Shira and Esther's Double Dream Debut

by Anna E. Jordan

Overview

A 2023 Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023 

“This book is pure magic.”—Maulik Pancholy, actor and Stonewall Honor-winning author 

The switcheroo fun of The Parent Trap meets the showbiz spirit of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in this timeless coming-of-age story about family, friendship, and following your dreams.  

When Shira and Esther first meet, they can hardly believe their eyes. It’s like looking in a mirror! But even though they may look identical, the two girls couldn’t be more different. Shira dreams of singing and dancing onstage, but her father, a stern and pious rabbi, thinks Shira should be reading prayers, not plays. Esther dreams of studying Torah, but her mother, a glamorous stage performer, wishes Esther would spend more time rehearsing and less time sneaking off to read books. Oy vey! If only the two could switch places . . .

Would Shira shine in a big-time televised talent show? Would Esther’s bat mitzvah go off without a hitch? What’s a little deception, when it means your dreams might finally be within reach? One thing is certain: Shira and Esther are going to need more than a little chutzpah to pull this off. But if they do, their double dream debut is sure to be the performance of a lifetime. 

★ “Adult readers may wish they were young again, so this could instantly become their favorite book.” ― Kirkus Reviews, starred review 

★ “Readers will love this sparkling intergeneration ode to chutzpah and Jewish Joy.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review 

FUNNY AND HEARTFELT FRIENDSHIP BOOK: Brimming with heart and humor, this unforgettable novel from a compelling new voice in young adult literature will make readers laugh, cry, and come back for more knishes.  

FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY: Themes of connection, unity, and the need for belonging will resonate with readers of all backgrounds. 

JEWISH COMING-OF-AGE: This book represents and celebrates many ways of being Jewish while also inviting non-Jewish readers to share in what makes the religion, culture, and community so wonderful.

BRILLIANT EXTRAS: At the back of the book, a guide to Yiddish words and an author's note on the research and inspiration behind the story invites learning and discussion.

Perfect for:

• Preteens and tweens looking for funny friendship books
• Parents, caregivers, educators, and librarians seeking Jewish children's books
• Jewish and bicultural readers
• Readers who enjoy young adult historical fiction books
• Readers interested in theater, acting, music, and the arts
• Hannukah gift, theater kid gift, or bat mitzvah gift for girls

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781797215655
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	10/10/2023
Pages:	332
Sales rank:	522,396
Product dimensions:	5.62(w) x 8.12(h) x 1.12(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Anna E. Jordan is an author, poet, bookseller, and educator who lives in the Washington, DC, area. This is her first novel.

 

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/21/2023

Two Jewish girls trade places for a shot at pursuing their ambitions in this sprightly three-act tale of found family and effort rewarded. Esther Rosenbaum longs to learn Hebrew and “raise my voice to God.... On the bima,” but her single mother, Yiddish theater sensation Red Hot Fanny, pressures her to join the biz and audition for a televised talent showcase. Shira Epstein was born for the stage, but her rabbi father, a widower, insists that she focus on her Torah studies in preparation for her bat mitzvah. After a chance encounter, the girls—realizing their uncanny resemblance—swap roles to chase their crisscrossed dreams. Mishegas ensues, relayed in the whimsical style of a Yiddish folktale by an omniscient narrator who addresses the reader, in italicized Yiddish, as “mayne kinder.” The well-choreographed action unfolds in the fictional town of Idylldale, an amalgam of Manhattan’s Lower East Side and a Catskills-like resort of yore. Making her middle grade debut, Jordan (This Pup Steps Up!) juxtaposes Shira’s and Esther’s yearnings for performance and prayer, showing that there are infinite ways to be Jewish—all valid. Whether they know a bisl or bupkes about the religious tradition and culture, readers will love this sparkling intergenerational ode to chutzpah and Jewish joy. A Yiddish glossary concludes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Janine Le, Janine Le Literary. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

The characters peopling Jordan’s debut novel could not be more vibrantly real. Adult readers may wish they were young again, so this could instantly become their favorite book.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Readers will love this sparkling intergenerational ode to chutzpah and Jewish joy.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) ?

“This book is pure magic—set in a world you’ll want to live in forever and filled with characters that are brimming with joy. The path to following Shira and Esther’s dreams is filled with challenging twists and turns, but they navigate it all with big hearts and even bigger courage. A delightful debut all around!”—Maulik Pancholy, Stonewall Honor–winning author of The Best at It

“Completely fresh and absolutely charming.”—Julie Berry, New York Times bestselling and Michael L. Printz honor-winning author

From the Publisher

12/01/2023

Gr 5–8—Shira Epstein, the daughter of a rabbi, wants to perform on stage instead of practicing readings for her Bat Mitzvah. Esther Rosenbaum, the daughter of an actress, wants to study the Torah. Both live in the small town of Idylldale, and both are being raised by single parents who see a future for their daughters more in line with their own chosen professions. So, Esther can only dream of life in the synagogue, while Shira plots to enter a local talent contest behind the rabbi's back. One day, the girls meet each other for the first time in a chance encounter reminiscent of the movie The Parent Trap. Amazed and delighted by their close physical resemblance and identical birthdays, Shira and Esther share their frustration that neither of their parents support their dreams. The girls conspire to switch places long enough for Esther to celebrate Shira's Bat Mitzvah and Shira to enter the talent competition. While they initially enjoy their new lives, the girls discover that the swap comes with a bevy of challenges they hadn't considered. Nevertheless, everything works out and readers are left with a satisfying conclusion that ties up all the loose ends. The plot moves along at a good pace while keeping readers in suspense over why the girls have been strangers until they met. In addition to Shira and Esther, the story has many other funny and engaging support characters, including the narrator who explains Yiddish words and Jewish traditions. A glossary appears in is appended at the end. VERDICT Libraries looking to diversify their fiction collections for middle grade students will want to consider this very enjoyable book. A great choce for middle schoolers.—Anne Jung-Mathews

School Library Journal

★ 2023-07-31
When two Jewish girls born the same day in the same hospital meet up just before they turn 13, magic is set in motion.

Though her imaginary town, Idylldale, represents a fantasy merger of New York’s Lower East Side and the Catskills roughly circa 1940, the characters peopling Jordan’s debut novel could not be more vibrantly real. Esther is the daughter of Fannie Rosenbaum, better known as Red Hot Fanny, a flamboyant actress in the Yiddish theater and a single mom who cannot understand why her studious, religiously inclined daughter has no love for the stage—or in the upcoming talent contest that will win some lucky kid a spot on national television. Across town, widowed Rabbi Epstein is frustrated by his failure to interest daughter Shira in her bat mitzvah preparations: All she wants to do is sing and dance. Leave it to 14-year-old Benny, the bellhop at Scheinfeld’s Resort and Cottages, to bring these girls together for a wonderful twist on the Freaky Friday switcheroo. Narrated with an Old World cadence and Yiddishisms by Morty the deli man, a magically omniscient narrator who addresses readers as “mayne kinder” (my children), the novel includes a glossary as well as explanations throughout. As Jordan states in her author’s note, “I wanted to write a story full of Jewish joy and laughter without the drumbeat that linked my identity to constant oppression.” She certainly has.

Adult readers may wish they were young again, so this could instantly become their favorite book. (Fiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews