School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--7--Shaindy lives in a small Jewish suburb where life is quiet, and Jewish traditions are closely followed. Shaindy is thrilled to be chosen to participate in a prank by the most popular girl in her yeshiva's all-girl sixth grade class. She sees her classmates rollerblading and wants to join them, but her parents won't buy her a pair until she proves adept at it. As an incentive for joining in on the pranks, cool girl Gayil promises to teach Shaindy how to rollerblade. At first, Shaindy overlooks her misgivings and follows along, but as time passes, Shaindy starts to realize that the pranks are not harmless and are filled with spite. This causes Shaindy to wonder about the connections among those being pranked, herself, and Gayil. Eventually, the mean girl pins Shaindy as the only guilty party. Initially, the protagonist is very angry at Gayil, but then Shaindy begins to truly think about mercy as her community celebrates Yom Kippur, a day of forgiveness. There is a dearth of middle grade, non--Holocaust-related novels with Jewish main characters. Lowe's second novel for middle schoolers is a well-written, pitch-perfect contribution for the audience. The struggle between trying to fit in and keeping true to yourself will resonate with all tweens. VERDICT Readers will eagerly follow Shaindy's story and root for her to make decisions aligned with her values.--Charla Hollingsworth
Publisher's Weekly Review
Twelve-year-old Shaindy--who attends an Othodox Jewish school, and whose classmates are famous for their reputation of being kind and respectful students--has been feeling lonely and struggles to connect with her peers. She follows the "other girls around at recess, trying to join their conversations and always falling flat." When next-door neighbor Gayil--who's beloved by teachers and classmates alike--invites her to hang out, Shaindy can't resist. She's ecstatic to have finally found a friend and even goes along with what Gayil insists are "harmless" pranks that end up hurting girls in their class. Through Gayil's seemingly genuine overtures of friendship, Shaindy develops new skills such as in-line skating, all the while becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the escalating schemes. In this inviting read, Lowe (Aviva vs. the Dybbuk) effectively employs a Jewish cultural milieu, setting Shaindy and Gayil's antics against the High Holidays' emphasis on personal responsibility and forgiveness. Shaindy's perceptive first-person voice is convincing in its rendering of a tween trying to find her footing and moral compass while navigating her community's significant expectations. Main characters are Jewish and read as white. Ages 8--12. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Context Literary. (Nov.)