RACHEL FRIEDMAN IS NOT THE QUEEN

In her third outing, the headstrong Rachel looks forward to celebrating Purim.

Her heart’s set on being the lead in the synagogue play about Queen Esther, who saves the Jews of Persia from the evil Haman’s heinous plot. So when Rachel’s Hebrew school teacher casts her BFF, Maya, as Esther instead, jealous Rachel fails to support her friend. As in the previous books, Rachel is a sympathetic protagonist who sometimes struggles with listening and doing the right thing. Her ADHD and her Jewish practice are woven into a busy life that includes gymnastics practice and play rehearsals, as well as the drama of navigating school lunches and car pooling as her relationship with Maya becomes tense. While many readers will connect with Rachel, who must balance being a good friend with getting what she wants, some might wish that Kapit had paid a little more attention to Maya’s position. Maya is a Black Jew, and, as she points out, many people dismiss her religious identity due to her race. Their rift resolves easily once Rachel apologizes, and the book never delves further into Maya’s specific challenges, though Rachel learns a valuable lesson: “Purim is about all of us, together.” The text is punctuated by Kote’s grayscale illustrations; Rachel and her family are cued white.

Big, relatable emotions take center stage in this festive friendship tale.