Coming of Age

February 15, 2022
Grades 4-7 Twelve short stories and a poem, connected by shared faith and stage of life, explore the Jewish rite of passage of b'nai (bar and bat) mitzvah in an expansive and accessible collection for middle-grade readers of any faith. With contributions from notables including Jane Yolen ("Ceremony") and Laura Shovan ("A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Bimah"), this easygoing collection spans millennia and locales. Stops along the way include Noah's Ark, the Upper West Side in 1922, hotel reception rooms, synagogues, Greece, and even the pun-filled Planet Latke. Mitzvot are made and valuable lessons learned, particularly among protagonists who appreciate the sentiment behind their simpler celebrations. "The yacht, the band, the dancing--they were all false idols" to the girl envying her cousin's lavish party from her own pandemic-era -parking-lot affair. The feel-good collection weaves threads among disparate adolescent episodes in a way that successfully honors the individuality of the coming-of-age experience without losing sight of this unifying factor: Judaism. Mazel tov!

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March 1, 2022
B'nai mitzvah are a monumental part of many Jewish adolescents' lives. At age 12 or 13, Jewish children are called to the bimah to read from the Torah and become responsible adults in their Jewish communities. In the United States, this momentous occasion is generally celebrated with a large party. This collection of 13 short stories, plus one poem by Jane Yolen, is all about becoming b'nai mitzvah and coming-of-age. Some of the tales are poignant, more than a few are silly, but the majority unfortunately fall flat, being too short and lacking the necessary space to accomplish effective worldbuilding in sufficient depth, something particularly noticeable for the stories with fantastical plots. The introduction states that some of the stories are based on fact; the collection would have carried more weight if each of the narratives were accompanied by an author's note speaking to its origin and inspiration. Rosen's heartfelt introduction invites readers in, promising representation for Jewish readers, who form less than 3% of the United States' population, and hoping to build bridges with non-Jewish readers. This book could appeal to those readers currently working toward their own b'nai mitzvah, but the lukewarm stories are not likely to attract a wider audience. Main characters are Jewish and presumed White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Short stories of varying quality centered around coming-of-age in the Jewish American community. (glossary) (Anthology. 9-12)

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