Batsheva is a recent widow and a convert to Orthodox Judaism. She and her five-year-old daughter, Ayala, settle in the Orthodox Jewish community of Memphis where her husband grew up. Batsheva wants to continue to bring her daughter up in the Orthodox tradition. "The Ladies Auxiliary" by Tova Mirvis is the story, not just of Batsheva, but of the way the community reacts to her.

The families in the community attend the same shul and send their children to the same schools. The women of the community are modest and strictly observant. They are immediately suspicious of Batsheva who sings too enthusiastically at shul, goes to the mikveh to cleanse herself even though she has no husband and wears clothes that show off her figure. She has an enthusiasm and fresh outlook on the rituals and holidays that have become stale to them. She also gets too close to Yosef, the Rabbi's 22-year-old son, and a community favorite when he takes a year off from his rabbinical studies. When Batsheva becomes the art teacher at the girls' school, she quickly becomes the confidante of the teenage girls. Much to their parents' displeasure, they begin spending time at her home. The women of the community are fiercely protective of their way of life and want to keep things as they have always been. They feel that way of life slipping away. Most are threatened by Batsheva, but a few are inspired.

The narrator of the book, one of the women, tells the story in the third person plural, the collective voice of the women of the community. The characters are strong, highly individualized women, but their personalities are easily recognizable as those that exist in any community. The author grew up in Memphis, so it feels as though the reader is eavesdropping on the close-knit community. All the characters are drawn with good humor and compassion. The reader can understand why the women of the community want to preserve what they have. The themes are universal -- loneliness, passion and prejudice. "The Ladies Auxiliary" is a book that kept me turning pages quickly and made me sorry when it ended.

The Lover by A. B. Yehoshua is a fascinating book. It follows a husband's search for his wife's lover who was lost in the upheaval of the Yom Kippur War. Although the book is set in modern-day Israel, the author also describes its ancient past.

The novel is written from the very different perspectives of the main characters -- the husband, the wife, the daughter, the lover, the garage mechanic and the lover's grandmother. The views through the eyes of the different characters, of the actions that take place in the book, reveal the characters' inner personalities far more than any description of character traits could do.

The book begins from the husband's point of view with the statements, "And in the last war we lost a lover. We used to have a lover, and since the war he is "gone." The use of "we" rather than "she" or "my wife" sets the tone for the book and helps the reader understand why, strange as the idea may appear on the surface, the husband's search for the wife's lover is inevitable.

The publisher's note on the back of the book explains that, because the novel is critical of Israeli society and the way in which Zionism has been distorted, the novel was both highly controversial and a best seller in Israel.

Two of my favorite Chanukah books are Sammy Spider's first Hanukkah by Sylvia A. Rouss with illustrations by Katherine Janus Kahn (ages 3-7) and "My Lucky Dreidel" by Cherie Karo Schwartz, a book for the whole family.

Many children are familiar with the Sammy Spider series of books. In this book Sammy Spider watches the Shapiro family celebrate Hanukkah, and he longs for a dreidel of his own. His mother explains that spiders spin webs, not dreidels, but on the last night of Hanukkah, Sammy gets to share in the holiday celebration in a surprising way. Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah is not just a good way to introduce young children to Hanukkah. It also reinforces numbers and colors. The illustrations are big and boldly colored -- certain to capture the attention of young children. It is a great book either for parents to read out loud or for young readers to read on their own.

My Lucky Dreidel is subtitled Hanukkah Stories, Songs, Poems, Crafts, Recipes, and Fun for Kids. The book is divided into eight sections -- one for each night of Hanukkah. Each section has a theme such as light, family or peace, and includes an original Hanukkah story, a recipe, a craft project and information about Hanukkah customs, both past and present, from around the world. Some of the craft projects require parental help, but some can be done by older children on their own. Recipes range from traditional Latkes to Hanukkiyot Good Enough to Eat.

My Lucky Dreidel is both interesting and fun and could lead to some new family traditions.

This month I am going to do something I have not done before - discuss a book I have not read from cover to cover. The book is Jewish Literacy -- The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People and Its History by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. It is in the Library in the "Especially Important Jewish Reading" section.

As Rabbi Telushkin lectured to Jewish groups around the country, he discovered that many Jews were "Jewishly illiterate". Many Jews could name the three components of the trinity but could not explain the concept of "mitzvah". He noted the frustration Jews felt with their ignorance of basic Jewish terms. He believed people needed and wanted a source of basic information about Judaism and Jewish life. He provided one with "Jewish Literacy".

The book contains about 350 brief explanations of the most important concepts and topics concerning Judaism and Jews. The broad topics covered are history and contemporary life, beliefs, ethics and rituals and Jewish holidays and life cycle. The entries are numbered and organized by specific topic. Many entries are followed by a short bibliography of additional readings on the subject which is helpful for readers who want to expand their knowledge on a particular topic. The book is not just a brief overview of Judaism. Most topics include a fair amount of depth. The book can either be read all the way through or used as a reference to look up specific information. The index is clear and easy to use. Although most reference books make very dry reading, Rabbi Telushkin's understated wit makes "Jewish Literacy" entertaining.

I often use "Jewish Literacy" as a reference. I believe it would provide a good introductory course for anyone from teenagers on up. It would also be a useful addition to any Judaica collection.

About a year ago, my twelve-year-old son became interested in comic books. In order to try to understand his interest, I began to read some comics and graphic novels and enjoyed many of them. My developing interest in the genre led me to The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon, which tells the fictional history of the partnership between two cousins, one a writer and the other an artist, during the glory years of the American comic book (1939-1954).

The story opens in New York in 1939. Joe Kavalier, a young artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdini-type escape has just smuggled himself out of Nazi-occupied Prague. He wants to make a lot of money fast so he can bring his family to freedom. His cousin, Sammy Klayman (later Clay), a great storyteller, is looking for a collaborator so that he can make it big in the emerging world of comic books. Together they create the Escapist, the champion of the enslaved, who travels the world "coming to the aid of those who languish in tyranny's chains". Inspired by Rosa Saks, a female friend who is linked to both men, they also create Luna Moth.

Although the book is fictional, it is grounded in reality. It is set in real places with actual people from the era, like Salvador Dali and Stan Lee, as minor characters. This careful attention to detail makes the book read more like a true-life adventure than a work of fiction. The main focus of the book is the partnership between Kavalier and Clay, but the book is also "about" many other things. For example, it is about life in America during this period in history and it is about the impact of the golden age of comic books. There are also several fascinating subplots involving Kavalier and several involving Clay that wind through the book.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is simply everything I could ask for in a book. The characters are vividly drawn. The book is both genuinely funny and profoundly moving. I finished the more-than-600 pages and wanted more. I highly recommend this book.

With the High Holydays approaching, I thought it would be helpful to discuss a book that focuses on the High Holydays. "The Magic of Kol Nidre, A Yom Kippur Story" by Bruce Siegel (ages 4-8) looks specifically at Kol Nidre, the opening prayer of the Yom Kippur Eve service. The forward to the book discusses Kol Nidre in some detail.

This prayer is chanted three times. The narrator of the story gives three possible explanations at three different times for the repetition of the prayer - first as a child attending Yom Kippur Eve services with his grandfather; next as a father holding his baby daughter at services; and finally as a grandfather attending services with his grandson. The narrator also searches for the magic that his grandfather said is present when Kol Nidre is sung. By the final scene he believes he understands what that magic is. The illustrations in the book are beautiful watercolors by Shelly Haas. Each two-page spread has a full-page illustration depicting the scene and a stained glass column that reflects the ideas of the story.

I believe this book is an excellent discussion-starter. It teaches not just about Kol Nidre but also about the sacredness of prayer and the continuity of generations in a story younger children will enjoy.

From the Library, May 2003
Susan Sinker

As you know, we recently added a section called "Especially Important Jewish Reading" to the adult portion of the BJBE Library. In addition, we have purchased a number of new books for the Children's Library. Although these books are not processed and on the shelves yet, I thought it would be helpful to give you a small preview. These books are two of my favorites for younger children.

The Animals and the Ark (ages 3 - 8) by Karla Kuskin with illustrations by Michael Grejniec is written in poetry form. The different rhythms and rhymes the author uses create different feelings in the story such as a sense of urgency as Noah and his family build the Ark or a sense of playfulness when the animals first board the Ark. The illustrations are vibrant and often humorous. The book focuses on the experiences of the animals on the Ark. What happens when the animals get bored and tired of the cramped space? The book does not look at the theology of the story. For example, by looking at the sky, Noah determines that a great rain is coming and decides that he must build the Ark. There is no mention of God warning Noah. The poem ends, not with an olive branch, but with the sun coming out. "The Animals and the Ark" is a friendly introduction to the basic story of the Ark.

The Kid's Cartoon Bible, written and illustrated by Chaya M. Burstein, recounts the main stories of the Bible with clear prose and colorful illustrations. Almost one-half of the book is devoted to the Five Books of Moses. These stories, from the creation of the Earth to God's blessing of Joshua and the deliverance to the Promised Land are covered in considerable detail. The book also contains the Prophets and the Writings, including the most popular stories, such as Ruth, Esther and Daniel. Even each minor prophet receives a one-sentence highlight summary. Both children and adults will appreciate the Index of Bible People at the end of the book, an index locating over 100 personalities in the text.

This book can be read aloud to preschoolers, and it is one that I think adults will enjoy reading with their children. It can also be enjoyed by older readers on their own. Many of the cartoon panels include dialogue balloons which even adults may find humorous but which are not essential to an understanding of the story for pre-schoolers. I enjoyed reading "The Kids' Cartoon Bible", and it served as a reminder to me of both the major and some of the less well-known stories of the Bible. I recommend it to help preschoolers and young readers obtain an understanding of many of the stories of the Bible.

As readers of last month's Bulletin know, there is a new section in the BJBE Library called "Especially Important Jewish Reading". To highlight the exceptional books that are in this section, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss one of these new books this month: Chutzpah by Alan Dershowitz.

Dershowitz's belief, as he states in the first sentence of the Introduction, is that "American Jews need more chutzpah". We are not assertive enough for our own good or the good of Jews in other parts of the world. Deep down, he states, we view ourselves as second class citizens and allow ourselves to be treated that way. For example, why do Jews, who have historically been strong supporters of the civil rights movement, sometimes fail to stand up for another Jew whose civil rights have been violated? We worry too much about "shanda fur de goyim" - shame before the Gentiles - and about raising feelings of anti-Semitism when we are too visible or too successful, states Dershowitz.

To make his point, Dershowitz describes his life as a Jew from boyhood to about 1990 when he wrote this book. He contrasts his experiences with those of both his parents' and children's generations. He then explores such issues as anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, Zionism, changes in Eastern Europe and assimilation. He cites many facts and figures in his discussions. Because Dershowitz has been involved in a number of relevant legal cases and has traveled extensively, he is able to give many first-hand accounts to reinforce his ideas.

I found Chutzpah both fascinating and frustrating. I found it fascinating because of the many issues it raises - some of which I had touched on in my mind but not previously formed into clear thoughts. I found it frustrating because Dershowitz shows little middle ground and, at times, I felt he was telling me how I should think to be a good Jew. I wanted a chance to present some "what ifs" to Dershowitz.

I believe Chutzpah is an important book - a book that will leave you wanting both to think more about Dershowitz's ideas and to discuss them with others.

After Long Silence by Helen Fremont is a memoir, a journey out of silence to self-discovery and understanding of others. Helen Fremont and her older sister Lara were raised in the Midwest as Catholics. In her mid-thirties, Ms. Fremont discovers that her parents are actually Polish Jews whose families were exterminated in the Holocaust, but her parents at first either cannot or will not discuss the past. Ms. Fremont and her sister begin their search for their heritage through Jewish organizations and other survivors, but they worry about the impact of what they learn on their parents who have kept the past a secret for so long. They learn of their parents' horrible ordeals in Europe-their mother narrowly escaping the murder of nearly every Jew in her hometown and their father surviving six years in the Soviet gulag. Because of her family's continued silence, even after the sisters reveal their initial discoveries, Ms. Fremont, of necessity, recreates some of the details of these experiences, but she does so with well-researched, understanding imagination. As the story progresses, we understand both the reasons for the parents' silence and the hold their past has over them. We also understand the psychological problems their silence causes for their daughters. After Long Silence is an extraordinary book. I believe that any reader will be deeply moved.

When I saw Adam Biro's Two Jews on a Train - Stories from the Old Country and the New in a bookstore, I was intrigued. It appeared to be a collection of long "jokes" - a book style I had not encountered before. Adam Biro is a French publisher and author who was born in Hungary. Catherine Tihanyi translated the book from French into English. In the introduction to the book, Biro explains the meaning of the title. "Two Jews are traveling on a train. All Eastern European jokes start this way or almost," he says. Several of the stories in the book do, in fact, start this way. Biro also acknowledges in the introduction that, since the Holocaust, trains evoke horrible memories for Jews, but the "two Jews on a train" phrase dates from before - from a time when trains brought no one to his death. The book contains 22 anecdotes/stories with subjects as diverse as a village matchmaker, two children imitating their parents, con men, friendship, dying and a rabbi who plays a championship game of golf on a Saturday. In "Fish Heads" two men trick a Hungarian officer into believing that fish heads are the secret to Jewish intelligence. The stories are both sad and funny. Biro's sources for the stories were five bound volumes belonging to his grandfather plus anecdotes told to him by family members and friends. Two Jews on a Train is simply a fun book to read. Although the stories are more likely to bring out smiles than laughs, I think that reading and smiling is a fine way to spend a few hours.

Speed of Light by Sybil Rosen is a winner of the Association of Jewish Libraries' Sydney Taylor Book Award for Older Readers. Although it is listed for ages 9-12, I believe both older children and adults will be moved by this book.

The story takes place in 1956 in the small town of Blue Gap, Virginia. Eleven-year-old Audrey Ina Stern, the narrator of the story, has lived in Blue Gap all her life. Her father owns a factory, and her family is one of a small number of Jewish families in town. In 1956, a bus boycott is taking place in Montgomery, Alabama, but in Blue Gap segregation is not challenged until Mr. Caldwell, the watchman at Mr. Stern's factory, tries to become the town's first African-American policeman. When Mr. Stern supports him in this effort, Audrey's family, along with the Caldwells, becomes the target of both verbal and physical abuse. When some of this abuse spreads to the Jewish community as a whole, some of the Jewish families wish Mr. Stern would stop "making trouble". The town's angry response to Mr. Caldwell makes Audrey aware of the prejudice her own family faces as Jews in the South.

A central character in the story is Tante Pesel, an Auschwitz survivor and distant cousin who lives with Audrey's family. Until the events in he book, she has remained silent about her experiences in Auschwitz, but when someone throws a rock through the window of Mr. Stern's factory, she likens it to Kristallnacht. As the story unfolds she begins, through powerful dialogue, to recount these experiences to Audrey Ina. Through these conversations, Audrey Ina learns for the first time about the Holocaust and makes connections to slavery and the resulting segregation.

The dramatic confrontations and issues presented in the book will move readers, but the climatic scene is quiet and deeply affecting. Although both Mr. Stern and the African-American characters are a bit too noble to ring true, this is a small flaw in a very powerful book - the kind of book that will make the reader ask, "What would I have done?"

With Chanukah fast approaching, I thought it would be a good time to look at two of my favorite Chanukah books. 

When Mindy Saved Chanukah by Eric A. Kimmel (ages 4-8) takes place on the day before Chanukah around 1900. A little family named Klein lives behind the walls of the Eldridge Street Synagogue. Everyone is helping to get ready for Chanukah. Papa is out in the synagogue to get a Chanukah candle to melt down into tiny candles for the family's little menorah. He suddenly comes through the door with a sprained ankle and torn clothes but no candle. He has been attacked by the new cat in the synagogue. 

After tending to Papa, the family tries to decide what to do about a candle. The family agrees that it will not seem like Chanukah without candles, but they also agree that trying to get one will be dangerous. Mindy, the daughter, volunteers to go because she is the fastest runner and best climber. As she starts to roll the candle she has found home, the cat leaps out at her. Suddenly Zayde appears dressed for battle. In a clever move he distracts the cat allowing Mindy to return home safely with the candle. 

The detailed period drawings by Barbara McClintock are wonderful and often humorous when they show how this tiny family makes use of everyday items like thimbles and bottlecaps. The book also introduces readers to other characters and symbols of Judaism like the yad and the lulav. The story is suspenseful but fun. I think it is a book that both adults and children will enjoy reading over and over again. 

The Energizing Chanukah Story for Children is both educational and fun for a wide variety of ages including adults. The book alternates between fact pages and fun pages. It opens with ten questions to consider about Chanukah. The fact pages move from the history of the Jews at the time, the Maccabees and the battles and why the holiday is called Chanukah through Chanukah today including the proper way to light a menorah and play dreidle.  

The "Can You Find" pictures throughout the book also tell parts of the Chanukah story. Not only are the illustrations terrifically funny, they also include a list of hidden objects that the reader is asked to locate in the picture. Some of the items are pretty challenging to find.

"The Energizing Chanukah Story for Children" provides both information and entertainment -- quite a lot of both.

From the Children's Library, April 2002
Susan Sinker

From the Library, March 2002
Susan Sinker

Dayenu or How Uncle Murray Saved the Seder by Rosalind Schilder (for ages 4-8) is a fun book to read, particularly out loud. Uncle Murray and Aunt Helene, exhausted from cleaning, wish they could simplify what they do for Passover. Uncle Murray suggests they eliminate some of the things they do every year. "If we get rid of all the hametz, and don't buy any matzah, it will be enough," he declares. Once they get rid of all the matzah, they have nothing to eat, so they must go to the store and buy matzah, but how boring is eating only matzah? They must buy other food, too. One action leads to another, and they end up celebrating Passover as usual with their family around them. This book is an entertaining way to introduce young children to the parts of a Passover seder and what leads up to the seder as they follow the activities of Uncle Murray and Aunt Helene.

In Matzah Ball by Mindy Aura Portnoy (for ages 4-8), Aaron is very excited when a friend invites him to an early-season Orioles game with other members of his softball team. His enthusiasm dims somewhat when his mother reminds him that, since the game takes place during Passover, he will need to bring his own food to the ballpark. What's a baseball game without junk food, he wonders. None of the others who are going are Jewish, and they will be able to eat whatever they want. His mother reminds him how lucky he is to be able to celebrate Passover since there were many times and places when Jews had to eat matzah in secret. "It's not easy being Jewish, and sometimes it feels downright weird," thinks Aaron.

On the day of the game, Aaron learns that his friends love matzah and macaroons, and they eat most of his lunch. When his friends head to the concession stand, Aaron, feeling pretty hungry, stays in his seat and hopes the game will not go into extra innings. What happens next changes the way Aaron views Passover, and being Jewish, forever.

Matzah Ball is easy to read and has colorful illustrations. When Aaron thinks of how "weird" it can feel to be Jewish at times, he gives voice to what some children may feel. In the end, though, he sees that, even though it may be hard at times, being Jewish is also special.

It Happened in Shushan by Harriet Feder is a book that very young children can help read even if they have not yet learned to read. The book tells a simple version of the story of Purim, but pictures are used in place of words for both the main characters and nouns in the story. The action progresses with the help of funny questions that children will enjoy shouting out the answers to. It Happened in Shushan is a fun early introduction to Purim.

From the Library, February 2002
Susan Sinker

From the Library, December 2001
Susan Sinker

From the Library, November 2001
Susan Sinker

Because Hanukkah begins fairly early in December this year, I decided to look this month at some of the Hanukkah books available in the BJBE Children's Library.

In "Like a Maccabee" (ages 4-8), authors Raymond Zwerin and Audrey Friedman Marcus tell the story of the Maccabees in three parts. After each part they tell the readers how they can be like the Maccabees. Are you brave? Are you a leader? Then you are like a Maccabee. The colorful illustrations follow the story as though it were being performed as a puppet show on a stage. It's a fun book.

"Hanukkah: Eight Lights Around the World" by Susan Sussman (ages 6-10) tells briefly the story of Hanukkah. Following are eight short stories describing Hanukkah customs in different countries such as France and Morocco. Although most of the customs described are vastly different from anything children in the United States experience, they are easy to relate to because they all emerge from the same Hanukkah story.

"My Lucky Dreidel" by Cherie Karo Schwartz is a wonderful collection of Hanukkah stories, recipes and crafts. The book is divided into eight sections - one for each day of Hanukkah. Each section includes a story, a craft project and a recipe. Each section also includes a poem and a description of Hanukkah customs around the world. Beyond potato latkes, the recipes include a fruit salad shaped like a menorah and Neyyapam, small fried cakes from India. The crafts include a great-looking hamsa candle and a Hanukkah mobile. Both the story illustrations and the color photographs of the finished recipes and craft projects are wonderful. I was disappointed to learn that this book is out of print (but, of course, you can borrow it from the BJBE Library). It is filled with things to entertain and interest each member of the family.

From the Library, October 2001
Susan Sinker

When my sister-in-law told me what an amazing book she thought Other People’s Houses by Lore Segal was, I thought it would be a good choice for a review. I didn’t read it right away, though. A book that takes place during the Holocaust felt overwhelming when I had mainly been reading mysteries. When I started to read it, I did not want to put it down. It is unlike anything else I have read.

In 1938, when she was ten years old, Lore Segal left her family in Vienna on an experimental children’s transport to test whether the Nazis would allow a train full of Jewish children to cross the border. Although Other People’s Houses is a novel, it is written in the form of a memoir.

After arriving safely in England, the author spent seven years living in "other people’s houses". She describes her life during this period, in some ways treated like a part of the family but really always a "guest", as well as both her feelings toward the various individuals who gave her refuge and their responses to her. She also relates what was happening during this time to her father, mother, uncle and other relatives and friends.

In 1948, the author moved to the Dominican Republic. She tells of her experiences as she adjusted to this very different way of life. She remained in the Dominican Republic until she and her mother were admitted to the United States in 1951.

Other People‘s Houses is both about flight from the Nazis and about individual growth and survival. I felt that I truly watched Lore Segal grow and change from a ten-year-old to an adult. This is an amazing book.

From the Children's Library, September 2001
Susan Sinker

The Boy Who Stuck out his Tongue (ages 4-8) is a Yiddish folk tale told by Edith Tarbescu and illustrated by Judith Christine Mills. It takes place following a snowstorm in a little village "known for its kind but foolish folk". When a boy who is running away from his mother and the chores she has for him sticks out his tongue at her, he ends up, as my mother told me I could, with his tongue stuck to a wrought iron fence. The people of the village try many strange and humorous ways to free the boy, but he remains stuck until a traveling blacksmith lends a hand. Both the boy and the villagers learn from the experience.

The Boy Who Stuck out his Tongue is delightful to read. With many occasions for giggles, both children and adults should enjoy it. The colorful illustrations and wonderful facial expressions of the characters make it even more fun to read.

Mrs. Katz and Tush (ages 4-8) by Patricia Polacco follows the relationship that develops between Larnel, a young African-American boy, and Mrs. Katz, his Jewish neighbor, after Mr. Katz dies. Mrs. Katz had no children, and Larnel brings her a kitten to help keep her company. She agrees to keep the kitten - named Tush by Mrs. Katz because it had no tail - on the condition that Larnel help her take care of it. He visits Mrs. Katz every day and listens to stories of her life both in Poland and in the United States. Larnel learns that, like his own ancestors, the Jews were once slaves.

Larnel visits the cemetery with Mrs. Katz and shares holiday dinners with her. Neither one can sleep when Tush gets out through an open window. As the years pass, Mrs. Katz becomes part of Larnel’s family, a bubee to Larnel and later to his children, sharing weddings, births and graduations.

In very few words this book says so much - about kindness and reaching out and understanding. I recommend it.

From the Children's Library, August 2001
Susan Sinker

Waiting for Anya by Michael Monpurgo (recommended for ages 9-12) is a historical novel that takes place during World War II in a small French Village near the Spanish border. From the peaceful opening in which the young shepherd J0 dozes off while tending his flock, the story moves quickly into high gear. Quite by chance Jo's life is changed forever. He learns that a reclusive widow and her Jewish son-in-law are hiding Jewish children on her farm and helping them escape into Spain. J0 willingly keeps their secret, but when German soldiers occupy the village, Jo truly understands the danger. The penalty for helping Jews escape is death.

The story moves at a fast pace. Although it has been many, many years since I was twelve, the story pulled me in, thanks in good part, to the complexities both of the characters and of the relationships between characters. The book also left me with many things to think about concerning the ideas of good and evil. I recommend it for readers past the suggested age range.

From the Library, July 2001
Susan Sinker

I have been in the BJBE library countless times, but I never realized the wealth of Jewish fiction it held until I was choosing a book for this month. After much deliberation, I chose A New Life by Bernard Malamud, set in the 1950's. The "hero". S. Levin, had a hard childhood and has a history of making bad decisions. At age 30, he leaves New York city, where he had spent his entire life and takes a job as an instructor at a small Pacific Northwest college to try to begin a new life - truly a stranger in a strange land. He becomes a central figure in a political tug of war at the college. He tries to do what he believes is right and still maintain his personal dignity.

The characters in A New Life ring true and are vividly portrayed. The book raises many questions about new beginnings and life in general, but it is written with a great deal of humor, so it never weighs too heavily. Whether the reader agrees with Levin's decisions or not. A New Life is terrifically enjoyable to read.

New from the Children's Library, June 2001
Susan Sinker

Two new books, Marven of the Great North Woods by Kathryn Lasky (ages 6-8) and A Time of Angels by Karen Hesse (ages 10-14), follow the experiences of children during the 1918 influenza epidemic.

Marven of the Great North Woods is the true story of Marven Lasky, age 10 (the author's father) whose parents send him on his
own to a logging camp in the great north woods to try to keep him safe. He can't speak or understand the language of the French Canadian loggers. Marven's life changes when he is befriended by one of the loggers and what he learns when he returns home.

In A Time of Angels, war traps Hannah Gold's parents in Russia. When the aunt with whom she and her two younger sisters are living dies from influenza and her sisters catch the disease, Vashti, her aunt's friend who lives with them, sends Hannah away so she will not get sick. Hannah does get influenza, but, guided by a mysterious girl with violet eyes, she makes it by train to her Uncle Klaus, a stranger with long white hair and beard. What she learns while staying with Uncle Klaus and her experiences when she returns home provide rich reading.