The Family with Two Front Doors

by Anna Ciddor

Overview

Meet the Rabinovitches: mischievous Yakov, bubbly Nomi, rebellious Miriam, solemn Shlomo, and seven more! Papa is a rabbi and their days are full of intriguing Jewish rituals and lots of adventures in 1920s Poland. But the biggest adventure of all is when big sister Adina is told she is to be married at the age of fifteen—to someone she has never met. Originally published in Australia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541516892
Publisher:	Kar-Ben Publishing
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED - EBKS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	212
Lexile:	800L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Anna Ciddor has made her name as a versatile writer and illustrator of fiction, travel, and historical books for children. She lives in Australia.

Editorial Reviews

"How can a family have two front doors? Easy - if they live in 1920s Lublin, Poland, have nine children, and need two apartments - one to live in, the other in which the rabbi/father studies and conducts business. Based on Ciddor’s grandmother Nomi’s reminiscences, this historical fiction hearkens back to a more innocent time. Nothing is mentioned about the aftermath of World War I. Except for two instances of anti-Semitism, we have little foreshadowing of the Holocaust. The main event that occurs in this prosperous Orthodox Jewish family’s life is the betrothal and marriage of the eldest daughter, Adina, to a man she’s never met. No less important than the impending marriage are the preparations, rituals, and joys of Shabbos. The novel abounds with small problems: Will ten-year-old Nomi be able to make the gefilte fish all by herself? Can Yakov carry home a heavy carp without help? Will everyone board the train on time for a picnic in the country? Not to worry. Every problem is resolved neatly. At first, it might be difficult for the reader to differentiate between the many characters, but Ciddor skillfully emphasizes one trait for each person. For example, Yacov is mischievous, Nomi is curious, and Shlomo is studious (to a fault). To help the reader, Ciddor has illustrated a lively 'family portrait' at the front of the book, where each person’s name and age are given. A third-person narrator tells the story, but we see the events mainly through the perspective of Nomi and Yakov. Ciddor is knowledgeable about Orthodox Jewish rituals and customs, adding authenticity to the telling. The sensory details such as 'The air smelled of warm hay and ripe plums' add to the enjoyment of this story. The back matter includes a useful glossary. The novel is sure to please the Orthodox Jewish reader, or anyone who likes a wholesome story about a loving family." - Association of Jewish Libraries

From the Publisher

2018-02-03
A window into the everyday life and rituals of a large Orthodox Jewish family in pre-World War II Poland.Two parents and nine children of various ages make up the lively Rabinovitch family. Headed by Papa Rabinovitch, a rabbi, the family is large enough to need two side-by-side apartments, making them the titular "family with two front doors." They are religiously observant, and readers get close-up views of preparations for the Sabbath and an Orthodox Jewish wedding as well as insights into class and gender roles of the era. Based on the childhood experiences of the author's grandmother (who is the character of 10-year-old Nomi, who, per the author's note, is one of the few to later survive the Holocaust), the centerpiece of the story is the oldest sister's marriage at 15 to a young man whom she does not meet until her wedding day, when she rapidly transforms from teen to woman. Told in a third person that is sometimes omniscient and sometimes filtered through Nomi's perspective, the tale is nicely peppered with colloquial Yiddish phrases of the era; it's reminiscent of but has less emotional depth than the iconic Fiddler on the Roof story and the All-of-a-Kind Family series by Sidney Taylor. In its slice-of-life approach, it prioritizes detail over drama.Heartwarming, painstaking detail and characterization, if also a bit light on plot. (Glossary) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews