Coming of Age: 13 B'nai Mitzvah Stories

by Jonathan Rosen (Selected by), Henry Herz (Selected by)

Overview

This short story collection highlights the diverse experiences of becoming an adult in the Jewish faith.

What does it mean to become an adult in your faith? Join thirteen diverse characters as they experience anxiety, doubt, and self-discovery while preparing for their B'nai Mitzvah. And whether celebrating with a lavish party or in reception room A with an accordion player, the Jewish rite of passage remains the same. Filled with humor, hope, and history, there’s something in this anthology for every reader.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807536674
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	04/19/2022
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	684,159
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	670L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jonathan Rosen is a transplanted New Yorker who now lives with his family and rescue dog, Parker, in sunny South Florida. When not writing, he can be found with his family. He is the author of Night of the Living Cuddle Bunnies, and its sequel, From Sunset Till Sunrise. He is an administrator of FromtheMixedUpFiles.Com, a site devoted to middle grade books, and a founding member of SpookyMiddleGrade.com, a site devoted to spooky middle grade.

Henry Herz is the author of 11 children’s books, including Cap’n Rex & His Clever Crew, 2 Pirates + 1 Robot, and the Kirkus-starred I Am Smoke. His short stories have appeared in Highlights and Ladybug. He loves his family, dogs, and Boston cream pie.

Editorial Reviews

2022-02-09
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)

Kirkus Reviews

"The feel-good collection weaves threads among disparate adolescent episodes…"—Booklist

From the Publisher