  | Dreidels on the brain Author: ben Izzy, Joel | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
As he tries to survive Hannukah, 1971 in the suburbs of Los Angeles, middle-school magician Joel learns to appreciate life's small miracles with the help of an unusual stranger he meets on a bus.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 5.00 Points: 11.0 Quiz: 186707 |
Reviews:
Booklist (11/15/16)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/15/2016 The year 1971 is near its end, and Joel—middle-schooler, amateur magician, and youngest of three brothers—doesn’t have high hopes for Hanukkah this year. Joel and his brothers have never really gotten presents, as both their parents have medical issues that keep finances tight. Plus, Joel’s one of the only Jewish kids at his school in an L.A. suburb, so everything is Christmas-themed anyway. Joel’s not even sure how much of his religion he believes, so he decides to use the eight days of Hanukkah to ask God for a little proof. With his father’s illness worsening and a humiliating school assembly looming, what else can Joel do but wish for a miracle? The plot, madcap to begin with, sometimes veers entirely off the rails, but Joel’s witty, tongue-in-cheek narration will keep readers turning the pages. Loosely autobiographical and packed with anecdotes about Jewish culture and Hanukkah history, this never-didactic tale is a welcome addition to the canon of holiday stories. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.
