Reqs and Recs + Book News

Recommending books is hard. Drawing a blank makes me doubt my very identity as a reader, and with so many variables making up a person’s taste, it’s almost impossible to have a perfect record. But a successful recommendation can set a young reader on a journey for life, unclog a reading slump, or send a veteran down a whole new reading path.

This week kicks off our Requests and Recommendations segment, featuring book requests from you, our subscribers. I would love to hear what recommendations you can add - leave your ideas in the comments. Plus, a quick roundup of new releases and a dozen upcoming releases to look forward to.

Q1

I’m looking for a teachable story for my very bright nine-year-old, she reads above her grade level. She's a natural leader who tends to dominate interactions, and is usually successful at intimidating people. So she doesn't really see the "cost" of this win/lose view of the world. I'm hoping to introduce the ideas that "you're going to lose friends if you always have to be right" indirectly. Fiction is an awesome way to introduce new ideas without the child getting defensive. Any ideas? - SI

This list was a fun challenge. While bullying is a common topic, I was surprised that I couldn’t find any books that fit the exact idea mentioned. Although nothing matches exactly, here are some books that circle the topic.

1. The New Girl (The Achdus Club #1), Faygie Holt - grades 4-5 

2. Shani's Scoop (BY Times #1), Leah Klein - grades 5-6

3. Who's Who? (BY Times #18), Leah Klein - grades 5-6

4. Ruvy's Startling Discovery, Moshe Buaman - grades 4-5

5. Vacation x3 (Tessler Triplets #3), Chaya Sara Zirkind - grades 5-6

Q2

My daughter is 10. She's a reader bh. She's read pretty much everything at her age level and above. She's too young for most of the angsty and big issues of most current teen books. She only likes current-day stories, not historical, mysteries, or scary. Books of short stories are good too. What can you suggest for her that's a little out of her small niche genre, but she might still be ok with? Or a book meant for a teen, but age-appropriate for her? - SH

“Can you give me something I haven’t read yet?” is one of the most common requests I get. It’s a tough one: I don’t know what you’ve read. At the library I work in, I have a few strategies - offer something soft-covered (many kids skip over the soft-covered books), something older, something written for boys that can be palatable for girls, or something a level up that can still be relatable and enjoyed by younger readers. Here’s a mix of all those: 

1. A Family for Frayda, Menucha Chana Levin

2. Over the Gate, Brocha Rosman

3. Family for a While, Miriam Kosman

4. A Face in the Window, Meir Uri Gottesman

5. Glixman in a Fix, Rebbecca Klempner

Q3

I really enjoy historical fiction such as Full Harvest and That is America, books that tell the story of an era through the lens of a family's personal challenges. I basically only read the ones that were written within the last 10 years. Would you have a list of good ones that are not so recent and/or popular? - DL

I’m going to assume that you’ve read the most popular historical fiction from the last 20 years (Shortchanged, Sun Inside Rain) and skip to some “less obvious” historical fiction options. You’ll find there’s a reason they’re less obvious; they aren’t part of the group of historicals that can be read by “just anyone.” As a veteran historical fiction reader, you’ll enjoy all of these.

1. Scattered Blossoms, Gita Gordon

2. Between the Thorns, Libby Lazewnik

3. The Four Seasons of Golda Mirel, Eva Vogiel

4. The Youngest Bride, Menucha Chana Levin

5. Every Man a Slave, Sender Zeyv

Q4

For a long time already, I've been trying to get a hold of really well-written, interesting, and inspiring biographies. I also want it to cover the history of an interesting time period, intertwining the person's experiences with the events that took place in that era. Also, I would love to learn deep concepts from the person it is describing, such as their views on life, their accomplishments, and their upbringing. The type of book that I'd parallel this to would be Rav Dessler, The Mashgiach, and R’ Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. - ML

This is a specific one! There are lists of biographies that meet each of the criteria you mentioned, but just a few that meet all. The challenge is that you’ve already read the two books that first came to mind, Rav Dessler and Guardian of Jerusalem :) Here are some more.

1. Reb Shraga Feivel, Yonasan Rosenblum

2. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Rabbi Eliyohu Meir Klugman

3. From Djerba to Jerusalem, Libby Lazewnik

4. Rav Noach Weinberg, Yonasan Rosenblum

5. The Alter of Novardok, Rabbi Shlomo Weintraub (translated)

Q5

I would love to get some recommendations since I’m always the one recommending books to others. The following are books I’ve read and really enjoyed. Dreams Delayed, As Mountains Around Jerusalem, Normal Like Me, A Time to Rend A Time to Sew, Mirror Image, Pride and Preference, and Rappaport 55. I specifically liked the character development of these books. I don’t like books that are heavy on mental illness or spies, I find that I usually can guess the plot and that they are predictable. - MG

These seem very disparate at first glance, with some light, some heavy, some humorous. What these all have in common: they’re all contemporary fiction, and all have plots that are centered around character. (What your high school English teacher would call “inner conflict” 😉) Here are some more that fit those descriptions: 

1. Castle Builders, Menucha Chana Levin

2. Forever Forward, Rhona Lewis

3. Rule of Three, Esther Kurtz

4. A Veiled Truth, Etka Gitel Schwartz

5. The Cliff Line, Mattie Wiseman

Have a recommendation of your own to add to these answers? Leave your ideas (together with the question number) in the comments below. 👇

Book News Catch-Up

New

• Ordinary Greatness, Jonathan Rosenblum - A master biographer brings personal perspective and wit to a collection of essays about the beauty and inspiration within every person and encounter. Highlighting the widest range of individuals, these profiles look far past the surface and uncover the driving forces behind the accomplishments and struggles within every community. Anecdotes and ideas capture the opportunities for growth waiting to be seized and the hidden greatness amongst us.

• Brick by Brick, Joan and Grunny Zlotnick - An anthology of light essays featuring stories and insights about Ahavas Yisroel and the power and joy of reaching across community lines. The broad range of contributors brings dozens of perspectives to the theme, and while a few well-known voices are featured, the collection brings inspiration from the everyday experiences of ordinary people.

• The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman, Mari Lowe - Published by a frum author through a secular publisher, clean and appropriate for grades 7-8. Always on the outside, Shaindy’s chance at popularity comes with a condition: helping her class-queen neighbor Gayil throw pranks on their classmates. As the pranks escalate, Shaindy recognizes a pattern in the girls singled out and finally realizes she’s the ultimate target. A fast-paced and emotional drama about the costs of fitting in and the heavy burden of holding a grudge.

Coming Soon

All dates are tentative - in frum publishing, nothing’s certain until it’s in the stores! But here are some of the releases you can look forward to in the next few months.

• January
  Angels in Orange, Nachman Seltzer - sequel to 90 Seconds, stories of the miracles and hashgacha experienced by United Hatzalah volunteers after October 7th
  Things I Told My Patients, Dr. Jacob L. Freedman - from the author of Off the Couch, a combination of self-help and behind-the-scenes

• February
  Today in Jewish History, Rabbi Pinchas Landis - short snippets on every day of the calendar from a popular lecturer and educator

  Living with Hashem, Rabbi Heshy Kleinman - a lesson-a-day collection on living with Hashgacha Pratis from the author of Praying with Fire
  Looking Into the Sun, Rabbi Menachem Nissel - a memoiristic biography about the author’s experiences as a talmid of Rav Moshe Shapira
  Bylines and Blessings, Judy Gruen - a memoir of the path to Ba’alas Teshuva and writer

• March
  Prisoner on Pikers Island, YM Hodgbi - the third in the popular middle grades “Ramoni Manor” series

• April

  [No title yet], M. Kenan – the long-awaited final installment of the Khazar series
  The Last Rebbi of Lodz, Yonah Klein - a New York chossid determined to rebuild his family’s legacy

  [Unknown title], A. Yarden - the third and final of the Trepid trilogy

• June
  [Unknown title], Rochel Istrin – the third and final of the “Captives” trilogy

• More Coming Soon
  Within My Walls, Leah Gebber

  Power Tools, Esty Heller
  Truth Meets Fiction (fictional short stories), Nachman Seltzer

In Other News

• Mimi Zakon and Libby Lazewnik talked about their history together on the Artscroll podcast

• Adina Edelman is offering a new workshop to help authors and wanna-be authors get to step one through self-editing. Info here

• Rabbi Menachem Nissel previewed his upcoming biography of R’ Moshe Shapira in this Mishpacha article

Have a book request for next time? Email your detailed question to frumbooks@substack.com.