By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

“Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop” 

Time loops have become a popular literary device, one that allows writers to explore how their characters would react if forced to live the same day or weekend or week over and over and over again. This is the premise behind “Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop” by Joshua S. Levy (Katherine Tegen Books), during which Finn and Ezra relive their bar mitzvah weekends a mind-numbing number of times.
However, just as in his previous novel “The Jake Show,” Levy is also interested in the differences between secular and religious families. (To read The Reporter review of “The Jake Show,” visit https://www.thereportergroup.org/book-reviews/off-the-shelf-great-gifts-for-hanukkah-books-for-tweensteens.) Ezra, whose family is Orthodox, feels lost and unseen as the middle child of five children. The Shabbat of his bar mitzvah is filled with family fights and unpleasant events, including a grumpy member of the synagogue who complains about his voice each and every repeat of the weekend. The time loop lasts until Sunday afternoon when the party celebrating his bar mitzvah is being held, after which Ezra once again returns to Friday morning. He despairs of finding a way out – that is, until, during the party, Finn signals him that they need to meet.
Finn, whose family is secular, is also stuck in the same time loop. An only child, Finn loves his parents, but sometimes their strong focus on him feels overwhelming. It doesn’t help that he has few friends, with those who attend his party noting they were only there because their parents made them come. When Finn and Ezra meet and realize that they are stuck in the same time loop, they look for ways to restore order in the world, which is not as easy as they expect. However, that doesn’t stop them from trying every method they can think of to stop the endless repeat of time.
“Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop” does an excellent job combining humor and serious topics. At first, Finn and Ezra almost speak different languages with Ezra being completely unfamiliar with Finn’s references to contemporary American culture. Finn, on the other hand, has little knowledge of the Orthodox Jewish customs that limit Ezra’s life. Underlying the story are the lessons that both need to learn. Levy has produced another excellent work for tween readers, one adults may also enjoy. 

“Right Back at You”

Another literary device is the epistolary novel, a novel told completely in letters. However, Carolyn Mackler adds an additional twist in her “Right Back at You” (Scholastic Press): the letters Mason writes in 2023 and places in his closet in New York City magically appear in the closet of a girl named Talia, who lives in Pennsylvania in 1987. The two characters face some similar problems: Mason’s parents seem to be splitting up and his mood is not helped by being bullied at school. Talia, who is Jewish, faces antisemitism that is ignored by her teachers and her former friend. 
Mason wrote his first letter to the late Albert Einstein as part of an exercise suggested by his therapist and thinks Talia’s answer is a hoax, although he can’t figure out how anyone could get into his closet. However, these two lonely teens continue to write to each other and bond. There are funny moments when Mason speaks about computers, Google and cell phones, things that make no sense to Talia. There are also moving moments as the two realize the adults who should be helping them aren’t always willing to step out of their own comfort zones, and that sometimes bullies will remain bullies. The novel’s ending is wonderful and will leave readers happy and teary at the same time.
“Neshama”
An increasing number of novels for tweens are being written as prose poetry. When used properly, it can add mood and meaning to a story. That is true for Marcella Pixley’s sweet and moving “Neshama” (Candlewick Press). Anna is an unusual tween: she sees and can speak to ghosts. That makes her stand out at the school: other students make fun of the way she seems to live in her own world. Anna also wonders why her father doesn’t want to celebrate Shabbat: they only observe the day when her grandmother comes to visit. It’s not because her mother is Lutheran because she loves “the flavors” of Judaism and would be happy for them to note the day. 
After Anna’s father burns the journal where she wrote about her contact with ghosts, Anna begins to spend weekends with her grandmother. There she learns about her late Aunt Ruthie, who also saw spirits and ghosts. Ruthie’s death changed Anna’s father, who wants nothing to do with ghosts or his religion. However, meeting Ruthie’s ghost helps Anna not only understand her father’s pain, but that of the children at school who make fun of her. 
Readers don’t have to believe in ghosts to appreciate the beautiful writing offered in “Neshama” and the way Anna comes to understand the joy and pain the world offers. The prose poetry is easy to read and readers may find themselves pausing at times to admire a beautiful turn of phrase. Anna is a wonderful character and it was a pleasure to watch her not only grow in understanding, but discover the true meaning of compassion.
“Mendel the Mess-Up”
What is poor Mendel, the main character in Terry LaBan’s graphic novel “Mendel The Mess-Up” (Holiday House), to do? He was cursed before birth so that everything he does comes out wrong. Normally that just means crashing into people and objects, or causing a fire when he tries to set the dinner table. His curse takes a darker tune when Cossacks threaten the Jewish village in which he lives. His attempts to save the village backfire and the opening scene shows him being threatened by wolves, which would be bad enough, except for the Cossack who is trying to use him to discover where the other villagers are hidden.
While this might make the novel sound very serious, it’s actually a funny work that contains a convoluted plot featuring the reason behind Mendel’s curse and his attempts to escape the Cossacks. Parts of it are decidedly silly and may remind readers of stories about Chelm, although most of the villagers are not Chelm-like. The Cossacks are menacing, but not as scary as real life ones. By the graphic novel’s end, Mendel learns that messing up sometimes does not mean that one will mess up all the time. In fact, he even helped save his village, although by some unusual means.

“Elsa’s Chessboard”

Jenny Andrus seeks to honor her grandmother in the picture book “Elsa’s Chessboard” with illustrations by Julie Downing (Neal Porter Books). In the early part of the 20th century, Elsa watched her brothers play chess and soon became enamored with the game, receiving her own chess set when she was 10. Elsa even met her husband through their mutual interest in chess. They carried the chess set with them when they and their children escaped from Europe during the 1930s. Years later, Elsa’s grandchildren showed no interest in learning chess and the chess set was misplaced. It is her great-grandson who accidentally finds the set and asks her to teach him the game.
“Elsa’s Chessboard” is a charming story that clearly was a labor of love for the author. The book ends with more information about Elsa’s life and includes guidance for those interested in learning more about chess. 

“More Than Enough”

Teaching children about the concept of tzedakah can be difficult because its meaning does not conform to the English word charity. “More Than Enough: Inspired by Maimonides’s Golden Ladder of Giving,” written by Richard Michelson and illustrated by Joe Cepeda (Peachtree), helps children understand the true meaning of the word. That includes learning not to judge others by how they look and that helping someone now may mean that later they might become self-supporting. The book also emphasizes how giving should be done for its own sake, rather than expecting thanks.
Parents will want to discuss what the main character learns with their children in order to help them develop a better understanding of tzedakah. The work concludes with a discussion of the “Golden Ladder of Giving” for those unfamiliar with the concept. 

“Shabbat Shalom”

Parents looking to introduce their toddler to the idea of Shabbat should find Suzy Ultman’s board book “Shabbat Shalom: Let’s Rest and Reset” (Rise + Penguin’s Workshop) extremely helpful. The text is simple, but well done, noting the ways that “doing” during the week differs from just “being” on Shabbat. It also introduces such concepts as togetherness with family, friends and community during the day, while also reminding readers (parents and children) that sometimes being alone is the rest one needs. The sweet drawing compliment the text, showing, for example, the different foods and rituals of the day. This would be an excellent baby gift for new parents or a great gift for the children of a relative or friend.