Hi everyone. A few weeks ago I asked for recommendations of Jewish novels for older kids/teens. Several of you expressed interest in the responses, so they are compiled below. Thanks to all who shared ideas! -Heidi Estrin
Speed of Light by S. Rosen - how a family deals with anti-Semitism in their sm. southern town in the 50s & also dealing with their aunt who came to America after the Holocaust The Key is Lost by Vos - I loved this one - two sisters are separated from their parents during WW II, and are hidden in many different homes - there is a happy ending The War Within by Carol Matas - very interesting story about a Southern Jewish family during the Amer. Civil War- I hasven't seen many books on this topic Rivka's Way by Teri Kanefield - a young teen plans her temporary escape from the Prauge Jewish quarters because she longs to see the real world - it was moving as she had to come to terms with what her life as a Jew. girl These books are for maybe 5 - 7 grade - not too difficult, and they all held my interest. I acted out a small passage from The Key last year for Literature class at FAU. Barbara Samuels ---------------------------------- Try also the BIBLIOGRAPHY BANK ( AJL home page than the link 'PUBLICATIONS' than 'Bibliography bank'. I have not checked it lately, but there were good lists, annotated and by grade level. Shanah Tovah Amalia Warshenbrot ----------------------- Journey to America -series (Sonia Levitan) The Ken Rossman books---Do It Yourself Adventure series Call Me Ruth I should Worry I should Care, and Finders Keepers The Endless Steppe Number the Stars Devil's Arithmetic Devil in Vienna Hannah is a Palindrome About the Bnai Bagels The Cure How I saved Hanukkah Lisa Silverman -------------------------------------------------- Drummers of Jericho by Carolyn Meyer, grades 7-10 Samir & Yonaton by Daniella Carmi, grades 6-8 Gideon's People by Carolyn Meyer, grades 6-8 Faraway Home by Marilyn Taylor, grades 6-8 The View from Saturday by EL Konigsburg, grades 4-6 Understanding Buddy by Marc Kornblatt, grades 4-6 Strudel Stories by Joanne Rocklin, grades 3-5 Thank You Jackie Robinson by Barbara Cohen, grades 3-5 Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine, grades 4-6 Speed of Light by Sybil Rosen, grades 5-8 When Pirates Came to Brooklyn by Phyllis Shallant, grades 4-6 When the Soldiers Were Gone by Vera Propp, grades 3-5 What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones, grades 7-9 Pink Slippers, Bat Mitzvah Blues by Ferida Wolff, grades 6-8 One More River by Lynne Reid Banks, grades 5-8 Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli, grades 6-8 Lily's Crossing by Patricia Giff, grades 4-6 Out of Many Waters by Jacqueline Greene, grades 4-6 The War Within by Carol Matas, grades 5-8 Letters from Rifka by Carol Matas, grades 4-6 Gotcha by Carol Matas, grades 3-5 Two Suns in the Sky by Miriam Bat Ami, grades 7-10 The Black Mirror by Nancy Werlin, grades 9-12 Tough Questions Jews Ask by Edward Feinstein, grades 7-10 A Time of Love by Walter Dean Myers, grades 9-12 We Just Want to Live Here by Amal Rifia et al, grades 9-12 -Rachel Kamin ------------------------------------------------- Escape from Egypt by Sonia Levitin is a good YA novel about the Exodus. I also like Masada by Gloria Miklowiz for Jewish Historical novel. Dear Elijah is a favorite of mine for books about God.I am not sure where you would put Lydia, Queen of Palestine, but I also love that one. Barbara Cohen's book still seem to speak to young adults -- Thank You, Jackie Robinson works for God stories. Jane Zalben's Unfinished Dreams is also a god novel to get kids talking about issues of marality. -Suzi Dubin --------------------------- VALUES The Storyteller's Beads by Jane Kurtz Running on Eggs by Anna Levine FAMILY Too Young for Yiddish by Richard Michelson (picture book, but clearly good for older readers too) My Grandmother's Stories by Adele Geras (folktales but within a grandmother-granddaughter frame story so in my opinion qualifies as fiction -- I've also seen it catalogued in the 398s -- probably good for about 7+, no upper limit) VALUES/FAMILY (could go in either category) Shylock's Daughter by Mirjam Pressler -Annette Goldsmith ------------------------------------------------------------ Especially for books about Jewish values, check out BabagaBookz, the book club of BabagaNewz magazine. Each month's issue of the magazine focusses on a particular Jewish value, including Israel, an interview, current events, science and art activities. The book club highlights the same value. Your synagogue religious school may have copies, or you can look at www.babaganewz.com for the magazine, which has links to the books section of the website. -Marci Bloch ========================================================================== HaSafran - The Electronic Forum of the Association of Jewish Libraries Submissions for HaSafran, send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org/
