Top Picks From This Season’s Jewish Book Releases

There’s great new book choices for little kids, big kids, teens, and adults in every genre

When your Yom Tov prep is finally over and you have a few minutes to yourself between the serving and clearing, you want to sit down with a good book (and that’s more enjoyable when the kids are also busy with books and there’s some quiet!). Not all books are created equal, and matching a book to a reader is complicated work!

This roundup features the best of this season’s releases, compiled by The Frum Books Newsletter. Top Picks will be appreciated by the widest audience, read the short descriptions to find the title that best matches your taste.

Young Readers. 2nd to 4th Grade

• Easy as Pie
  You can purchase here.
  by Menucha Fuchs – the delightful and funny escapades of a school cook. Great for fans of the PJ Pepperjay series
• Bentzi and the Peacock Feathers
  You can purchase here.
  by Shifra Glick (Coming soon!) – exciting full-length mystery with large print and illustrations that make the Bentzi series a perfect entry to longer chapter books. (Can be read out of order)
• Kids Like U 4
  You can purchase here.
  by Miriam Schonzeit) – assorted short stories, great for kids who want to read short bits at a time
• Mrs. Make a Mentsch
  You can purchase here.
  by Dvora Glick – charming and whimsical, the neighborhood Bubby helps kids fix themselves up with creative solutions

5th to 8th Grade Girls

• Strange New World
  You can purchase here.
  by Rochel Burstyn – a girls’ adventure set in a fascinating speculative universe. Esther Malky emerges from her childhood in a bunker to make her first foray into the real world, only to find the world locked down, and nothing is as it seems
• String of Secrets
  You can purchase here.
  by Tamar Shy – the girls at Samphire boarding school laugh and grow together through antics, mishaps, and excitement
• Only Mimi!
  You can purchase here.
  by G. Schiff – a hilarious and witty girl describes her zany adventures, written in the much-loved diary style
• The Summer Everything Changed
  You can purchase here.
  by Ellen Roteman – when an innocent summer job turns much more complex, a fun-loving teen steps up to the plate

5th to 8th Grade Boys

• No 186
  You can purchase here.
  by Meir Stein – frum boys unwittingly get roped into a wild, imaginary, and fantastical mission in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea
• My Story
  You can purchase here.
  by Zivia Reischer – kids of all ages share their experiences and bring readers into their unique world
• Stolen
  You can purchase here.
  by Millie Samson – chasing the mystery of their grandfather’s missing Judaica collection, boys end up on an international expedition
• Danger at Romani Manor
  You can purchase here.
  by Y.M. Hodgbi – dramatic and suspenseful, an adventurous boy promises to stay out of trouble but gets pulled into a mystery that begs to be solved

Adults. Historical Thriller

• The Captives
  You can purchase here.
  by Rochel Istrin – Fans of The Mexico File will be enthralled by this fast-paced and nonlinear Western set in unexplored terrain. Dual plots weave a frum Russian immigrant family between the most unlikely settings. When surviving a Cherokee stake, swamp settlement, or Southern ball demands attention, can they maintain their identity and hope?
• Shattered Worlds
  You can purchase here.
  by Yair Weinstock – Suspense meets history and its trauma in a dramatic and intriguing journey that leaps across time. Desperate to fulfill their father’s last will, the Eisen brothers mine their family history and discover a family set on bitter revenge. As they stitch together the threads across generations, the brothers finally understand the people around them – and what has to be done to resolve deep-rooted fears.

Contemporary Fiction

• Dream On
  You can purchase here.
  by Gila Arnold – In a delightful seminary bubble, staff and students discover themselves and form connections. But when well-meaning becomes unhealthy, they’re forced to question their perceptions and make tough decisions. The layered plot reveals the complexity of relationships and internal development, while adorable dialogue and experiences make for a fun and easy read.
• Light Years Away
  You can purchase here.
  by Ruti Kepler – Light Years Away has developed a “Love it or hate it” relationship with readers. Fans love the bold, fresh plot and nuanced characters who experience complex character development when their fiery ideals of Kollel and Kedushah come face to face with real life. Other readers shied away from the niche conflict and prominent “lesson” that framed the plot.
• The Darkest Hour
  You can purchase here.
  by Rachel Schorr – A slow-paced and compelling psychological saga that highlights a family coming to terms with its bizarre circumstances. After waking up from a seventeen year coma, Bruriah learns that life has moved on without her. To heal, she must confront her life experience – what is age without the years? How can she take her place in her children’s present life and build bridges to replace memories?

Inspirational Non-Fiction

• I Have an Amazing Story for You 4
  You can purchase here.
  by RabbiNachman Seltzer
• Center Stage
  You can purchase here.
  by C.B. Weinfeld

Biography

• Our Morah in Uniform
  You can purchase here.
  by Fradl Adams
• For the Sake of Heaven
  You can purchase here.
  by Devora Gliksman
• Reb Dovid: Continuing the Brisk Dynasty
  You can purchase here.
  by Rabbi Shimon Yosef Meller