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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Loved everything about this book! Read it in two days. This would be a great book to read on vacation too.
This was a fun, fluffy read with the added twist of taking place within a contemporary Jewish family. I really liked the sort of classic YA book hijinx, and that and the family relationships reminded me in a good way of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice books. A good pick especially for younger teens, or anyone who likes a light contemporary YA.
At the age of 16, Raina Resnick has just arrived in Toronto (after living in NYC, Boston and other US cities) and is finding the transition a little challenging. Thrust into a bustling Jewish community, Raina is expected to be observant and supportive of her family. In a comedy of errors, Raina finds herself as the new-up-and-coming matchmaker in town. Desperate to keep her secret, she juggles a new school, loneliness and high expectations from her extended family.
The concept - with the matchmaking, the engagement announcements, the *quick* courtship, all of it - is very outside of my own experience. But getting to learn about it all was a great deal of fun, especially considering how hilarious it all was. Raina's tiny idea, to find her sister a match, completely lost control and the best part was the anxiety while waiting for everyone to find out. Though very humorous and over the top at times, the ending was touching and heartfelt as well. I also loved the way the Jewish community was represented here. It didn't feel like there was any posturing being done about diversity or representation. It was simply a story about a Jewish girl navigating her Jewish community. So much fun, so adorable, with a wonderful focus on sisterhood and forgiveness.
Funny, enjoyable, not something I would normally read.
Playing with Matches is written by Suri Rosen, published by ECW Press, September 2014, 248 pages
In Playing with Matches I expected to find a typical YA novel. What I received was so much more; a novel deep in mystery, humour, kindness and mysticism. Based in Toronto, via way of New York, Raina Resnick is a 16-year-old who has fallen off her own personal path. Something every teenager can relate to in some way or another. But Rain has a lot of other things going on too. Her parents are in Hong Kong, so she has been sent to live with her strict aunt in Toronto. Her older sister Leah ends up in Toronto too, as her wedding was recently cancelled by the groom. Yet Leah blames a lot of her problems on Raina and is not speaking to her. And if that is not enough, Raina was kicked out of her previous school and is finding it not so easy to forget about her earlier misdeeds.
Playing with Matches has many layers and always kept me guessing throughout the entire story. It is real yet hopeful, cute yet quirky and light yet meaningful. I also learned a lot about the Orthodox Jewish Community, which is something that I honestly did not know that much about. I always find it very interesting to step deep into another culture and learn about something you might not have known about before. Reading something like this opens your mind a little. I learned that the Orthodox Jewish Community still uses matchmakers to set up fulfilling life long marriages and Raina accidentally finds herself in this role. And it might just be the first thing she is good at in a long time! Can she keep it secret and make more successful matches? And most importantly can she make Leah a good match and allow her sister be happy again?
This novel has a wide range of interesting characters, from Bubby, the getting into trouble grandmother, to the kind-hearted professor lonely for companionship. Raina learns about herself and explores these people with kindness. The lesson might be everyone deserves to be happy.
I am surprised to learn that this is Rosen’s first novel, as the depth of the characters is intense and the story is fast moving. I was laughing out loud and I had a hard time putting the book down. I would recommend the book to anyone, young or old, it is a fun paced romp with a lot of heart.
In Playing with Matches I expected to find a typical YA novel. What I received was so much more; a novel deep in mystery, humour, kindness and mysticism. Based in Toronto, via way of New York, Raina Resnick is a 16-year-old who has fallen off her own personal path. Something every teenager can relate to in some way or another. But Rain has a lot of other things going on too. Her parents are in Hong Kong, so she has been sent to live with her strict aunt in Toronto. Her older sister Leah ends up in Toronto too, as her wedding was recently cancelled by the groom. Yet Leah blames a lot of her problems on Raina and is not speaking to her. And if that is not enough, Raina was kicked out of her previous school and is finding it not so easy to forget about her earlier misdeeds.
Playing with Matches has many layers and always kept me guessing throughout the entire story. It is real yet hopeful, cute yet quirky and light yet meaningful. I also learned a lot about the Orthodox Jewish Community, which is something that I honestly did not know that much about. I always find it very interesting to step deep into another culture and learn about something you might not have known about before. Reading something like this opens your mind a little. I learned that the Orthodox Jewish Community still uses matchmakers to set up fulfilling life long marriages and Raina accidentally finds herself in this role. And it might just be the first thing she is good at in a long time! Can she keep it secret and make more successful matches? And most importantly can she make Leah a good match and allow her sister be happy again?
This novel has a wide range of interesting characters, from Bubby, the getting into trouble grandmother, to the kind-hearted professor lonely for companionship. Raina learns about herself and explores these people with kindness. The lesson might be everyone deserves to be happy.
I am surprised to learn that this is Rosen’s first novel, as the depth of the characters is intense and the story is fast moving. I was laughing out loud and I had a hard time putting the book down. I would recommend the book to anyone, young or old, it is a fun paced romp with a lot of heart.
emotional
funny
Look it's not perfect, Raina has some internal assholey stuff that she doesn't ever seem to address, but it's fun and I loved it.
Really cute. I enjoyed this look into the Mordern Orthodox world and all of the references. I also liked how real it felt. It was a very fast read.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sooooooo I flew through this in less than 24 hours!! Is this the most well-written YA contemporary I’ve read? No, but, it was a lot of fun to follow Raina around & I think I just read Playing with Matches at the perfect time 😁.