Review: Mendel the Mess-Up
Mendel the Mess-Up
by Terry LaBan
Holiday House, 2024
Category: Middle Grade
Reviewer: Rachel Aronowitz
Buy at Bookshop.org
Twelve year old Mendel is known in his shtetl as "Mendel the Mess-Up" because everything he does turns into a disaster, whether he is at school or helping his mother around the house. When Cossacks invade the town and loot and burn everything, Mendel must turn this weakness into his greatest strength and reverse the curse that was cast on him at birth to try and save his town. This graphic novel is drawn in an old fashioned, humorous, and colorful comics style and is fast paced with an enjoyable story. Readers will be rooting for Mendel and enjoy his transition from Mendel the Mess-Up to Mendel the Amazing!
The setting of this graphic novel is a fantasy version of an Eastern European shetl or Jewish village, which is humorous and has some authentic aspects like the family having Shabbat dinner, going to synagogue, going to school to study Torah, and the inclusion of a Bar Mitzvah. However, since the glossary lacks definitions of various phrases, it may leave non -Jewish readers at a loss. I don't really think the story increases the reader's understanding of the Jewish experience as the humorous setting is not realistic - for instance, the family makes a living by producing goat sweat drinks. On the other hand, the history of persecution by the Cossacks is definitely based in reality. Overall, this is an enjoyable graphic fantasy with strong Jewish elements.
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Reviewer Rachel Aronowitz currently works as a librarian at the Springfield Public Library near Eugene, OR, and spends many delightful days each week working in the children’s room. Before that, she spent almost a decade working as a librarian in her hometown of San Francisco, CA. When not at work, she enjoys baking, playing music, gardening, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her husband, daughter and cats.
Twelve year old Mendel is known in his shtetl as "Mendel the Mess-Up" because everything he does turns into a disaster, whether he is at school or helping his mother around the house. When Cossacks invade the town and loot and burn everything, Mendel must turn this weakness into his greatest strength and reverse the curse that was cast on him at birth to try and save his town. This graphic novel is drawn in an old fashioned, humorous, and colorful comics style and is fast paced with an enjoyable story. Readers will be rooting for Mendel and enjoy his transition from Mendel the Mess-Up to Mendel the Amazing!
The setting of this graphic novel is a fantasy version of an Eastern European shetl or Jewish village, which is humorous and has some authentic aspects like the family having Shabbat dinner, going to synagogue, going to school to study Torah, and the inclusion of a Bar Mitzvah. However, since the glossary lacks definitions of various phrases, it may leave non -Jewish readers at a loss. I don't really think the story increases the reader's understanding of the Jewish experience as the humorous setting is not realistic - for instance, the family makes a living by producing goat sweat drinks. On the other hand, the history of persecution by the Cossacks is definitely based in reality. Overall, this is an enjoyable graphic fantasy with strong Jewish elements.
Are you interested in reviewing books for The Sydney Taylor Shmooze? Click here!
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