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141 reviews for:
It's a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories
Katherine Locke, Laura Silverman
3.84 AVERAGE
141 reviews for:
It's a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories
Katherine Locke, Laura Silverman
3.84 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was an overall low-scoring anthology for me. Some of the writing just didn't click with me, and others had stories I just wasn't wow-ed by. I was also disappointed by the samey-ness of the stories and thought the collection could have used some more geographic and racial diversity. However, I'm goy and therefore not the target demographic for this anthology-- I hope the representation found here is relatable to Jewish teens!
✡ Indoor Kids by Alex London ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Additional rep: gay, mlm
✡ Two Truths and an Oy by Dahlia Adler ★★☆☆☆ (2.5)
✡ The Hold by David Levithan ★★★☆☆
Additional rep: gay, mlm
✡ Aftershocks by Rachel Lynn Solomon ★★★☆☆
Additional rep: OCD, anxiety
TW: earthquake
✡ Good Shabbos by Goldy Moldavsky ★★☆☆☆ (2.5)
This one had really strange footnotes-- they reminded me of old fanfic author's notes (A/N: if you don't know what those are get da hell out of here!)
✡ Jewbacca by Lance Rubin ★★★★☆
My favorite of the collection! This was really sweet, with good characterization. I thought this story handled the theme of not feeling "Jewish enough" the best out of the several stories in the anthology that included it.
✡ El Al 328 by Dana Schwartz ★☆☆☆☆
My least favorite of the collection. This was too short and too depressing.
✡ Some Days You're the Sidekick; Some Days You're the Superhero by Katherine Locke ★★★☆☆
Additional rep: nonbinary gender
TW: homophobia
Interesting format for this one-- it was written like a fanfiction (like: tags, end notes, etc.). A strange fanfiction, but a fanfiction nonetheless.
✡ He Who Revives the Dead by Elie Lichtschein ★★★☆☆
TW: drowning, near death experience
✡ Be Brave and All by Laura Silverman ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Additional rep: anxiety
✡ Neilah by Hannah Moskowitz ★★★★☆ (3.5)
Additional rep: wlw, eating disorder
Interesting example of religious practices being helpful for combatting mental illness.
✡ Find the River by Matthue Roth ★★☆☆☆
✡ Ajshara by Adi Alsaid ★★☆☆☆
Additional rep: Latinx, Mexican
Random addition of paranormal genre to the otherwise realistic anthology. But also the only non-American MC.
✡ Twelve Frames by Nova Ren Suma ★★☆☆☆
Total average rating: 2.75 / 5 stars
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
✡ Indoor Kids by Alex London ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Additional rep: gay, mlm
✡ Two Truths and an Oy by Dahlia Adler ★★☆☆☆ (2.5)
✡ The Hold by David Levithan ★★★☆☆
Additional rep: gay, mlm
✡ Aftershocks by Rachel Lynn Solomon ★★★☆☆
Additional rep: OCD, anxiety
TW: earthquake
✡ Good Shabbos by Goldy Moldavsky ★★☆☆☆ (2.5)
This one had really strange footnotes-- they reminded me of old fanfic author's notes (A/N: if you don't know what those are get da hell out of here!)
✡ Jewbacca by Lance Rubin ★★★★☆
My favorite of the collection! This was really sweet, with good characterization. I thought this story handled the theme of not feeling "Jewish enough" the best out of the several stories in the anthology that included it.
✡ El Al 328 by Dana Schwartz ★☆☆☆☆
My least favorite of the collection. This was too short and too depressing.
✡ Some Days You're the Sidekick; Some Days You're the Superhero by Katherine Locke ★★★☆☆
Additional rep: nonbinary gender
TW: homophobia
Interesting format for this one-- it was written like a fanfiction (like: tags, end notes, etc.). A strange fanfiction, but a fanfiction nonetheless.
✡ He Who Revives the Dead by Elie Lichtschein ★★★☆☆
TW: drowning, near death experience
✡ Be Brave and All by Laura Silverman ★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Additional rep: anxiety
✡ Neilah by Hannah Moskowitz ★★★★☆ (3.5)
Additional rep: wlw, eating disorder
Interesting example of religious practices being helpful for combatting mental illness.
✡ Find the River by Matthue Roth ★★☆☆☆
✡ Ajshara by Adi Alsaid ★★☆☆☆
Additional rep: Latinx, Mexican
Random addition of paranormal genre to the otherwise realistic anthology. But also the only non-American MC.
✡ Twelve Frames by Nova Ren Suma ★★☆☆☆
Total average rating: 2.75 / 5 stars
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
I was expecting this book to be about orthodix teenage Jews, but in reality the children were not all orthodox, and I felt I could relate to them. I loved seeing how the Orthodox Jews positively impacted other Jews. I loved reading about characters who fall in love, discover their true identities, their experiences during Bat Mitzvah's and trips to Israel. I actually think that I can actually identify as being Jewish now. I know that it's a bit far-fetched to say this, but it seems Jewish Teens are a minority in literature. This book is a great one in terms of cultural identity.
My favourites:
Neilah
He Who Revives the Dead
The Hold
Some Days
—————————
Indoor Kids - 3.0
Two Truths and an Oy - 3.75
The Hold - 4.5
Aftershocks - 3.75
Good Shabbos - 1.5
Jewbacca - 3.25 (if not for the embarrassment, i’d have rated it a 3.75)
El Al 328 - 1
Some Days - 4.25
He Who Revives The Dead - 4.75
Be Brave and All - 3.75
Neilah - 5
Find the River - 1.5
Ajshara - 3.5
Twelve Frames - 3.5
Average ~ 3.5
Neilah
He Who Revives the Dead
The Hold
Some Days
—————————
Indoor Kids - 3.0
Two Truths and an Oy - 3.75
The Hold - 4.5
Aftershocks - 3.75
Good Shabbos - 1.5
Jewbacca - 3.25 (if not for the embarrassment, i’d have rated it a 3.75)
El Al 328 - 1
Some Days - 4.25
He Who Revives The Dead - 4.75
Be Brave and All - 3.75
Neilah - 5
Find the River - 1.5
Ajshara - 3.5
Twelve Frames - 3.5
Average ~ 3.5
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
two stories talk non critically about israel, and a third “both sides” it as a “conflict” rather than addressing what it is: colonialism and genocide. it is also VERY white. both of these things were unexpected to me, as the editor is very vocal about both being anti-zionist and critical of the exclusion of Jews of color in literary spaces.
Forward, Mayim Bialik: This sets up the rest of the collection well.
Indoor Kids, Alex London: This was so sweet, and every element of the story worked well together. I loved the romance and the relationship with the campers. 5/5
Two Truths and an Oy, Dahlia Adler: This story looks at what happens to faith when someone leaves home and the tension between fitting in and living your beliefs. The main character was awkward and charming, and I loved this! 5/5
The Hold, David Levithan: This was a beautiful story about young love and defining faith. "To be loved by God is to be loved for who you are." 5/5
Aftershocks, Rachel Lynn Solomon: The MC has OCD/anxiety/panic attacks, and she struggles with not feeling Jewish enough, especially when she has dinner with her Jewish boyfriend and his family. 4.5/5
Good Shabbos, Goldy Moldavsky: Kayla and S.T. came across as petulant, a bit much, even for teenagers. I can't really tell if they learn anything from their misadventures and grow up at all. 2.5/5
Jewbacca, Lance Rubin: The MC tries to pretend that he's "more Jewish than he is" and struggles with feeling fake. He is loveably awkward. 5/5
EL AL 328, Dana Schwartz: Seemingly every page was basically "woe is me, I'm a virgin" and/or "woe is me, I have no friends." 2/5
Some Days You're the Sidekick, Some Days You're the Superhero: The MC's sibling uses they/them pronouns. The MC struggles with the pressure to do things that would get him into college. The portrayal of fandom, including the acknowledgment of the MC's privilege in online fandom spaces. I love the forgiveness of the story. 5/5
He Who Revives the Dead, Elie Lichtschein: The MC almost died by drowning, and she plans to confront her fears on her birthright trip. The solidarity and support that other characters show her made me so happy. Also, two of the guys on the trip argue about Israel and Palestine, and while I don't know as much about that as I definitely should, I was glad to see that addressed. 5/5
Be Brave and All, Laura Silverman: The MC is invited to ditch a JZY gathering to go to a rally protesting a bill that would allow more access to guns. Her interactions with "Ukelele Guy" made me very happy. 5/5
Neilah, Hannah Moskowitz: The MC grew up not participating in Jewish tradition and was criticized by her ex for not being Jewish enough and for taking up space. She begins to learn to love herself for who she is. 5/5
Find the River, Matthue Roth: It might just be a me problem, but the story had a lot of teenage boys being stereotypically teenage boys, which did not cause me to engage. 3/5
Ajshara, Adi Alsaid: The MC can see ghosts, and I was not especially interested. I think this would've been more interesting if it could've been fleshed out as a novel. 3/5
Twelve Frames, Nova Ren Suma: This was a sweet story about identity and starting over. 4/5
My average rating for the stories was ~4.25/5. I would recommend this anthology.
Indoor Kids, Alex London: This was so sweet, and every element of the story worked well together. I loved the romance and the relationship with the campers. 5/5
Two Truths and an Oy, Dahlia Adler: This story looks at what happens to faith when someone leaves home and the tension between fitting in and living your beliefs. The main character was awkward and charming, and I loved this! 5/5
The Hold, David Levithan: This was a beautiful story about young love and defining faith. "To be loved by God is to be loved for who you are." 5/5
Aftershocks, Rachel Lynn Solomon: The MC has OCD/anxiety/panic attacks, and she struggles with not feeling Jewish enough, especially when she has dinner with her Jewish boyfriend and his family. 4.5/5
Good Shabbos, Goldy Moldavsky: Kayla and S.T. came across as petulant, a bit much, even for teenagers. I can't really tell if they learn anything from their misadventures and grow up at all. 2.5/5
Jewbacca, Lance Rubin: The MC tries to pretend that he's "more Jewish than he is" and struggles with feeling fake. He is loveably awkward. 5/5
EL AL 328, Dana Schwartz: Seemingly every page was basically "woe is me, I'm a virgin" and/or "woe is me, I have no friends." 2/5
Some Days You're the Sidekick, Some Days You're the Superhero: The MC's sibling uses they/them pronouns. The MC struggles with the pressure to do things that would get him into college. The portrayal of fandom, including the acknowledgment of the MC's privilege in online fandom spaces. I love the forgiveness of the story. 5/5
He Who Revives the Dead, Elie Lichtschein: The MC almost died by drowning, and she plans to confront her fears on her birthright trip. The solidarity and support that other characters show her made me so happy. Also, two of the guys on the trip argue about Israel and Palestine, and while I don't know as much about that as I definitely should, I was glad to see that addressed. 5/5
Be Brave and All, Laura Silverman: The MC is invited to ditch a JZY gathering to go to a rally protesting a bill that would allow more access to guns. Her interactions with "Ukelele Guy" made me very happy. 5/5
Neilah, Hannah Moskowitz: The MC grew up not participating in Jewish tradition and was criticized by her ex for not being Jewish enough and for taking up space. She begins to learn to love herself for who she is. 5/5
Find the River, Matthue Roth: It might just be a me problem, but the story had a lot of teenage boys being stereotypically teenage boys, which did not cause me to engage. 3/5
Ajshara, Adi Alsaid: The MC can see ghosts, and I was not especially interested. I think this would've been more interesting if it could've been fleshed out as a novel. 3/5
Twelve Frames, Nova Ren Suma: This was a sweet story about identity and starting over. 4/5
My average rating for the stories was ~4.25/5. I would recommend this anthology.
I loved the first few stories in this book, more than some of the later ones, which I had trouble getting into. But it's so nice to read a book that recognizes and celebrates all the diversity in the Jewish teenage community without trying to explain itself to outsiders.
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced