It's starting to get cold outside, and you know what that means—curling up on the couch and snuggling into a new book. In honor of Jewish Book Month, we found some great new releases, along with a few other reads you might have missed this summer, and asked our JVibe Teen Advisory Board members to check them out for you. They've come back with thumbs up for these 16 fabulous finds, so get yourself to a library or bookstore and get your hands on a copy or two. Or enter to win one of each here.

NEW RELEASES

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Release date: September 30, 2008

Paris—occupied France. It was the summer of 1942. Thousands of Jewish families were rounded up and packed into a tent for days with no food or water, little Sarah and her parents included. The French police had come for her family in the middle of the night. She had cleverly locked her younger brother in a cabinet so the policemen wouldn't find him, promising she'd be back to get him soon. And with the key to that cupboard, Sarah left the house, not to return for a long time.

Sixty years later, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist, was assigned to investigate the happenings of the French roundup of Jews during the Holocaust. Julia's research leads her to a trail of uncovered family secrets that links her to Sarah's past and leads her to question her own future.

In Sarah's Key, Tatiana de Rosnay makes you laugh and cry and everything in between. You actually feel the tragedy of loss, the joy of birth, the stress of conflict and the calm of peace. You'll get choked up to read of mothers having their children torn from their arms as they are sent away to Auschwitz. Your heart will race as you cheer on the little girls attempting to escape from the camps. And you'll chuckle at a spunky teenager who sees life as one big adventure. This book will leave a deep impression on you, and after reading it, you'll appreciate life as you never have.
—Tova Simenowitz, 17, Baltimore, Md.

Losers by Matthue Roth
Release date: October 1, 2008

Are you a loser? It all depends on your definition.

In Matthue Roth's new book, Losers, this very concept is challenged. The short read follows Jupiter Glazer, a freshman from an immigrant family, through the beginning of high school. He starts out as a pretty average kid, but always feels like a weirdo. He actually is pretty normal, except for living in a factory building, listening to funky music and hanging out with math nerds. Slowly, he opens his social circle and discovers a secret haven downtown. He escapes factory life by fleeing to local hipster spots.

The book manages without a lot of plot or adventure to keep readers glued by simply detailing daily life for an almost-normal teen. Glazer's character is relatable because of his awkwardness but fascinating because of his daily escapades. In a quest to reach out, Jupiter spends his days at local coffee shops and record stores. At one point, the quirky character even winds up at a gay club with his worst-enemy-turned-friend.

Instead of being trapped by his parents' boring work life, Jupiter Glazer explores every corner of his little world to live spontaneously and find himself. It seems that Jupiter's status rises noticeably by the end of the book, but really, it's his confidence that changes rather than his surroundings. What defines being a “loser” isn't an environment, but an attitude.
—Elizabeth Kirshner, 14, Oak Park, Mich.

The Men Who Tried to Kill Hitler by Roger Manvell and Heinrich Fraenkel
Release date: October 6, 2008

What would have happened if Hitler had been assassinated? The Men Who Tried to Kill Hitler by Roger Manvell and Heinrich Fraenkel asks exactly this. A thrilling tale of army officer Stauffenberg's tragic failed attempt on Hitler's life, it's filled with suspense and intensity and will have you on the edge of your seat as you venture further into Hitler's bunker and even into Nazi discussions on strategy.

If you like reading about World War II, you'll fall in love with this book. Although it's probably not for younger readers, it contains well-written and accurate accounts of two men hell-bent on killing Hitler. I was instantly drawn in with all the suspense that seemed to devour me. It was as if they were prolonging the inevitable, wanting to play out everything that had happened. And although I already knew the outcome, it felt like I was hearing the story for the first time. The funny thing is that I've never been into historical stories … until now.

I'm pretty sure anyone who reads this will never forget it. It's that good! I will warn you that it's a little difficult to read at times, and in the beginning the pace is a little slow, but it's worth it. It's a one-of-a-kind story that will open up a new view on World War II and the Nazi regime.
— Heather Reinblatt, 15, Ocala, Fla.

The Day After He Left for Iraq: A Story of Love, Family, and Reunion by Melissa Seligman
Release date: October 6, 2008

Jewish author Melissa Seligman gives readers a revealing look into the lives of military families in The Day After He Left for Iraq, a memoir about her struggles as an Army wife. Seligman honestly describes her feelings of anger and despair as she deals with her husband, David's, deployment. She is left at home with her newborn son and 22-month-old daughter, not knowing if David will ever return.

While David is away, Seligman sadly watches her daughter refer to every uniformed man as “daddy.” As a single mom, she creates a solid life for her children, yet she struggles to accommodate David into her life when he returns from the war. She tries to help him with his own post-war issues, but can't deny her own feelings of jealousy as she watches him play with the children she raised for months on her own.

While reading the book I wanted to cry for Seligman and the difficulties she endures. I felt as if I were experiencing her pain as she dealt with temper tantrums and wondered if her son would ever know his father. I also felt happiness and hope as Seligman described her unwavering love for her husband and children.

As the war in Iraq continues, there are an increasing number of families who can relate to Seligman. Yet even if readers have never been touched by the war, Seligman's book will inevitably give them a new insight into the struggles of military families.
—Rachel Leamon, 20, Boston, Mass.

My Jesus Year: A Rabbi's Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith by Benyamin Cohen
Release date: October 7, 2008

Growing up, Benyamin Cohen was told he would have a bar mitzvah and that he shouldn't have serious relationships with the opposite sex. He should marry a “nice Jewish girl” and keep Shabbat. This may sound familiar to some young Jews out there! But it wasn't until he explored Jesus that he was able to feel confident in his religion.

My Jesus Year attracts readers with its catchy title that doesn't falsely advertise a book about self-discovery, religious rebellion and Bible-Belting misadventures. Cohen tells his story starting with his first Jewish experience: his bris. He tells of his young adulthood punctuated by the metro dating scene on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, temptation for Friday-night television and later, a trip through the Bible Belt. The honesty that Cohen brings to the story about his questionings of faith and yearning are to be admired, as readers find themselves chiming in and laughing out loud.

Looking at the cover of the novel, it's hard not to “judge the book by its cover” because staring back at you is an image of the big “J” himself. Readers will at first be curious as to how the son of a rabbi from Atlanta explored Jesus, and why. But Cohen will take you past the cover and the title when he tells you throughout the story how his somewhat cynical views of Judaism became more meaningful.

In Cohen's description of Elizabeth, his wife, and her discovery of Judaism, he mentions the term bashert—the Jewish idea of fate and “meant to be.” Although the term refers mostly to soul mates, it also applies to Cohen's religious discovery as he eventually finds faith. Growing up in an Orthodox home, he cites rules about Judaism enforced by his father as overbearing and even mechanical. Perhaps the reason Cohen has seen popularity with this book is that his message is universal. Many question their faith, but few do something so elaborate about it. Jews and non-Jews alike will find something in Cohen's sense of humor and take away something meaningful from his journey. Christians can discover ways to make religion a little livelier, and Jews can explore ways in which Jesus can make you a better Jew.
—Samantha Tuchfeld, 20, Binghamton, N.Y.

Unsettled: The Problem of Loving Israel by Marc Aronson
Release date: October 21, 2008

I've heard about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since I started Sunday school, but too often it has been hard to sift through the news. Why do we support Israel? I've always tried looking for an easy answer, but until I read Unsettled by Marc Aronson, I could never find it.

Aronson takes a look at Israel in a way that few journalists have the courage to do. From “What is Israel?” to “Can Israel Occupy Conquered Lands and Be True to Its Ideals?” Aronson explains the answers to questions that young adults want to know but have never asked. Best of all, he does so in a way that's easy to understand. While he certainly holds a bias in his answers, it's almost nice to hear someone else's take on the issues so I could form my own opinions. Although I visited Israel this summer, reading Unsettled has helped me become more aware of the situation in Israel through someone else's eyes.
—Gabbi Baker, 17, Columbia, S.C.

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
Release date: November 1, 2008

Combine a 1950s movie, a few ex-soldiers with hidden pasts and some O.C.-esque boy drama, and you have What I Saw and How I Lied. What this racy little novel lacks in prose it makes up in plotline. Evie Spooner feels she’s average in every way. She has never asked for much attention and cares about pleasing her mother more than anyone else. When her stepfather, Joe, decides to relocate the family to Florida for awhile, Evie isn’t expecting much to change. Then she meets Peter Coleridge, the perfect, albeit much older, gentleman. She falls in love, but not without complications.

The Le Mirage Hotel holds a whole host of characters that come between Peter and Evie. From the seemingly kind Mrs. Grayson to her stepfather, who hides his secret past with Peter from the rest of the family, Evie gets herself into quite a tangle. In the novel, Evie’s family meets the Graysons, a Jewish couple. But when the hotel owner discovers they’re Jewish, he kicks them out, thwarting the business plan that Joe and Mr. Grayson were about to embark on.

Afterward, Peter accompanies Evie’s parents on a boat trip, even though a dangerous hurricane is expected to hit within days, if not hours. The hurricane strikes, leaving Evie confused and alone, with no idea where her parents or boyfriend are. Her parents are eventually found, but Peter dies in the storm. While Evie is dealing with the tragedy, the West Palm Beach police are investigating the situation and charging Evie’s parents with murder. The trial is by far the best part of this book. Among the wreckage and tragedy, Evie is forced to re-examine both herself and her family. She battles between family loyalty and telling the truth as those around her weave a web of lies she can barely understand. This novel is a perfect quick read this fall.
—Tammy Ellenhorn, 18, Bellevue, Wash.

SUMMER RELEASES (It's never too late!)

The Jews of Sing Sing by Ron Arons
Release date: June 1, 2008

Ever wonder about Jews' involvement in crime? How many Jews have served some time? What offenses they committed to earn themselves a stay in the pen?

Ron Arons wondered these things while doing family research to create a genealogical tree. His findings revealed that his great-grandfather had gone by three different names, three places of residence and three different places of birth. Further research shed some light on these mysteries but also uncovered a hidden family secret—as it turned out, his great-grandfather had served time in one of America's most well-known prisons: Sing Sing. Instead of being satisfied with his discovery and moving on, Arons was intrigued by the thought of Jewish prisoners and went on to do research about all the Jews who were imprisoned at Sing Sing. His book, The Jews of Sing Sing, is a compilation of what he learned.

Arons tells the stories of a few Jewish prisoners who had “done a stretch” in Sing Sing. He also provides little-known information about famous Jewish gangsters. Read about High Holiday services in jail, the inmates building a sukkah that was blown down and the government dealing with the issue of whether to allow matzah to be served to the convicts during Passover. This book is informative and will teach you a lot about jails, sentences and the legal system as a whole. But have no fear; there's nothing boring about this book. You'll find the crimes to be most entertaining, especially when you read transcriptions of what some of these crooks admitted and what they didn't confess in court! The Jews of Sing Sing is a great read that will educate you and keep you fascinated at the same time!
—Tova Simenowitz, 17, Baltimore, Md.

The Last Jews of Kerala by Edna Fernandes
Release date: June 1, 2008

After the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, Jews scattered across the globe. New communities formed, families vastly grew in size and distant lands met Jews for the first time. Many Jews flocked to a tropical land in southwest India called Kerala. Upon their arrival, the rajas of Kerala treated the new Jewish settlers as foreign kings, showering them with land and praise. Soon, many of the new settlers gained political influence among the communities and prospered economically.  

Despite their many advantages, the Jews of Kerala indulged in an internal feud. The Black Jews of Ernakulam and the white Jews of Mattancherry were divided by racism and fought over who had arrived first in their tropical paradise. Instead of leaving their differences behind, the tensions between both groups fueled hundreds of years of conflict, resulting in present-day Kerala, which now has less than 50 Jews total. Instead of persecution, foreign invasion or war as their reason of demise, the Jews of Kerala destroyed themselves.  

If you're interested in ancient civilizations, Jewish culture or history, this is the perfect book for you. While reading, don't hesitate to ask yourself questions: How could the conflict have been resolved? If the civilization were to prosper rather than decline, would they have made a dominant impact on modern Judaism? Constantly ask yourself questions, for they can lead you on the road to discovery.
—Evan Kline, 16, Memphis, Tenn.

Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America by Gustav Niebuhr
Release date: July 31, 2008

Beyond Tolerance by Gustav Niebuhr, a former New York Times religion reporter, is a book about how different religions relate to one another. Throughout this book, Niebuhr describes how each religion has similar interpretations and traditions. For example, he compares Christianity to Judaism and all the struggles the religions have gone through to be where each one is today. He also goes into some of the war aspects in Israel and how struggles like it can drive religions further apart. The author shows how we can all learn from one another instead of being enraged and criticizing others' beliefs.

This book makes a significant contribution to the effort of bringing people together. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in learning about how religions relate to one another and how you can make a contribution to furthering religious tolerance.
—Dara Zaintz, 18, Boca Raton, Fla.

Nothing by Robin Friedman
Release date: August 1, 2008

Teenagers. College. Hooking up. Girlfriends. Teen tzedakah projects. Youth group. AP classes. Sisters. Best friends. College consultants. Getting into college. Newspapers. Poetry. Temple life. The Jewish National Fund. Parties. Senior sex symbols. Minyan. Breast cancer. Secrets. Bulimia. Big Brothers Big Sisters. Make-A-Wish Foundation. Key Club. National Honor Society. Student council. Peer pressure. Parent pressure. Life pressure. Life.

Nothing.

This is high school; this is Nothing . Nothing has got to be one of the best books I've ever read. I literally couldn't put this book down! It begins with one story from two different perspectives. In doing so, it creates a sense of the reader being in the story. Nothing begins with a boy who's sick and throwing up, but then progresses to tell the story of bulimia. The book hones in on topics that teens can relate to on a daily basis—and with a Jewish perspective.

First, you see the struggle of one person to survive. He fights for girlfriends, food, grades and even love from his father. You also see the way his sister feels about the situation. You see her struggle with being the younger sister and not being accepted in the family. When I read Nothing, I was interested in every single word on every page. There were things I wasn't even expecting to happen, and even twists had other twists! Life is about the changes that happen around you and how you react to those changes. Nothing deals with those changes in a new and interesting way.
—Mike Lebowitz, 15, Wellington, Fla.

Dough: A Memoir by Mort Zachter
Release date: August 5, 2008

It was 1926 when one Jewish-Russian family's quest for the American dream began in a bakery on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. This tale belongs to Mort Zachter, the author of Dough: A Memoir. This is Mort Zachter's real saga about his own life. Generations after his family first began the bakery, he was in his parents' Brooklyn tenement when a phone call changed his life. He was surprised to learn that his uncle made him heir to millions of dollars in bonds. His uncles and grandparents had owned the family bakery, but no one had appeared to be wealthy. So no longer did Mort have to worry about paying bills, which gave him the freedom to write this memoir and get through Brooklyn Law School without struggling as he did previously.   

A big part of this book focuses on the lifecycle from the birth of Mort's kids to the death of his uncle who had made him financially set for life. In essence, Dough also gives a shout-out to the Jewish New Yorker and the concept of how to live life to its fullest even in the shadows of death.

Personally, I feel this book is a bit overly Jewish. I'm all for letting your Jew-flag fly high, but I don't think the book will appeal to mainstream audiences as much because it goes into intricate Jewish-insider details. But I applaud Mort Zachter for breaking the stereotype in many books that depict Jews who are very rich and forget their roots or are victims of hate crimes. Dough exemplifies the conquest of the American dream.
—Michele Pinczuk, 15, Silver Spring, Md.

Holding My Breath by Sidura Ludwig
Release date: August 5, 2008

Sidura Ludwig's compelling debut novel, Holding My Breath, tells the story of Beth Levy's search for truth and understanding through piecing together stories and conversations she's heard about her family's past and allowing her imagination to fill in the missing spaces.

Born into a post-war Jewish community in Winnipeg, Canada, Beth is surrounded by taboo subjects, such as the death of her Uncle Paul and her Aunt Carrie's arbitrary disappearance around her fourth birthday. Beth spends the novel fabricating her family's past, but it's only when she gets older that she finally understands and accepts her history.

Set in the 1950s and '60s, a time when feminism was evolving, the book exemplifies the strengths of four diverse women: Goldie, the mother and sister who's always striving for acceptance from the community; Carrie, the quiet and knowledgeable sister who allows her unfortunate past to dictate her lonely future; ambitious, vibrant and rebellious Sarah, whose life dream is to leave Winnipeg and become a singer; and Beth, our narrator.

The novel is dramatic, constantly leaving readers on edge. Ludwig does an excellent job in portraying the life of the Jewish community in Winnipeg, allowing readers to paint a vivid picture in their minds. The novel is touching and evokes emotions in those who can relate to Beth's story.
—Mandy Cohen, 19, London, England

Duck Duck Wally by Gabe Rotter
Release date: August 19, 2008

It's hard not to love Wally Moscowitz from page one. A schlumpy 31-year-old Jewish guy with an insatiable love for double-bacon cheeseburgers, Wally's life should be extraordinarily mundane. But his perfect memory for pop culture and knack for writing hilarious gangster-style raps has earned him a job as ghostwriter for Godz-illa Records' star performer, Oral B. Threatened with life and limb if he divulges his real profession, Wally must hide his wealth and pretend to be an administrative assistant by day while working on his dream of becoming a published author of XXX-rated nursery rhymes for adults by night.

Life is plopping along as usual when Wally returns home one afternoon to find that his beloved obese bulldog, Dr. Barry Schwarzman, has been dognapped. As the hunt for the dog begins, everyone becomes a suspect—from Wally's cold and distant girlfriend, Sue Schadenfreude, who makes her living massaging the pampered hides of celebrity canines, to Oral B's entourage, Yo Yo Pa and Teddy Bizzle, to the mysterious mob crew, Five-Two Lou, Six-Seven Kevin and Balsamic Vinny. From his run-ins with little Asian men wearing neon trucker hats to his freestyle rap battles with a rap artist “as dumb as a bag of Cheese Doodles,” life is anything but boring for this “frumpy putz with a story to tell.”
—Mara Hahn, 15, Lenoir City, Tenn.

Just Say Nu: Yiddish for Every Occasion (When English Just Won't Do) by Michael Wex
Release date: September 9, 2008

Within this book are many contexts for Yiddish words and expressions. Michael Wex is the author of another book having to do with Yiddish speaking, Born to Kvetch, which is about the cultural history of the Yiddish language. Now, in Just Say Nu, Wex shows just how handy the Yiddish language is in everyday society. This book is kind of like an instruction manual for some of the most commonly used phrases and also presents drawings of a man and woman with body parts labeled in Yiddish.

This guide to Yiddish is split into many sections, including meeting and greeting, food and drink, family life, health and illness and love and sex. Personally, I think that by reading this book I picked up a bit of the Yiddish language, but will still need some practice using the phrases. Anyone who's interested in learning Yiddish or likes linguistics should read this book.
—Dara Zaintz, 18, Boca Raton, Fla.

War Is...: Soldiers, Survivors, and Storytellers Talk About War by Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell
Release date: September 9, 2008

Is war really necessary for a society to continue? Is war inevitable? Why does war have to be so cruel? Many of these questions are answered by Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell in their book about the origins of war and how dangerous our world is, as told by soldiers, survivors and civilians who have all experienced war firsthand.

War Is… is a thought-provoking compilation written by two editors with distinguished viewpoints on war and politics. Every young American should read War is…, especially before they consider joining the military.

Aronson thinks war is unavoidable, but Campbell declares war brutal, misleading and immoral. In spite of their drastic variations in opinion, they both agree on one thing: teens need to hear the voices of those who have experienced war firsthand. The result is a vibrant selection of essays, memoirs, letters and fictional excerpts from numerous sources. It includes works from Mark Twain, Bob Dylan, Chris Hedges and Ernie Pyle, and letters and documents written by today's soldiers, including those from World War I through Iraq. These conflicting pieces look war straight in the face and provide a priceless resource for today's teenagers.
—Caitlyn Silvey, 17, Debary, Fla.