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jillianelis_'s review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
As a youth services library assistant, you would think I would read a lot more middle grade books in my free time.
Nope. I definitely prefer YA to MG for my own personal reading, but for work, I’ve been helping vet MG books for our annual Battle of the Books. I picked this one after seeing it on the Youth Media Award winners list and after hearing my co-workers rave about it.
Folks, I do not remember the last time I cried while reading a MG book. I was enthralled by the Jewish mythology and by the Khazar empire, an empire and a period of history I have very little knowledge of. Ziva, Pesach, and Almas were all so spirited and felt like fully fleshed out characters, and I felt as though I were in their wagon on the way to Luz with them. Despite the story being a tad predictable, it didn’t make it any less fun or emotional.
I will 1000% be going to bat for this book when we make our Battle booklists. It’s heavy at times, but it’s fun, fast-paced, full of magic and mystery and lessons about grief and love that some kids may really need. I haven’t been this passionate about a MG book in a while but WOW Sofiya Pasternack, you really got me good!!!
Nope. I definitely prefer YA to MG for my own personal reading, but for work, I’ve been helping vet MG books for our annual Battle of the Books. I picked this one after seeing it on the Youth Media Award winners list and after hearing my co-workers rave about it.
Folks, I do not remember the last time I cried while reading a MG book. I was enthralled by the Jewish mythology and by the Khazar empire, an empire and a period of history I have very little knowledge of. Ziva, Pesach, and Almas were all so spirited and felt like fully fleshed out characters, and I felt as though I were in their wagon on the way to Luz with them. Despite the story being a tad predictable, it didn’t make it any less fun or emotional.
I will 1000% be going to bat for this book when we make our Battle booklists. It’s heavy at times, but it’s fun, fast-paced, full of magic and mystery and lessons about grief and love that some kids may really need. I haven’t been this passionate about a MG book in a while but WOW Sofiya Pasternack, you really got me good!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Terminal illness
hagiasophia's review
2.75
a sweet story, though the major plot points were predictable. I enjoyed the setting and the creativity that went into the story.
karisjmadison's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
sashabrains's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
jjchoe15's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
alexandritewiz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved the Jewish mythology and learning about Khazaria. It was clear where some of it was going but in a good way.
danielleheartsbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lizshayne's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5, really, and most of my problems were that I was feeling old and cantankerous and not in a stubborn but in a good way twelve year old girl frame of mind.
I think I would have loved the world and the Jewish mythology in an adult novel. Taking points off of a middle grade book for being middle grade is unfair, and yet here we are. Because the things that I really wanted—the deep dive into everything we know about what Judaism looked like culturally "in those days"—was understandably sidelined in a book aimed at people two bat mitzvahs younger than me. Which of those practices reflected history and which were brought in by the author? How much are my own preconceptions tripping me up? I wanted the epic fantasy deep dive.
Points for using "malach ha-mavet" instead of "the malach hamavet", the pedant in me approves. And points for the entire plot; I could tell it was amazing even if it wasn't precisely my plate of baklava.
I think I would have loved the world and the Jewish mythology in an adult novel. Taking points off of a middle grade book for being middle grade is unfair, and yet here we are. Because the things that I really wanted—the deep dive into everything we know about what Judaism looked like culturally "in those days"—was understandably sidelined in a book aimed at people two bat mitzvahs younger than me. Which of those practices reflected history and which were brought in by the author? How much are my own preconceptions tripping me up? I wanted the epic fantasy deep dive.
Points for using "malach ha-mavet" instead of "the malach hamavet", the pedant in me approves. And points for the entire plot; I could tell it was amazing even if it wasn't precisely my plate of baklava.
kmcmac's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0