Jewish

The Judgement of Yoyo Gold / Isaac Blum

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Judgement of Yoyo Gold
By: Isaac Blum
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Number of Pages: 304
Published: October 15, 2024
Publisher: Philomel Books
Dates Read: December 21, 2024 - December 25, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover / Audiobook

Yoyo Gold has always been the perfect Jewish daughter of the rabbi – she keeps Kosher, watching her siblings, volunteers at the local food bank, she even respects and encourages others to observe their Orthodox faith. But when her best friend is sent far away from her community for what Yoyo feels like is a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes (and ears) begin to open to her neighbor’s hypocrisies.

As Yoyo’s frustration with the secrets builds, so does the pressure to speak out. She finds release by posting anonymously on TikTok, an app forbidden for her. But when one of her videos goes viral, Yoyo’s decision to post not only affects her life, but also the relationship with the boy she is falling for, and her world is thrown into mayhem. She is forced to choose a path, not only for her community, her family, but most importantly for herself. 

I don’t know how I found myself reading about teenagers who begin questioning their relationship with religion, but I guess that’s a part of growing up isn’t it? Though this book is about an Orthodox Jewish teenager, anyone who has struggled with the pressures of doing what you’ve always been told to do and with the desire to be your own person, you’ll relate to this book.

I grew up Baptist. I can’t say if I met anyone who practiced the Jewish faith until I was well into college. I also can’t say if this book is a good representation of the modern Orthodox Jewish experience or not as I don’t know. But, I do think there’s a voice in here for many to feel seen.

*Thank you Philomel Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Hidden Yellow Stars / Rebecca Connolly

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Hidden Yellow Stars
By: Rebecca Connolly
Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 304
Published: March 5, 2024
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Dates Read: May 5, 2024 - May 9, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Based on the true story of two World War II heroines, Andrée and Ida, who risked everything to save Jewish children from the Gestapo by hiding them throughout Belgium using coded notebooks.

I haven’t read anything by Rebecca Connolly before but I did like her writing in this novel – though some of it had more internal monologue than I thought was necessary, the imagery written was amazing and I can still picture some scenes in my head, even days after reading it. Connolly really puts you on the streets of Brussels with the tension of doing everything one can to save children.

Each chapter began with real Nazi propaganda and it really got to me a bit for how many of them were aimed at children. This book is about saving children, and to have such nasty propaganda aimed at the same age group these women are trying to save just goes to show how much hatred is taught.

This is all based on a true story(ies) of the CDJ in Belgium – which, as stated in the Afterword of the novel, is estimated to have hidden nearly three thousand children successfully during WWII!

My only thing about the novel is I wasn’t always 100% sure where in the timeline of the war the chapters were happening. Sometimes I could gauge based on what they would talk about – like clearly towards the end, but other times I kind of wished I knew what year it was.

Overall though, I absolutely loved this book and I already know a few people I will be recommending it to. If you love historical fiction about WWII, especially those based on true events, this book will capture your attention and never let it go – even long after you’ve finished.

*Thank you Shadow Mountain an NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Wanderers / Anna Ziegler

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
The Wanderers
By: Anna Ziegler
Genre: Drama/ Play
Number of Pages: 80
Published: February 23, 2023
Publisher: Methuen Drama
Dates Read: May 28, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Esther and Schmuli are Orthodox Jews embarking on an arranged marriage. Abe and Julia are celebrities embarking on a dangerously flirtatious correspondence, despite both being married to other people. Just looking, the two couples couldn’t be more different, but once you get to know them, you find a hidden connection.

I haven’t really read a play since high school – over a decade ago. But I found this title while doing a book list for Jewish Heritage Month and decided I wanted to give it a go.

That being said, this play was pretty simple. Mostly interactions between two characters. I liked that because I could easily “see” the characters in their scenes.

I’m going to be honest and didn’t see the connection until a lot later in the story than I probably should have. But overall, I still enjoyed reading the play.