student follows a timeline of events in WW2/Holocaust. The moral/ emotional complexity of the story would need classroom support. I would pre-teach vocabulary, give mini-lessons on context before reading and support students after reading with analysis tasks. I would also use primary sources (photos, interviews, documents) to clarify what is fact and what is drama in the story.

The student can then complete a number of different assessment tasks including writing reflective essays, comparing and contrasting other Holocaust stories such as ‘Night’ and ‘Number the Stars’ through written work or presentations and researching and presenting information about the geography of areas of the Holocaust as well as completing a timeline. Students should be warned about the content of ‘Prisoner B-3087’ and alternative work should be available for students who feel that they need it.