The Sydney Taylor Shmooze

Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack Versify (imprint of HarperCollins), 2022 Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Judy Greenblatt Buy at Bookshop.org Warning - difficult territory ahead. However, if you don't mind a graphic description of leprosy and how to treat it, and you are not afraid to think about death, you may well find Black Bird, Blue Road a fascinating, thought provoking book.    In this historical fantasy, 12 year old Ziva runs away with her invalid twin brother Pesah by hitching two of her family’s horses to their disused wagon, loading it with provisions for the horses, herself and her brother, including his wheelchair, and taking off into the night, in what she thinks in the direction Constantinople. They soon join forces with Almas, a half demon who has some remarkable skills. We also meet the Angel of Death – who may turn out to be a little different from what you would expect. The characters are well rounded, thoughtful, and clearly differentiated. Thi...

Recipe for Disaster by Aimee Lucido Versify Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Rachel J. Fremmer Buy at Bookshop.org Recipe for Disaster by Aimee Lucio is not just tasty but also filling. Rebelling by embracing tradition, Hannah embarks on secret bat mitzvah lessons, given by her mother’s estranged rabbi sister. Hannah explores what being Jewish means to her as she compares herself to - and unwittingly judges - her friends and relatives of varying Jewish commitment, observance, and background. An antisemitic incident makes her further examine her Jewish identity. Using the framework of recipes - for friendship, for Judaism - for Hannah, who loves to bake, is effective.   Recipe for Disaster is a clear contender for the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Its portrayal of a daughter of an interfaith marriage, struggling with her Jewish identity, obviously meets the requirement for authentic portrayal of Jewish life. With its beautiful writing and authentic understanding of this ag...

Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack Category: Middle Grade Reviewer: Kathy Bloomfield Buy at Bookshop.org The characters from "Anya and the Dragon" – Anya (the girl), Ivan (the fool), and Håkon (the dragon) – are back, this time on a quest to find Anya's Papa and return him home. Finding themselves unexpectedly in Kiev, they agree to rid the kingdom of the Nightingale, a forest elf who is causing a lot of damage. Upon further research, they discover that the Nightingale, whose name is Alfrecht, is trying to free his brother, Wielaf, from the Kiev castle dungeon. The trio, now with Alfrecht, find their way into the dungeons, locate Wielaf, and are met with an angry, evil monster they must defeat in order to leave. The battle is vicious, frightening, and ultimately successful. While reading the first book is not mandatory, it would be helpful just to know the characters and their backgrounds (which are only slightly reviewed.) In addition, there are a lot of loose...