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A review by emeelee
It's a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories by Katherine Locke, Laura Silverman
3.0
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!