Jewish Novels for Older Children |
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The Singing Mountain
By Sonia Levitin
Since her parents' fatal accident, 15-year-old Carlie has lived with her cousin,
Mitch, and his parents, Vivian and Harry. Now, once again life sideswipes her.
Her 18-year-old cousin is not returning from Israel, where he went to spend the
summer. Previously oblivious to his Jewish identity, Mitch has become observant,
is planning to study in Israel, and is even considering emigrating. An outraged
Harry sends Vivian and Carlie to convince Mitch to return home. It is an awkward
reunion, in the midst of which a terrorist bomb explodes and Carlie is injured.
Afterward, family secrets are unveiled, Carlie and Mitch realize the depth of
their feelings for one another, and Vivian recognizes her son's right to make
his own choices. Told from Mitch's and Carlie's points of view, this plot-driven
novel bristles with questions about faith, love, family, acceptance, and
self-determination.
Description from Booklist
Mitch Green, a teenager who enjoys carefree days at the beach, decides not to
return home to southern California from his summer trip to Israel. Instead of
starting his first year at UCLA, he decides to study the Torah and live and
study at a yeshiva. He has never before felt the joy and fulfillment he experiences
while living in Jerusalem. His parents are convinced he has been brainwashed,
but his cousin Carlie, who has lived with the Greens since her parents' death,
isn't sure. In alternating chapters, Mitch and Carlie tell their stories of
change, maturation, and love. The young man's spiritual growth and interest
in his religion and history are fascinating. His strength of character and
thoughtfulness are well portrayed. Carlie also matures both spiritually and
emotionally, and is a likable, intelligent teenager. Many issues of religion,
politics, and family dynamics are raised and discussed by Mitch and Carlie,
as well as their friends and family in Israel and America. Another important
and outstanding work by Levitin, this unique novel covers fresh territory.
Description from School Library Journal
Each chapter of this emotionally engrossing book alternates between Mitch Green,
the only son of a non-observant Jewish family, who has decided to study Orthodox
Judaism in Jerusalem, and the family he left behind in California. Mitch's
parents fear he has been ensnared by a cult. They can't imagine any other
reason why the son who rarely attended synagogue wants to forego UCLA in favor
of an entirely Jewish education. Mitch isn't sure why he feels like a parched
man guzzling water in the desert. But he is unable to leave this spiritual
nourishment, even after his mother and cousin come to Jerusalem in an effort
to bring him home. Mitch's feelings for his cousin Carlie present another
enigma. After the death of Carlie's parents, they have lived like brother
and sister. Yet the feelings they have seem to go beyond friendship. The
complicated emotions of all the characters are skillfully and believably
drawn. The reader empathizes with everyone. Levitin's depiction of both
sides of a family conflict is a tour de force.
Description from Children's Literature
About the B'Nai Bagels
By E. L. Konigsburg
Mark Seltzer thought he had enough aggravation studying for his Bar Mitzvah and losing his best friend. It's the last straw when his mother becomes the new manager of his Little League baseball team and drags his older brother, Spencer, along as the coach.
No one knows what to expect with a mother for a manager, but soon Mark and the other players are surprised to see how much they're improving due to coach Spencer's strategy and helpful hints from "Mother Bagel."
It looks like nothing can stop them from becoming champs--until Mark hears some startling news!
Description from Publisher
Seymour, the Formerly Fearful
By Eve B. Feldman
Seymour Goldfarb is afraid of a lot of things, and he hides his fears from the world with quick thinking. When his cousin Pessach comes to visit from Israel, however, Seymour meets his match while trying to show a 'normal' guy how Americans have fun.
Description from Publisher
All Seymour's energies are spent fabricating excuses to avoid situations that frighten him. Then his seemingly fearless older cousin arrives from Israel and plunges a terrified Seymour into one adventure after another.
Description from Horn Book
Of Heroes, Hooks, and Heirlooms
By Faye Silton
Mia doesn't know how to participate in her class's study of
family history because her parents lost all their belongings
save one photograph in the Holocaust. An understanding neighbor
helps her to reclaim the family gift of crochet and make a
new heirloom. The story about struggling with loss and
defining heroism is a moving one.
Description by Horn Book
Dear Elijah
By Miriam Bat-Ami
Using the Passover holiday not only as a setting, but also as
symbol, this story, told in diary form, chronicles 11-year-old
Rebecca Samuelson's life after her father's heart attack.
Rebecca decides to address her diary to Elijah, the Old Testament prophet,
who, legend has it, visits Jewish houses at Passover.
To "E" (as she calls him), Rebecca confides her fears for her
father, her soul-searching about her own life, and lots and
lots of details about Passover. The story is at its best when Rebecca
gets to the truth about what life is for a kid and when she
muses about religion, both her own and others. There are
certainly too few books that deal with that topic.
from Booklist
The Saturday Secret
By Miriam Rinn
Jason Siegel thinks his stepfather's new religious observances
have gone far enough. First only kosher food at home. Then he
is forced to wear a kippah (yarmulke). Now no baseball games
on Shabbat! Jason is determined to play ball -- no matter what.
But his plan backfires and Jason finds himself entangled in a
situation that hurts his teammate’s feelings and jeopardizes
his relationship with his mother and step-father.
Description from Publisher
Far from the heavy didacticism of much religious fiction, this moving first novel leaves you thinking that "sometimes knowing what's right can be very hard." The religious message grows out of action and character. Jason hates the restrictions his devout stepfather, David, imposes on the family: Why must they eat only kosher food? Why must Jason wear a yarmulke (he takes it off the minute he leaves home). Worst of all, why can't he play on the baseball team on Saturday afternoons? (Jason lies about where he is and secretly joins the game.) Of course, part of the family tension is not about religion but about a son's grief for his dead father and resentment of the replacement. Jason's reluctant bond with David grows when David roots for him against a bullying coach and when David defends Jason's black friend in a public racial confrontation. What makes the story convincing is that there is real anger. Jason lies, but David is far from perfect, as he admits after losing his temper and yelling at Jason (He apologizes, saying, "The Talmud tells us that insulting someone or calling them names is like killing them.") The ending, when he shows and tells of his love for Jason, is a tearjerker and makes us know that "following the rules in the Torah is not a substitute for doing the right thing." Middle readers will love the baseball, the friendship story, and, above all, the father-son moral conflict and love. The book's last line is a perfect climax.
Description from Booklist
The Mystery of the Coins
By Chaya M. Burstein
Burstein cleverly has interwoven historical stories with suspense
in this mystery that will sustain the interest of young readers.
When Jamie and Sarah find a package of coins in the false bottom
of an old trunk, they, with the help of a coin history book and
a book of Jewish history, solve the mystery of their Uncle Otto's
coins. Each of the coins coincides with a period of Jewish
history, and each has a story of its own. The framing story is
lively, with likable characters, and the historical stories are
well constructed individually as well as providing a unified
whole. Sources for all of the coins, which are aptly illustrated,
are appended. A delightful and unusual book.
Description from School Library Journal
Saying It Out Loud
By Joan Abelove
A mother's death leaves her daughter not so much empty as full --
of memories, understanding, appreciation.... More than anything,
Mindy longs to be told the truth. From the doctors, from her father.
Mom isn't going to get better, she isn't going to leave the white
room in the hospital ever again, isn't going to come home to fill
the candy bowl with its magical stash of M&M's. But it's the
silence, the avoidance and denial, that hurts Mindy the most.
The year is 1961 -- clearly evoked in the music and movies (there
is a powerful scene involving Spartacus). Mindy's father has
absented himself emotionally from her adolescence, after stating,
in his absolute way, that she will date no one who's not Jewish.
Facing the death of her mother from a brain tumor, Mindy feels
like an orphan, and, like her mother, excluded from life -- until
friends get her laughing again, until she can see her mother and
their relationship squarely and lovingly. This is a book that,
though dark at its center, casts light on all sides, with
extraordinary tenderness.
Description from Publisher
The Kingston Castle: A Mystery
By Ruth Abrahamson
When the Rosenbergs decide to vacation in Kingston, it is to get
away from the bustle of city life. Little do they know that the
town and its famous castle hold in store the adventure of a
lifetime. The Rosenberg kids become fast friends with the Sandler
family. The Sandlers live as traditional Jews, and the Rosenbergs
begin to discover a world about which they know little.
Description from Publisher
The Golem of Prague
By Gershon Winkler
Experience one of the most startling and controversial metaphysical
Jewish events of all time: the creation of a golem, a man crafted
out of clay by the exalted Rabbi Yehudah Loevy ben Bezalel (the
Maharal) of Prague to protect sixteenth-century Jews from
persecution. The author skillfully captures the essence of the
golem and examines its aftermath objectively. Features a dramatized
adaptation of the documented adventures of the golem and includes
a comprehensive overview of Jewish mysticism, black magic,
demonology, miracles and science, plus a summary of other golems
in Jewish history. Read it for pleasure as well as perspective.
Description from Publisher
Sacred Stones:
The Return of the Golem
By Gershon Winkler
This fascinating mystical adventure, the sequel to the best-selling
book The
Golem of Prague, is gripping reading. Readers will be swept
along in an adventurous story as the ancient breastplate of the kohen
gadol (high priest), affixed with twelve sacred stones, is
discovered--and stolen. As the threat of war looms, the saintly
Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehudah Loevy ben Bezalel, is compelled
to recreate the awesome Yossele the Golem to rescue the Jews and
avert disaster. Culled from more than two dozen sources, the
introduction to The Sacred Stones provides the reader with a
historical backdrop to the era and focuses briefly on the life
and philosophy of the Maharal. Ages 8-14.
Description from Publisher
Chernowitz!
By Fran Arrick
A boy who suffers anti-Semitic abuse at the hands of a classmate during his ninth
and tenth grade years plots revenge against his tormentor.
Description from Publisher
Matzah Ball :
A Passover Story
By Mindy Avra Portnoy
Aaron must bring a bag lunch to the baseball game during Passover, but while his friends are off at the concession stand, something wonderful happens.
Description from Publisher
Blending baseball and Passover facts, this contemporary, fast-paced story
demonstrates that "It's not always easy being Jewish, but sometimes it can
lead to miracles." Aaron's happiness at going with his friends to see the
Baltimore Orioles is tempered by his mother's reminder that it is Passover
and that he can't eat pretzels, crackerjacks, or ice cream. His non-Jewish
friends eagerly devour his special lunch, which he refuses to eat. Aaron
dislikes being different, especially when the others make one last trip to
the concession stands. Surprised when an elderly man (could it be Elijah?)
sits down beside him, Aaron listens to the man's memories of Jewish baseball
fans going to games at Ebbets Field and receives a special piece of matzah
that miraculously helps him catch a home-run ball hit into the bleachers.
Bold, detailed watercolors perfectly complement the text's realistic language
and emotions. This will be a hit with sports lovers and anyone seeking an
added dimension to a holiday story
Description from School Library Journal
Mystery in Miami Beach :
A Vivi Hartman Mystery
By Harriet K. Feder
Vivi Hartman, a rabbi's daughter, visits her grandmother in Florida during her
winter break. While on the plane, she reads a front-page Miami Herald story
about an Israeli tourist attacked by a gang. The woman is her grandmother's
friend, also visiting in Gram's apartment. In quick succession, Vivi meets a teenaged
boy and begins to notice that a rash of red birds, umbrellas, tall men with British
accents, and other suspicious characters seem to be popping up everywhere. This
is a fast-paced mystery, the premise of which is rooted during the Holocaust --
specifically with the ship St. Louis, which was not allowed to land in either Cuba
or Miami in 1939. The ship returned to Europe, where most of the 907 Jewish
passengers died. Hebrew terms and Jewish customs are woven seamlessly into
the story; indeed, much of this information is crucial to the plot, and all of it adds
depth. If Vivi remembers to utilize pilpul -- rabbinical logic -- to solve the ensuing
mysteries, she could be a modern-day Sherlock Holmes who also happens to be
a nice, bright American Jewish girl.
Description from School Library Journal
Mystery of the Kaifeng Scroll :
A Vivi Hartman Adventure
By Harriet K. Feder
This sequel to Mystery
in Miami Beach finds 15-year-old Vivi jetting off to Istanbul, Turkey,
for a summer visit with her mother. Vivi is concerned when Mom fails to
meet the plane, sending a young Arab girl named Shari in her stead. Vivi learns
that her mother has left Istanbul to authenticate an ancient scroll that may or
may not be a Torah taken to China during the 1400s. Later, Vivi overhears a
whispered conversation that convinces her that Mom has been kidnapped by
Shari's brother, a Palestinian terrorist. Using her considerable linguistic talents
as well as her knowledge of the Torah, Vivi unravels the mystery and rescues
her mother. Feder portrays Vivi as a strong, savvy, and thoroughly modern
young woman who takes her strict Jewish upbringing seriously. Universal
themes of trust and independence combine with the specific issue of conflict
between Arabs and Israelis to make this a timely and appealing mystery.
Description from Booklist
Death on Sacred Ground :
A Vivi Hartman Mystery
By Harriet K. Feder
In this third title in the Vivi Hartman mystery series, tenth-grader Vivi and her rabbi father travel to the funeral of a young Orthodox Jewish girl. It seems that pretty, rebellious Mindy Solomon was shot to death during a high-school archery club outing, and the police want to know why she died on snake-ridden Seneca Indian sacred ground, well away from the rest of the group. To complicate things, Seneca teen Jimmy Cloud is missing, and his Jewish girlfriend confides to Vivi that she is being stalked. As Vivi snoops around the tense little town, she discovers other suspects, including local teens who resent the Senecas; members of a born-again-Christian group who have been recruiting Jewish teens; and even Mindy's father. Secondary characters are somewhat flat, but Vivi and her father are appealing, and there's plenty of authentic atmosphere. A multicultural mystery for larger collections.
Description from Booklist
Instead of spending winter break in Florida, Vivi Hartman must accompany her rabbi father to Pike's Landing, some sixty miles south of Buffalo. Rabbi Hartman has been asked to preside over a young girl's funeral service in the small town. Making matters worse, Vivi is required to do an ethnography for a social studies project. This means she has to follow a particular person around and study the individual's life. There are several surprises in store for Vivi when she arrives in Pike's Landing. Her assignment for the ethnography is Paula Ash, a girl about her own age. Questions have arisen about the death of the young girl, who it turns out has been violently murdered. Vivi and Paula become involved in an investigation that uncovers secret resentments between Jewish, Christian and Native American residents of Pike's Landing. To get to the bottom of the mystery, Vivi invokes pilpul, a method of logic that Jews practice to understand the Torah. This novel should induce thought-provoking discussion about both Native American and Jewish cultures.
Description from Children's Literature
The Secret of the Mezuzah
(Passport to Danger, No. 1)
By Mary Reeves Bell
Thirteen-year-old Constantine--Con, for short--prefers life on his grandparents'
Wyoming ranch to living in stuffy, old Vienna, Austria, with his mother and new
stepfather. He complains to the friendly neighborhood baker, Branko, who tells
Con that the old city is an exciting hub of espionage, with 1 out of every 10
adults working as an undercover spy. Together with school chum and fellow
American, Hannah, Con determines to make life in Vienna more interesting by
tracking down a spy. He could never have suspected that the spy he finds would
be his mother and that he and Hannah would become involved in the
life-threatening pursuit of murderous neo-Nazis. Written to enlighten readers
about the Holocaust and how the passive submission and even willing cooperation
of European citizens permitted the Nazis to wreak their horror, this suspenseful
novel, which has believable and likable protagonists, cloaks its lessons of grim
historical realities and contemporary threats of anti-Semitism in a gripping
adventure that will rivet readers.
Description from Booklist
The Mozart Season
By Virginia Euwer Wolff
Allegra Leah Shapiro is happily making the transition from seventh-grade softball
season to summertime when she can concentrate on her violin lessons. At their first
session, her teacher informs her that she has been chosen as a finalist in a competition
for young musicians, probably the youngest of those selected. Allegra, a gifted
violinist, plays in a youth orchestra in her hometown of Portland, Oregon, but she
is also a three-dimensional, real 12-year-old who wrangles good-naturedly with
her older brother, chafes at her parents' restrictions on late-night bike riding, is
loyal to her friends, and is intensely curious about the world around her. As the
summer progresses, several themes weave in and out of Allegra's consciousness
and growth as she struggles with the Mozart concerto she will play in the competition.
A strange dancing man who appears at outdoor concerts, the mysterious sadness
surrounding her mother's friend Deirdre, and a very special gift from her grandmother
in New York--all these find their way into Allegra's awareness and eventually into
her own interpretation of the concerto. With a clear, fresh voice that never falters,
Wolff gives readers a delightful heroine, a fully realized setting, and a slowly building
tension that reaches a stunning climax at the competition. Wolff interweaves the
themes of adolescence, music, and striving for excellence with great success. A
book that will richly reward its readers.
Description from School Library Journal
Unfinished Dreams
By Jane Breskin Zalben
Mr. Carr is a principal any student would love, joking on the intercom, coming
to school once a year in his pajamas, and lending support to all. An aspiring
violinist, sixth-grader Jason has received great encouragement from Mr. Carr,
so when the principal falls ill and students make cracks about his being a
"fairy," Jason feels both puzzled and distressed. As Jason's everyday life
unfolds (violin lessons, a family celebration, Hebrew school), he gradually
learns more about AIDS and about tolerance. Jason is a likable character, but
his first-person narrative articulates every little feeling and thought Zalben
wants to convey, and Mr. Carr is far too good to be true. The book's strength
lies in Zalben's refreshingly ordinary depiction of Jewish family life and in
her portrayal of a young musician's love of his craft. Although heavy-handed in
places, this clearly reflects the author's desire to promote understanding about
an important topic.
Description from Booklist
The Great Shalom
By Peter J. Dyck
Safe and happy in the forest, the animals and birds try to find a way to stop the farmer from cutting
down trees and destroying their home.
Description from Publisher
This book along with the sequel,
Shalom
At Last are two of the most wonderful animal/environment
books I have read. As touching as "Charlotte's Web" the reader ends up truly caring about the animals.
The authors love for Gods magnificent creation and creatures is evident yet the story does not have any
"religious" wording that would make it unreadable in my public school classroom. My second grade
students especially loved the picture of Mr. Dyck at the end of the book in front of the recycled materials
playhouse he and his grandchildren built.
Description from Amazon.com Customer Review
Shalom at Last
By Peter J. Dyck
In this sequel to
The
Great Shalom, the forest animals make a real peace with Mr. Farmer, and he
turns his forest into an environmental education center.
Description from Publisher
Tell It Like It Is
The title better suits a sociological text than it does this novel, written by a mother and
her eighth-grade daughter, about the challenges confronting Sarah Eisenberg as she
begins high school. Eager to be accepted, Sarah is flattered when a popular clique
favors her with its attention. But she soon learns to choose friends with more care as
these new companions reveal their petty and demeaning motives. Fortunately, Sarah
has strong moral convictions and sound judgment, for each chapter finds her facing
yet another crisis--anti-Semitism, gang intimidation, a friend's attempted suicide,
drugs, and sex.
The way Sarah negotiates her way through these dilemmas is a
parent's dream-come-true. That's not to say that the 14-year-old doesn't test
her parents' authority: Sarah does rebel against some of her family's traditional
Jewish observances. But her strong sense of self allows her to hold on to the
customs that have meaning for her. Although few readers may navigate the
obstacle course of social perils and freshman-year traumas as handily as
Sarah, all will eagerly turn the pages to see how she fares. On the way, they
will acquire some knowledge of Jewish traditions and may gain courage to
stick up for what they believe is right.
Description from Booklist
Earth to Andrew O. Blechman
By Jane Breskin Zalben
Zalben's latest novel concerns an aspiring fourth grade comedian whose
hero is Henny Youngman. Andrew learned about Youngman from Mr. Pearlstein,
an old vaudevillian who lives in the apartment upstairs. Andrew and Mr.
Pearlstein make a deal: Mr. Pearlstein will teach Andrew all of his routines,
and in return the boy will prepare Mr. Pearlstein for the Bar Mitzvah that
the old man never had. Then Andrew learns that Mr. Pearlstein has asked
his grandmother for a date--What if they get married?
Description from Publishers Weekly
This novel takes place in Manhattan and tells the story of a young boy
who wants to be a comedian when he grows up. An old man who lives in
apartment 5B of his brownstone is a comedian. He's supposedly the warm-up
act for Henny Youngman, and he wants to be bar mitzvahed. They strike a
deal: Andrew will give Mr. Pearlstein Hebrew lessons in exchange for
Lou Pearlstein will give him his act from the old days and love of
comedy. There are many subplots, but the love between these two characters
becomes strengthened over time. As the author, I got to have lunch with
Henny Youngman and he ultimately read the book in part at one of his
luncheons at the Friar's Club. The book initially was inspired by my
son who told Henny Youngman jokes when he was nine years old at the
shiva after my father's funeral, not unlike Andrew Blechman. The book
was placed on the Bank Street School's Best Books list the
year after it came out as well as numerous lists for good Jewish novels.
Description by Author
A Gift for Mama
By Esther Hautzig
A young Jewish girl is determined to buy her mother a store bought present for Mother's Day.
As soon as Sara sees the beautiful black satin slippers in the shoe store window, she know
they're the perfect Mother's Day gift for Mama. Sara has always made gifts for her family
on special occasions, but this time she's determined to give a store-bought present--just like
grown-ups do. But grown-ups have spending money, and Sara does not. Until she makes
a plan...
Shani :
Her Adventures Beyond the Sambatyon
By Shimon Bakon
Ancient legends about the River Sambatyon say that it is impossible
for anyone to cross it or to visit the mysterious land beyond it.
Nine-year-old Shani has an urgent mission to perform there, so
Elijah the Prophet teaches her the secret way to make her journey
from America to the Land of Beyond-Sambatyon. Her adventures there
blend entertainment and fantasy with traditional Judaic themes and
personalities.
Description from Publisher
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The Singing Mountain
By Sonia Levitin
Since her parents' fatal accident, 15-year-old Carlie has lived with her cousin,
Mitch, and his parents, Vivian and Harry. Now, once again life sideswipes her.
Her 18-year-old cousin is not returning from Israel, where he went to spend the
summer. Previously oblivious to his Jewish identity, Mitch has become observant,
is planning to study in Israel, and is even considering emigrating. An outraged
Harry sends Vivian and Carlie to convince Mitch to return home. It is an awkward
reunion, in the midst of which a terrorist bomb explodes and Carlie is injured.
Afterward, family secrets are unveiled, Carlie and Mitch realize the depth of
their feelings for one another, and Vivian recognizes her son's right to make
his own choices. Told from Mitch's and Carlie's points of view, this plot-driven
novel bristles with questions about faith, love, family, acceptance, and
self-determination.
Description from Booklist
Mitch Green, a teenager who enjoys carefree days at the beach, decides not to
return home to southern California from his summer trip to Israel. Instead of
starting his first year at UCLA, he decides to study the Torah and live and
study at a yeshiva. He has never before felt the joy and fulfillment he experiences
while living in Jerusalem. His parents are convinced he has been brainwashed,
but his cousin Carlie, who has lived with the Greens since her parents' death,
isn't sure. In alternating chapters, Mitch and Carlie tell their stories of
change, maturation, and love. The young man's spiritual growth and interest
in his religion and history are fascinating. His strength of character and
thoughtfulness are well portrayed. Carlie also matures both spiritually and
emotionally, and is a likable, intelligent teenager. Many issues of religion,
politics, and family dynamics are raised and discussed by Mitch and Carlie,
as well as their friends and family in Israel and America. Another important
and outstanding work by Levitin, this unique novel covers fresh territory.
Description from School Library Journal
Each chapter of this emotionally engrossing book alternates between Mitch Green,
the only son of a non-observant Jewish family, who has decided to study Orthodox
Judaism in Jerusalem, and the family he left behind in California. Mitch's
parents fear he has been ensnared by a cult. They can't imagine any other
reason why the son who rarely attended synagogue wants to forego UCLA in favor
of an entirely Jewish education. Mitch isn't sure why he feels like a parched
man guzzling water in the desert. But he is unable to leave this spiritual
nourishment, even after his mother and cousin come to Jerusalem in an effort
to bring him home. Mitch's feelings for his cousin Carlie present another
enigma. After the death of Carlie's parents, they have lived like brother
and sister. Yet the feelings they have seem to go beyond friendship. The
complicated emotions of all the characters are skillfully and believably
drawn. The reader empathizes with everyone. Levitin's depiction of both
sides of a family conflict is a tour de force.
Description from Children's Literature
About the B'Nai Bagels
By E. L. Konigsburg
Mark Seltzer thought he had enough aggravation studying for his Bar Mitzvah and losing his best friend. It's the last straw when his mother becomes the new manager of his Little League baseball team and drags his older brother, Spencer, along as the coach.
No one knows what to expect with a mother for a manager, but soon Mark and the other players are surprised to see how much they're improving due to coach Spencer's strategy and helpful hints from "Mother Bagel."
It looks like nothing can stop them from becoming champs--until Mark hears some startling news!
Description from Publisher
Seymour, the Formerly Fearful
By Eve B. Feldman
Seymour Goldfarb is afraid of a lot of things, and he hides his fears from the world with quick thinking. When his cousin Pessach comes to visit from Israel, however, Seymour meets his match while trying to show a 'normal' guy how Americans have fun.
Description from Publisher
All Seymour's energies are spent fabricating excuses to avoid situations that frighten him. Then his seemingly fearless older cousin arrives from Israel and plunges a terrified Seymour into one adventure after another.
Description from Horn Book
Of Heroes, Hooks, and Heirlooms
By Faye Silton
Mia doesn't know how to participate in her class's study of
family history because her parents lost all their belongings
save one photograph in the Holocaust. An understanding neighbor
helps her to reclaim the family gift of crochet and make a
new heirloom. The story about struggling with loss and
defining heroism is a moving one.
Description by Horn Book
Dear Elijah
By Miriam Bat-Ami
Using the Passover holiday not only as a setting, but also as
symbol, this story, told in diary form, chronicles 11-year-old
Rebecca Samuelson's life after her father's heart attack.
Rebecca decides to address her diary to Elijah, the Old Testament prophet,
who, legend has it, visits Jewish houses at Passover.
To "E" (as she calls him), Rebecca confides her fears for her
father, her soul-searching about her own life, and lots and
lots of details about Passover. The story is at its best when Rebecca
gets to the truth about what life is for a kid and when she
muses about religion, both her own and others. There are
certainly too few books that deal with that topic.
from Booklist
The Saturday Secret
By Miriam Rinn
Jason Siegel thinks his stepfather's new religious observances
have gone far enough. First only kosher food at home. Then he
is forced to wear a kippah (yarmulke). Now no baseball games
on Shabbat! Jason is determined to play ball -- no matter what.
But his plan backfires and Jason finds himself entangled in a
situation that hurts his teammate’s feelings and jeopardizes
his relationship with his mother and step-father.
Description from Publisher
Far from the heavy didacticism of much religious fiction, this moving first novel leaves you thinking that "sometimes knowing what's right can be very hard." The religious message grows out of action and character. Jason hates the restrictions his devout stepfather, David, imposes on the family: Why must they eat only kosher food? Why must Jason wear a yarmulke (he takes it off the minute he leaves home). Worst of all, why can't he play on the baseball team on Saturday afternoons? (Jason lies about where he is and secretly joins the game.) Of course, part of the family tension is not about religion but about a son's grief for his dead father and resentment of the replacement. Jason's reluctant bond with David grows when David roots for him against a bullying coach and when David defends Jason's black friend in a public racial confrontation. What makes the story convincing is that there is real anger. Jason lies, but David is far from perfect, as he admits after losing his temper and yelling at Jason (He apologizes, saying, "The Talmud tells us that insulting someone or calling them names is like killing them.") The ending, when he shows and tells of his love for Jason, is a tearjerker and makes us know that "following the rules in the Torah is not a substitute for doing the right thing." Middle readers will love the baseball, the friendship story, and, above all, the father-son moral conflict and love. The book's last line is a perfect climax.
Description from Booklist
The Mystery of the Coins
By Chaya M. Burstein
Burstein cleverly has interwoven historical stories with suspense
in this mystery that will sustain the interest of young readers.
When Jamie and Sarah find a package of coins in the false bottom
of an old trunk, they, with the help of a coin history book and
a book of Jewish history, solve the mystery of their Uncle Otto's
coins. Each of the coins coincides with a period of Jewish
history, and each has a story of its own. The framing story is
lively, with likable characters, and the historical stories are
well constructed individually as well as providing a unified
whole. Sources for all of the coins, which are aptly illustrated,
are appended. A delightful and unusual book.
Description from School Library Journal
Saying It Out Loud
By Joan Abelove
A mother's death leaves her daughter not so much empty as full --
of memories, understanding, appreciation.... More than anything,
Mindy longs to be told the truth. From the doctors, from her father.
Mom isn't going to get better, she isn't going to leave the white
room in the hospital ever again, isn't going to come home to fill
the candy bowl with its magical stash of M&M's. But it's the
silence, the avoidance and denial, that hurts Mindy the most.
The year is 1961 -- clearly evoked in the music and movies (there
is a powerful scene involving Spartacus). Mindy's father has
absented himself emotionally from her adolescence, after stating,
in his absolute way, that she will date no one who's not Jewish.
Facing the death of her mother from a brain tumor, Mindy feels
like an orphan, and, like her mother, excluded from life -- until
friends get her laughing again, until she can see her mother and
their relationship squarely and lovingly. This is a book that,
though dark at its center, casts light on all sides, with
extraordinary tenderness.
Description from Publisher
The Kingston Castle: A Mystery
By Ruth Abrahamson
When the Rosenbergs decide to vacation in Kingston, it is to get
away from the bustle of city life. Little do they know that the
town and its famous castle hold in store the adventure of a
lifetime. The Rosenberg kids become fast friends with the Sandler
family. The Sandlers live as traditional Jews, and the Rosenbergs
begin to discover a world about which they know little.
Description from Publisher
The Golem of Prague
By Gershon Winkler
Experience one of the most startling and controversial metaphysical
Jewish events of all time: the creation of a golem, a man crafted
out of clay by the exalted Rabbi Yehudah Loevy ben Bezalel (the
Maharal) of Prague to protect sixteenth-century Jews from
persecution. The author skillfully captures the essence of the
golem and examines its aftermath objectively. Features a dramatized
adaptation of the documented adventures of the golem and includes
a comprehensive overview of Jewish mysticism, black magic,
demonology, miracles and science, plus a summary of other golems
in Jewish history. Read it for pleasure as well as perspective.
Description from Publisher
Sacred Stones:
The Return of the Golem
By Gershon Winkler
This fascinating mystical adventure, the sequel to the best-selling
book The
Golem of Prague, is gripping reading. Readers will be swept
along in an adventurous story as the ancient breastplate of the kohen
gadol (high priest), affixed with twelve sacred stones, is
discovered--and stolen. As the threat of war looms, the saintly
Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehudah Loevy ben Bezalel, is compelled
to recreate the awesome Yossele the Golem to rescue the Jews and
avert disaster. Culled from more than two dozen sources, the
introduction to The Sacred Stones provides the reader with a
historical backdrop to the era and focuses briefly on the life
and philosophy of the Maharal. Ages 8-14.
Description from Publisher
Chernowitz!
By Fran Arrick
A boy who suffers anti-Semitic abuse at the hands of a classmate during his ninth
and tenth grade years plots revenge against his tormentor.
Description from Publisher
Matzah Ball :
A Passover Story
By Mindy Avra Portnoy
Aaron must bring a bag lunch to the baseball game during Passover, but while his friends are off at the concession stand, something wonderful happens.
Description from Publisher
Blending baseball and Passover facts, this contemporary, fast-paced story
demonstrates that "It's not always easy being Jewish, but sometimes it can
lead to miracles." Aaron's happiness at going with his friends to see the
Baltimore Orioles is tempered by his mother's reminder that it is Passover
and that he can't eat pretzels, crackerjacks, or ice cream. His non-Jewish
friends eagerly devour his special lunch, which he refuses to eat. Aaron
dislikes being different, especially when the others make one last trip to
the concession stands. Surprised when an elderly man (could it be Elijah?)
sits down beside him, Aaron listens to the man's memories of Jewish baseball
fans going to games at Ebbets Field and receives a special piece of matzah
that miraculously helps him catch a home-run ball hit into the bleachers.
Bold, detailed watercolors perfectly complement the text's realistic language
and emotions. This will be a hit with sports lovers and anyone seeking an
added dimension to a holiday story
Description from School Library Journal
Mystery in Miami Beach :
A Vivi Hartman Mystery
By Harriet K. Feder
Vivi Hartman, a rabbi's daughter, visits her grandmother in Florida during her
winter break. While on the plane, she reads a front-page Miami Herald story
about an Israeli tourist attacked by a gang. The woman is her grandmother's
friend, also visiting in Gram's apartment. In quick succession, Vivi meets a teenaged
boy and begins to notice that a rash of red birds, umbrellas, tall men with British
accents, and other suspicious characters seem to be popping up everywhere. This
is a fast-paced mystery, the premise of which is rooted during the Holocaust --
specifically with the ship St. Louis, which was not allowed to land in either Cuba
or Miami in 1939. The ship returned to Europe, where most of the 907 Jewish
passengers died. Hebrew terms and Jewish customs are woven seamlessly into
the story; indeed, much of this information is crucial to the plot, and all of it adds
depth. If Vivi remembers to utilize pilpul -- rabbinical logic -- to solve the ensuing
mysteries, she could be a modern-day Sherlock Holmes who also happens to be
a nice, bright American Jewish girl.
Description from School Library Journal
Mystery of the Kaifeng Scroll :
A Vivi Hartman Adventure
By Harriet K. Feder
This sequel to Mystery
in Miami Beach finds 15-year-old Vivi jetting off to Istanbul, Turkey,
for a summer visit with her mother. Vivi is concerned when Mom fails to
meet the plane, sending a young Arab girl named Shari in her stead. Vivi learns
that her mother has left Istanbul to authenticate an ancient scroll that may or
may not be a Torah taken to China during the 1400s. Later, Vivi overhears a
whispered conversation that convinces her that Mom has been kidnapped by
Shari's brother, a Palestinian terrorist. Using her considerable linguistic talents
as well as her knowledge of the Torah, Vivi unravels the mystery and rescues
her mother. Feder portrays Vivi as a strong, savvy, and thoroughly modern
young woman who takes her strict Jewish upbringing seriously. Universal
themes of trust and independence combine with the specific issue of conflict
between Arabs and Israelis to make this a timely and appealing mystery.
Description from Booklist
Death on Sacred Ground :
A Vivi Hartman Mystery
By Harriet K. Feder
In this third title in the Vivi Hartman mystery series, tenth-grader Vivi and her rabbi father travel to the funeral of a young Orthodox Jewish girl. It seems that pretty, rebellious Mindy Solomon was shot to death during a high-school archery club outing, and the police want to know why she died on snake-ridden Seneca Indian sacred ground, well away from the rest of the group. To complicate things, Seneca teen Jimmy Cloud is missing, and his Jewish girlfriend confides to Vivi that she is being stalked. As Vivi snoops around the tense little town, she discovers other suspects, including local teens who resent the Senecas; members of a born-again-Christian group who have been recruiting Jewish teens; and even Mindy's father. Secondary characters are somewhat flat, but Vivi and her father are appealing, and there's plenty of authentic atmosphere. A multicultural mystery for larger collections.
Description from Booklist
Instead of spending winter break in Florida, Vivi Hartman must accompany her rabbi father to Pike's Landing, some sixty miles south of Buffalo. Rabbi Hartman has been asked to preside over a young girl's funeral service in the small town. Making matters worse, Vivi is required to do an ethnography for a social studies project. This means she has to follow a particular person around and study the individual's life. There are several surprises in store for Vivi when she arrives in Pike's Landing. Her assignment for the ethnography is Paula Ash, a girl about her own age. Questions have arisen about the death of the young girl, who it turns out has been violently murdered. Vivi and Paula become involved in an investigation that uncovers secret resentments between Jewish, Christian and Native American residents of Pike's Landing. To get to the bottom of the mystery, Vivi invokes pilpul, a method of logic that Jews practice to understand the Torah. This novel should induce thought-provoking discussion about both Native American and Jewish cultures.
Description from Children's Literature
The Secret of the Mezuzah
(Passport to Danger, No. 1)
By Mary Reeves Bell
Thirteen-year-old Constantine--Con, for short--prefers life on his grandparents'
Wyoming ranch to living in stuffy, old Vienna, Austria, with his mother and new
stepfather. He complains to the friendly neighborhood baker, Branko, who tells
Con that the old city is an exciting hub of espionage, with 1 out of every 10
adults working as an undercover spy. Together with school chum and fellow
American, Hannah, Con determines to make life in Vienna more interesting by
tracking down a spy. He could never have suspected that the spy he finds would
be his mother and that he and Hannah would become involved in the
life-threatening pursuit of murderous neo-Nazis. Written to enlighten readers
about the Holocaust and how the passive submission and even willing cooperation
of European citizens permitted the Nazis to wreak their horror, this suspenseful
novel, which has believable and likable protagonists, cloaks its lessons of grim
historical realities and contemporary threats of anti-Semitism in a gripping
adventure that will rivet readers.
Description from Booklist
The Mozart Season
By Virginia Euwer Wolff
Allegra Leah Shapiro is happily making the transition from seventh-grade softball
season to summertime when she can concentrate on her violin lessons. At their first
session, her teacher informs her that she has been chosen as a finalist in a competition
for young musicians, probably the youngest of those selected. Allegra, a gifted
violinist, plays in a youth orchestra in her hometown of Portland, Oregon, but she
is also a three-dimensional, real 12-year-old who wrangles good-naturedly with
her older brother, chafes at her parents' restrictions on late-night bike riding, is
loyal to her friends, and is intensely curious about the world around her. As the
summer progresses, several themes weave in and out of Allegra's consciousness
and growth as she struggles with the Mozart concerto she will play in the competition.
A strange dancing man who appears at outdoor concerts, the mysterious sadness
surrounding her mother's friend Deirdre, and a very special gift from her grandmother
in New York--all these find their way into Allegra's awareness and eventually into
her own interpretation of the concerto. With a clear, fresh voice that never falters,
Wolff gives readers a delightful heroine, a fully realized setting, and a slowly building
tension that reaches a stunning climax at the competition. Wolff interweaves the
themes of adolescence, music, and striving for excellence with great success. A
book that will richly reward its readers.
Description from School Library Journal
Unfinished Dreams
By Jane Breskin Zalben
Mr. Carr is a principal any student would love, joking on the intercom, coming
to school once a year in his pajamas, and lending support to all. An aspiring
violinist, sixth-grader Jason has received great encouragement from Mr. Carr,
so when the principal falls ill and students make cracks about his being a
"fairy," Jason feels both puzzled and distressed. As Jason's everyday life
unfolds (violin lessons, a family celebration, Hebrew school), he gradually
learns more about AIDS and about tolerance. Jason is a likable character, but
his first-person narrative articulates every little feeling and thought Zalben
wants to convey, and Mr. Carr is far too good to be true. The book's strength
lies in Zalben's refreshingly ordinary depiction of Jewish family life and in
her portrayal of a young musician's love of his craft. Although heavy-handed in
places, this clearly reflects the author's desire to promote understanding about
an important topic.
Description from Booklist
The Great Shalom
By Peter J. Dyck
Safe and happy in the forest, the animals and birds try to find a way to stop the farmer from cutting
down trees and destroying their home.
Description from Publisher
This book along with the sequel,
Shalom
At Last are two of the most wonderful animal/environment
books I have read. As touching as "Charlotte's Web" the reader ends up truly caring about the animals.
The authors love for Gods magnificent creation and creatures is evident yet the story does not have any
"religious" wording that would make it unreadable in my public school classroom. My second grade
students especially loved the picture of Mr. Dyck at the end of the book in front of the recycled materials
playhouse he and his grandchildren built.
Description from Amazon.com Customer Review
Shalom at Last
By Peter J. Dyck
In this sequel to
The
Great Shalom, the forest animals make a real peace with Mr. Farmer, and he
turns his forest into an environmental education center.
Description from Publisher
Tell It Like It Is
The title better suits a sociological text than it does this novel, written by a mother and
her eighth-grade daughter, about the challenges confronting Sarah Eisenberg as she
begins high school. Eager to be accepted, Sarah is flattered when a popular clique
favors her with its attention. But she soon learns to choose friends with more care as
these new companions reveal their petty and demeaning motives. Fortunately, Sarah
has strong moral convictions and sound judgment, for each chapter finds her facing
yet another crisis--anti-Semitism, gang intimidation, a friend's attempted suicide,
drugs, and sex.
The way Sarah negotiates her way through these dilemmas is a
parent's dream-come-true. That's not to say that the 14-year-old doesn't test
her parents' authority: Sarah does rebel against some of her family's traditional
Jewish observances. But her strong sense of self allows her to hold on to the
customs that have meaning for her. Although few readers may navigate the
obstacle course of social perils and freshman-year traumas as handily as
Sarah, all will eagerly turn the pages to see how she fares. On the way, they
will acquire some knowledge of Jewish traditions and may gain courage to
stick up for what they believe is right.
Description from Booklist
Earth to Andrew O. Blechman
By Jane Breskin Zalben
Zalben's latest novel concerns an aspiring fourth grade comedian whose
hero is Henny Youngman. Andrew learned about Youngman from Mr. Pearlstein,
an old vaudevillian who lives in the apartment upstairs. Andrew and Mr.
Pearlstein make a deal: Mr. Pearlstein will teach Andrew all of his routines,
and in return the boy will prepare Mr. Pearlstein for the Bar Mitzvah that
the old man never had. Then Andrew learns that Mr. Pearlstein has asked
his grandmother for a date--What if they get married?
Description from Publishers Weekly
This novel takes place in Manhattan and tells the story of a young boy
who wants to be a comedian when he grows up. An old man who lives in
apartment 5B of his brownstone is a comedian. He's supposedly the warm-up
act for Henny Youngman, and he wants to be bar mitzvahed. They strike a
deal: Andrew will give Mr. Pearlstein Hebrew lessons in exchange for
Lou Pearlstein will give him his act from the old days and love of
comedy. There are many subplots, but the love between these two characters
becomes strengthened over time. As the author, I got to have lunch with
Henny Youngman and he ultimately read the book in part at one of his
luncheons at the Friar's Club. The book initially was inspired by my
son who told Henny Youngman jokes when he was nine years old at the
shiva after my father's funeral, not unlike Andrew Blechman. The book
was placed on the Bank Street School's Best Books list the
year after it came out as well as numerous lists for good Jewish novels.
Description by Author
A Gift for Mama
By Esther Hautzig
A young Jewish girl is determined to buy her mother a store bought present for Mother's Day.
As soon as Sara sees the beautiful black satin slippers in the shoe store window, she know
they're the perfect Mother's Day gift for Mama. Sara has always made gifts for her family
on special occasions, but this time she's determined to give a store-bought present--just like
grown-ups do. But grown-ups have spending money, and Sara does not. Until she makes
a plan...
Shani :
Her Adventures Beyond the Sambatyon
By Shimon Bakon
Ancient legends about the River Sambatyon say that it is impossible
for anyone to cross it or to visit the mysterious land beyond it.
Nine-year-old Shani has an urgent mission to perform there, so
Elijah the Prophet teaches her the secret way to make her journey
from America to the Land of Beyond-Sambatyon. Her adventures there
blend entertainment and fantasy with traditional Judaic themes and
personalities.
Description from Publisher
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The Singing Mountain
By Sonia Levitin
Mitch Green, a teenager who enjoys carefree days at the beach, decides not to return home to southern California from his summer trip to Israel. Instead of starting his first year at UCLA, he decides to study the Torah and live and study at a yeshiva. He has never before felt the joy and fulfillment he experiences while living in Jerusalem. His parents are convinced he has been brainwashed, but his cousin Carlie, who has lived with the Greens since her parents' death, isn't sure. In alternating chapters, Mitch and Carlie tell their stories of change, maturation, and love. The young man's spiritual growth and interest in his religion and history are fascinating. His strength of character and thoughtfulness are well portrayed. Carlie also matures both spiritually and emotionally, and is a likable, intelligent teenager. Many issues of religion, politics, and family dynamics are raised and discussed by Mitch and Carlie, as well as their friends and family in Israel and America. Another important and outstanding work by Levitin, this unique novel covers fresh territory.
Each chapter of this emotionally engrossing book alternates between Mitch Green, the only son of a non-observant Jewish family, who has decided to study Orthodox Judaism in Jerusalem, and the family he left behind in California. Mitch's parents fear he has been ensnared by a cult. They can't imagine any other reason why the son who rarely attended synagogue wants to forego UCLA in favor of an entirely Jewish education. Mitch isn't sure why he feels like a parched man guzzling water in the desert. But he is unable to leave this spiritual nourishment, even after his mother and cousin come to Jerusalem in an effort to bring him home. Mitch's feelings for his cousin Carlie present another enigma. After the death of Carlie's parents, they have lived like brother and sister. Yet the feelings they have seem to go beyond friendship. The complicated emotions of all the characters are skillfully and believably drawn. The reader empathizes with everyone. Levitin's depiction of both sides of a family conflict is a tour de force.
About the B'Nai Bagels
By E. L. Konigsburg
No one knows what to expect with a mother for a manager, but soon Mark and the other players are surprised to see how much they're improving due to coach Spencer's strategy and helpful hints from "Mother Bagel."
It looks like nothing can stop them from becoming champs--until Mark hears some startling news!
Seymour, the Formerly Fearful
By Eve B. Feldman
All Seymour's energies are spent fabricating excuses to avoid situations that frighten him. Then his seemingly fearless older cousin arrives from Israel and plunges a terrified Seymour into one adventure after another.
Of Heroes, Hooks, and Heirlooms
By Faye Silton
Dear Elijah
By Miriam Bat-Ami
The Saturday Secret
By Miriam Rinn
Far from the heavy didacticism of much religious fiction, this moving first novel leaves you thinking that "sometimes knowing what's right can be very hard." The religious message grows out of action and character. Jason hates the restrictions his devout stepfather, David, imposes on the family: Why must they eat only kosher food? Why must Jason wear a yarmulke (he takes it off the minute he leaves home). Worst of all, why can't he play on the baseball team on Saturday afternoons? (Jason lies about where he is and secretly joins the game.) Of course, part of the family tension is not about religion but about a son's grief for his dead father and resentment of the replacement. Jason's reluctant bond with David grows when David roots for him against a bullying coach and when David defends Jason's black friend in a public racial confrontation. What makes the story convincing is that there is real anger. Jason lies, but David is far from perfect, as he admits after losing his temper and yelling at Jason (He apologizes, saying, "The Talmud tells us that insulting someone or calling them names is like killing them.") The ending, when he shows and tells of his love for Jason, is a tearjerker and makes us know that "following the rules in the Torah is not a substitute for doing the right thing." Middle readers will love the baseball, the friendship story, and, above all, the father-son moral conflict and love. The book's last line is a perfect climax.
The Mystery of the Coins
By Chaya M. Burstein
Saying It Out Loud
By Joan Abelove
The Kingston Castle: A Mystery
By Ruth Abrahamson
The Golem of Prague
By Gershon Winkler
Sacred Stones:
The Return of the Golem
By Gershon Winkler
Chernowitz!
By Fran Arrick
Matzah Ball :
A Passover Story
By Mindy Avra Portnoy
Blending baseball and Passover facts, this contemporary, fast-paced story demonstrates that "It's not always easy being Jewish, but sometimes it can lead to miracles." Aaron's happiness at going with his friends to see the Baltimore Orioles is tempered by his mother's reminder that it is Passover and that he can't eat pretzels, crackerjacks, or ice cream. His non-Jewish friends eagerly devour his special lunch, which he refuses to eat. Aaron dislikes being different, especially when the others make one last trip to the concession stands. Surprised when an elderly man (could it be Elijah?) sits down beside him, Aaron listens to the man's memories of Jewish baseball fans going to games at Ebbets Field and receives a special piece of matzah that miraculously helps him catch a home-run ball hit into the bleachers. Bold, detailed watercolors perfectly complement the text's realistic language and emotions. This will be a hit with sports lovers and anyone seeking an added dimension to a holiday story
Mystery in Miami Beach :
A Vivi Hartman Mystery
By Harriet K. Feder
Mystery of the Kaifeng Scroll :
A Vivi Hartman Adventure
By Harriet K. Feder
Death on Sacred Ground :
A Vivi Hartman Mystery
By Harriet K. Feder
Instead of spending winter break in Florida, Vivi Hartman must accompany her rabbi father to Pike's Landing, some sixty miles south of Buffalo. Rabbi Hartman has been asked to preside over a young girl's funeral service in the small town. Making matters worse, Vivi is required to do an ethnography for a social studies project. This means she has to follow a particular person around and study the individual's life. There are several surprises in store for Vivi when she arrives in Pike's Landing. Her assignment for the ethnography is Paula Ash, a girl about her own age. Questions have arisen about the death of the young girl, who it turns out has been violently murdered. Vivi and Paula become involved in an investigation that uncovers secret resentments between Jewish, Christian and Native American residents of Pike's Landing. To get to the bottom of the mystery, Vivi invokes pilpul, a method of logic that Jews practice to understand the Torah. This novel should induce thought-provoking discussion about both Native American and Jewish cultures.
The Secret of the Mezuzah
(Passport to Danger, No. 1)
By Mary Reeves Bell
The Mozart Season
By Virginia Euwer Wolff
Unfinished Dreams
By Jane Breskin Zalben
The Great Shalom
By Peter J. Dyck
This book along with the sequel, Shalom At Last are two of the most wonderful animal/environment books I have read. As touching as "Charlotte's Web" the reader ends up truly caring about the animals. The authors love for Gods magnificent creation and creatures is evident yet the story does not have any "religious" wording that would make it unreadable in my public school classroom. My second grade students especially loved the picture of Mr. Dyck at the end of the book in front of the recycled materials playhouse he and his grandchildren built.
Shalom at Last
By Peter J. Dyck
Tell It Like It Is
The way Sarah negotiates her way through these dilemmas is a parent's dream-come-true. That's not to say that the 14-year-old doesn't test her parents' authority: Sarah does rebel against some of her family's traditional Jewish observances. But her strong sense of self allows her to hold on to the customs that have meaning for her. Although few readers may navigate the obstacle course of social perils and freshman-year traumas as handily as Sarah, all will eagerly turn the pages to see how she fares. On the way, they will acquire some knowledge of Jewish traditions and may gain courage to stick up for what they believe is right.
Earth to Andrew O. Blechman
By Jane Breskin Zalben
This novel takes place in Manhattan and tells the story of a young boy who wants to be a comedian when he grows up. An old man who lives in apartment 5B of his brownstone is a comedian. He's supposedly the warm-up act for Henny Youngman, and he wants to be bar mitzvahed. They strike a deal: Andrew will give Mr. Pearlstein Hebrew lessons in exchange for Lou Pearlstein will give him his act from the old days and love of comedy. There are many subplots, but the love between these two characters becomes strengthened over time. As the author, I got to have lunch with Henny Youngman and he ultimately read the book in part at one of his luncheons at the Friar's Club. The book initially was inspired by my son who told Henny Youngman jokes when he was nine years old at the shiva after my father's funeral, not unlike Andrew Blechman. The book was placed on the Bank Street School's Best Books list the year after it came out as well as numerous lists for good Jewish novels.
A Gift for Mama
By Esther Hautzig
As soon as Sara sees the beautiful black satin slippers in the shoe store window, she know they're the perfect Mother's Day gift for Mama. Sara has always made gifts for her family on special occasions, but this time she's determined to give a store-bought present--just like grown-ups do. But grown-ups have spending money, and Sara does not. Until she makes a plan...
Shani :
Her Adventures Beyond the Sambatyon
By Shimon Bakon