Sworn Enemies

Despite some heavy-handed storytelling, Matas ( Lisa's War ) fashions a gripping novel out of an overlooked chapter of history. It's the mid-19th century, and the czar has ordered that a fixed number of Jewish boys be drafted for a 25-year stint in the army--unlike other Russians, however, Jewish boys can be conscripted when only 12 years old in order to be ``prepared'' for military service. Aaron, the 16-year-old star of his Odessa yeshiva, has been spared this trial, but his arch-enemy, Zev, kidnaps him and turns him over to the soldiers. Aaron's faith and his learning are put to the test when he and even younger, more vulnerable ``recruits'' are made to choose between conversion and certain death. Allowing Aaron to narrate his part of the story, Matas conveys her hero's desperation and anguish. But when she alternates his voice with that of Zev, she falters. Zev's hatred of Aaron becomes less and less credible, especially when he suffers the same fate as Aaron; by the end Zev is virtually evil incarnate. The otherwise viable characters, urgent pacing and carefully wrought setting, however, amply compensate, and ensure that Matas's subject here will not be easily forgotten. Ages 12-up. (Feb.)