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rachelmariereads's review
5.0
I think this book is forever going to hold a place in my heart. I’m so grateful to have been able to read it early (thank you NetGalley for the ARC) and I’m so excited for everyone else to experience it on March 8! Filled with family, Jewish folklore, and a spell-binding mystery, From Dust, A Flame is really something special.
Hannah and Gabe Williams have never spent too long in one place. Whenever their mom, Malka, gets the urge to move, they go where the wind takes them. They don’t know much about Malka’s life before having children, and aren’t aware of any family on their mom’s side. Malka has always been mysterious.
But when Hannah wakes up on the morning of her seventeenth birthday with the eyes of a snake, Malka knows that something from her past has caught up to them. Promising to get help, she disappears. Every morning Hannah wakes up to a new mutation, and every day her confusion and worry grows. Days turn into weeks, and Hannah and Gabe decide they can’t just wait around.
They discover long-lost family, a Jewish heritage that dates back hundreds of years, and a curse that has finally come due. Rebecca Podos has woven an incredibly relevant coming-of-age story, combined with a legacy of survival, stories from the Holocaust, magical Jewish folklore, and a mystery that ties all the pieces together. The ambiance of this book was so rich and steeped in history, and the writing was lyrical and profound. The themes of family and love resonated right down to my soul.
In addition to the Jewish aspects, From Dust, a Flame also explores issues around sexuality, adoption, gender identity, and so much more. This book at once feels incredibly current, and completely timeless. The characters were so well-developed and real, that I felt like I knew them. I especially appreciated the brother-sister relationship, which felt very accurate, and the depiction of parents as flawed people, just doing their best.
This is the kind of book that I wish I had when I was a teen, but I’m so thankful that these stories exist now. From Dust, A Flame is going to stick with me for a long, long time. Pick it up on 3/8!
Hannah and Gabe Williams have never spent too long in one place. Whenever their mom, Malka, gets the urge to move, they go where the wind takes them. They don’t know much about Malka’s life before having children, and aren’t aware of any family on their mom’s side. Malka has always been mysterious.
But when Hannah wakes up on the morning of her seventeenth birthday with the eyes of a snake, Malka knows that something from her past has caught up to them. Promising to get help, she disappears. Every morning Hannah wakes up to a new mutation, and every day her confusion and worry grows. Days turn into weeks, and Hannah and Gabe decide they can’t just wait around.
They discover long-lost family, a Jewish heritage that dates back hundreds of years, and a curse that has finally come due. Rebecca Podos has woven an incredibly relevant coming-of-age story, combined with a legacy of survival, stories from the Holocaust, magical Jewish folklore, and a mystery that ties all the pieces together. The ambiance of this book was so rich and steeped in history, and the writing was lyrical and profound. The themes of family and love resonated right down to my soul.
In addition to the Jewish aspects, From Dust, a Flame also explores issues around sexuality, adoption, gender identity, and so much more. This book at once feels incredibly current, and completely timeless. The characters were so well-developed and real, that I felt like I knew them. I especially appreciated the brother-sister relationship, which felt very accurate, and the depiction of parents as flawed people, just doing their best.
This is the kind of book that I wish I had when I was a teen, but I’m so thankful that these stories exist now. From Dust, A Flame is going to stick with me for a long, long time. Pick it up on 3/8!
adekka11's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.25
jpdubs's review
4.0
A YA novel that has Jewish main characters, fantasy elements based on Jewish mythology, queer characters, and a mystery to solve? Sign me up!
This was a good read. I loved the ideas listed above. The mystery of the main characters' mothers and families' past was super interesting. I loved how the author captured the feeling of being part of a large Jewish family that is both loving and smothering. This book also talks about mothers and daughters and repeating the same mistakes of the past. I did not expect to read about family forgiveness and see characters learn about how trauma shaped generations of families (though being about a Jewish family from Europe, I should have known). The romance felt cute and very sweet, just as the first crush on a girl would be. It didn't feel forced or too much, which I am grateful for.
Overall, I loved the representation, the 3 generation story and how centered the Jewish characters, story, and mythology were.
This was a good read. I loved the ideas listed above. The mystery of the main characters' mothers and families' past was super interesting. I loved how the author captured the feeling of being part of a large Jewish family that is both loving and smothering. This book also talks about mothers and daughters and repeating the same mistakes of the past. I did not expect to read about family forgiveness and see characters learn about how trauma shaped generations of families (though being about a Jewish family from Europe, I should have known). The romance felt cute and very sweet, just as the first crush on a girl would be. It didn't feel forced or too much, which I am grateful for.
Overall, I loved the representation, the 3 generation story and how centered the Jewish characters, story, and mythology were.
nikitaah's review
4.0
Really enjoyed learning about Jewish folklore, as well as the multi-generational narrative.
platonic_moonwater's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
craftymxlibrarian's review
5.0
This book was absolutely stunning!!! Based heavily in Jewish culture and mysticism, it captures so well how trauma can be passed down through the generations and how interwoven all our stories are, connecting us inextricably to the people in our lives. I also love how Hannah's queer identity is left open with no solid label. It is completely authentic to many queer people's stories... That time between realizing we're queer and then, as Hannah puts it, "choosing a letter." I just love everything about this book!!
bek_p87's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-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? No
4.0
I found this fascinating. Interweaving family drama over multiple generations and Jewish lore and mythology, which is a topic I knew nothing about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Xenophobia and Violence
shksprsis's review
dark
emotional
medium-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? No
4.25
goatsinspace's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
4.0
A compelling and multi-layered young adult sapphic contemporary fantasy, this story immerses readers in a world rich with Jewish folklore and history. It is an emotionally resonant exploration of family, identity, and transformation.
This is the story of a young woman named Hannah who has spent her life in constant motion, along with her adopted brother Gabe, under the care of their enigmatic mother. This nomadic existence leaves them with no roots, no history, and no connections beyond their small family unit. However, on Hannah's seventeenth birthday, her life takes an unexpected turn when she wakes up with a startling physical and monstrous transformation. This transformation is just the beginning of a series of impossible mutations that both intrigue and terrify her.
When their mother abruptly leaves to get answers, Hannah and Gabe are left to fend for themselves. As days turn into weeks without their mother's return, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth about their family's history and the mysterious curse that now haunts them. The narrative skillfully weaves together past and present, taking readers on a journey from Hannah's contemporary struggles to her grandmother's experiences, to her mother's experiences at Hannah's age. Through Jewish mysticism and legend, the story unveils a tragic and fantastical family history that holds the key to breaking the curse.
One of the standout elements of the novel is the complexities of familial relationships and the importance of both found family and blood ties that are central to the narrative. The sibling dynamic between Gabe and Hannah is particularly well-developed, adding depth and authenticity to their bond. Gabe's story matters just as much as Hannah's.
This is a story about finding belonging in unexpected places and unearthing the hidden secrets of one's heritage. It beautifully combines elements of fantasy, mystery, and family drama, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and emotionally powerful. This narrative delves deep into themes of family, identity, isolation, and the quest for truth and cultural understanding. It's a story about the power of stories and how they shape our sense of self.
This is the story of a young woman named Hannah who has spent her life in constant motion, along with her adopted brother Gabe, under the care of their enigmatic mother. This nomadic existence leaves them with no roots, no history, and no connections beyond their small family unit. However, on Hannah's seventeenth birthday, her life takes an unexpected turn when she wakes up with a startling physical and monstrous transformation. This transformation is just the beginning of a series of impossible mutations that both intrigue and terrify her.
When their mother abruptly leaves to get answers, Hannah and Gabe are left to fend for themselves. As days turn into weeks without their mother's return, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth about their family's history and the mysterious curse that now haunts them. The narrative skillfully weaves together past and present, taking readers on a journey from Hannah's contemporary struggles to her grandmother's experiences, to her mother's experiences at Hannah's age. Through Jewish mysticism and legend, the story unveils a tragic and fantastical family history that holds the key to breaking the curse.
One of the standout elements of the novel is the complexities of familial relationships and the importance of both found family and blood ties that are central to the narrative. The sibling dynamic between Gabe and Hannah is particularly well-developed, adding depth and authenticity to their bond. Gabe's story matters just as much as Hannah's.
This is a story about finding belonging in unexpected places and unearthing the hidden secrets of one's heritage. It beautifully combines elements of fantasy, mystery, and family drama, creating a narrative that is both thought-provoking and emotionally powerful. This narrative delves deep into themes of family, identity, isolation, and the quest for truth and cultural understanding. It's a story about the power of stories and how they shape our sense of self.