This charming collection of stories is based on Jewish legends that teach that the Holy of Holies created links between Heaven and earth. These links are groups of angels, and what a lot they are. Each group has been given specific tasks to perform on earth, and, as characterized here, angels possess human, relatable feelings and ideas and, yes, sometimes even flaws. Readers will be fascinated and comforted to know that angels apparently feel self-doubt, jealousy, worry, confusion and many other emotions. It will come as no surprise that angels are musical, but who knew they can’t dance at all and love to laugh? Their relations with God are warm and wonderful. These are reverential stories that teach gentle, humorous lessons and shed a reassuring light on how connected humans are with the world of the spirit. Gore’s soft, delicate paintings glow with light. Includes a note about the stories, an author’s introduction and sources and references. (Nonfiction. 9-12)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 0-8050-7150-4
Page Count: 68
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2005
An important story about staying true to yourself.
Twelve-year-old Nimra Sharif is attending public school for the first time.
Pakistani American Nimra was home-schooled until she was 8, then attended a private Islamic school where she memorized the Quran, becoming a hafiza. Now her parents have decided that it is time for her to attend public school, where she’ll be with her childhood best friend, Jenna, a White girl. But once seventh grade starts, Jenna ignores and avoids Nimra. Fortunately, Nimra meets other Muslim students: Matthew, a White convert; Bilal and Khadijah, Somali American siblings; and Pakistani American Waleed. When Bilal, Matthew, and Waleed ask her to join Barakah Beats, their Muslim band, she hesitates because of her family’s interpretation of Islamic teachings, which eschews taking part in instrumental music. But she gives in, believing that hanging out with three popular, attractive eighth grade boys will impress Jenna. Her plan to join the band just long enough to regain Jenna’s friendship before dropping out leads to her lying to her parents—and a sticky friendship situation when the boys sign up to perform at a mosque talent show to raise money for refugees. While secondary characters are less well fleshed out, Nimra grows, takes responsibility for her actions, and thoughtfully engages with her faith. Siddiqui has written a sympathetic character who wants to stay true to her beliefs while facing the pressures of school, changing relationships, and diverse beliefs about music within Muslim communities.
An important story about staying true to yourself. (author's note) (Fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 19, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-70206-4
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
Well-intentioned but simplistic.
An exploration of antisemitism and racism in a small-town middle school grappling with an incident of graffitied swastikas.
Debut author Kramaroff presents an appealing protagonist in sixth grader Josh, the only Jewish kid in his school, who is coming to terms with claiming his identity in the face of heavy-handed antisemitic slurs and actions, like tossing coins at his feet and calling him “a dirty jew.” The accessible verse, written almost entirely in lowercase, follows Josh’s awakening to the cause of justice as his almost entirely White and Christian school responds to the transgressions. Regrettably, Josh and his school community conflate justice with kindness, resulting in adulation when Josh founds the Do More Club, which combats hate through affirming sticky notes and kindness rocks. Underdeveloped side characters serve to teach Josh about his privilege and portray him as a mensch. When seventh grader Marcus, the only Black kid in school, experiences a similar racial attack, Josh discovers that anti-Blackness is more pervasive than he’d realized, but Kramaroff does not afford Marcus the agency to react outside of Josh’s framework. In addition to his caring Do More crew, Josh receives support from a rabbi who explains tikkun olam—the Jewish concept of repairing the world—as well as from the school’s lone Black teacher. Unfortunately, neither pushes Josh—or readers—to consider a more robust, systemic understanding of justice and equity.
Well-intentioned but simplistic. (Verse fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9780593532874
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
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