Searching for that great summer read? Your quest ends here. Reviewed especially for you by members of the JVibe Teen Advisory Board, these 17 books will keep you entertained, intellectually stimulated and wanting more. And don’t worry—if you do get through all 17, there are 10 more book reviews in the July/August 2008 Love/Sex issue of the print magazine (coming soon!), so check those out too! You can also enter to win a copy of all the books featured here.
Leave the Building Quickly: True Stories by Cynthia Kaplan
Leave the Building Quickly is not only a heartfelt memoir—it’s a hysterical page-turner. From describing the trials and tribulations of hitting a deer and explaining to your kids that it was, in fact, the deer that hit the car to having a not-so-fun Disney Cruise (which, despite popular belief, is apparently possible), Cynthia Kaplan’s hysterical stories made me crack up. And even with the comedy, I was deeply affected when the author told of her beloved friend and fellow comedian/actor who had passed away from cancer. I really felt like I was right there with her. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who’s in the mood for a good laugh and moving read.
—Mike Lebowitz, 15, Wellington, Fla.
The Cure for Grief: A Novel by Nellie Hermann
I have never been to Bass Harbor, Maine, or the concentration camps in Czechoslovakia, but novelist Nellie Hermann made me feel as if I had endured the cold, windy winters of Maine, the safety of home in Massachusetts
and the emotional walk through the large, daunting gates of barbed-wire fence into a concentration camp.
Being forced to live in intensely harsh conditions under Nazi officers’ control many years before led to the transformation from stories of terror in Terezin to the mystical footsteps of Jewish refugees, as 9-year-old Ruby Bronstein travels the same path her father had taken only years earlier. The novel centers around Ruby, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. The story details Ruby’s prayers for health, her family’s daily struggles and her move to a new school, all while intertwining deep questioning of faith in God and humanity.
The Cure for Grief is filled with interesting characters, like Ruby’s brothers, Nathan, Abe and Aaron, and father, the leader of the tightly knit Bronstein family. But Ruby is the reason I loved this book—not only does she make me see things that she sees, she makes me feel things that she feels.
The lives of Ruby and her three older brothers are touched by drastic occurrences—medical disasters and death—but also by many moving and meaningful coming-of-age events involving close friendships, early romances and the question of Jewish identity.
—Caitlyn Silvey, 16, Debary, Fla.
This book will be in stores starting Aug. 5, 2008. Win a free copy!
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: A Jewish Family’s Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World by Lucette Lagnado
Lucette Lagnado’s The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit is both a remarkable memoir and a lesson in history that details the life of an established Jewish family living in Cairo that ultimately has to leave. With an even pace and a thoughtful tone, Lagnado transports the reader along the family’s journey, from her parents’ marriage to the family’s exodus out of Egypt and ultimately coming to America.
In an effectively subtle way, she evokes the country’s pre-King Nasser cosmopolitan character, quoting her family’s dialogue directly in their native French and alluding often to the various languages spoken in the community. Tracing the rise and rule of King Nasser, Lagnado marks the family’s drama alongside that of the country and Jewish community under his rule, providing a vivid look into history through the lens of her own experience as a young Egyptian-Jewish girl. On the whole, this is a tale of the struggles, joys and triumphs that defined both a family and a people. Promising deeply felt emotion and a compelling sense of history, Lagnado’s graceful memoir imparts a moving story of prejudice and perseverance that will touch all who read it.
—Shira Papir, 16, North Miami Beach, Fla.
The Septembers of Shiraz: A Novel by Dalia Sofer
A history lesson without the boring lecture, The Septembers of Shiraz is an intense story about a family’s struggle in post-revolutionary Iran. Knowing nothing about the Iranian Revolution, I found this book to be highly informative. Its heartbreaking descriptions of the suffering
of innocent prisoners helped me understand the chaos that filled Iranian citizens with fear. The book can be confusing because of the multiple protagonists and shifts in perspectives, but after a few chapters I learned who each character was and appreciated the distinct views that allowed me to see various ways in which a family dealt with the turmoil in Iran.
The contrast of the son, Parvitz, living with Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn, to the father, Isaac, imprisoned by Iranian Muslims, was extremely interesting. Isaac’s jail experience is a powerful and graphic part of the book, showing the disgusting living situations and the severe torture that prisoners endured. Isaac is arrested simply because he is a Jew and is wealthy—two things that make him look suspicious to the Iranian government. His innocence makes his painful solitude in jail even more horrible for his family. Isaac’s daughter’s efforts to keep other innocent civilians out of jail is inspiring, especially since she’s only 9 years old. After finishing this book, I sat in awe, thinking about how strong people had to be to live in a country in which, at any moment, their friends or family could be arrested and killed. This is not a fluffy beach read, but I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an emotional, exciting book.
—Rachel Leamon, 19, Swampscott, Mass.
The Story of Yiddish: How a Mish-Mosh of Languages Saved the Jews by Neal Karlen
What is the story of Yiddish? Neal Karlen attempts to answer this question in his humorous new book, The Story of Yiddish. I read the
book hoping to learn about another time, but it was different from what I had expected. Karlen doesn’t define language through time—he defines time through language. In the first chapter, Karlen clarifies his intention that the book can be read “out of order, by pages, paragraphs, or sentences.” I found Karlen’s assertion to be true because, much like Yiddish itself, each sentence is rich with irony and insights.
Not possessing a knack for new languages, even I was able to learn a lot about this one. I learned that just like Eskimos have over 100 words to define “snow,” Jews have many words to describe “failure.” In his book, Karlen has the rare ability to help you learn while leaving you laughing. The Story of Yiddish is a great summer read!
—Emily Kane, 16, Greensboro, N.C.
You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn
Sarcastic, depressed and angry, Miles is the surprisingly lovable protagonist in Rachel Cohn’s You Know Where to
Find Me. Miles’ cousin and best friend, Laura, commits suicide, leaving Miles to grieve alone. Even though the subject is depressing, Miles’ hilariously sarcastic narration lightens up the book and saves it from becoming a complete downer. I found myself thinking I knew Miles and felt connected to her. I rooted for her to break free from her drug use and depression that intensifies after Laura’s death. Miles becomes isolated from the world that completely confuses her, numbing her pain with food and pills.
Anyone who has ever experienced loss can relate to Miles’ feelings. Her actions made me feel incredibly sad, but I couldn’t stop reading. I felt so close to Miles, as if I was reading her diary, and I needed to make sure she wouldn’t stay depressed forever. The struggles that Laura’s father and friends went through were described so realistically that I often forgot I was reading a fiction book. The important, serious topic of loss and the relatable characters make this powerful book a must-read.
—Rachel Leamon, 19, Swampscott, Mass.
Fat Envelope Frenzy: One Year, Five Promising Students, and the Pursuit of the Ivy League Prize by Joie Jager-Hyman
“Where are you going to college?” seems to be the dreaded question for every rising senior, especially as they find themselves in the midst of picking and choosing which colleges to apply to. In Fat Envelope Frenzy, however, Joie Jager-Hyman takes the college process to the next level. By following five extremely bright students on their journey applying to Harvard, along with other prestigious universities, Jager-Hyman shows that among today’s students, academic achievement isn’t all that counts. As a rising senior myself, I was eager to learn more about each of the students in the book because I could relate to some of them. I felt as if I was experiencing the process right along with them.
I found myself turning page after page anxiously, waiting to see if Marlene, the smart, low-income student, would get into Harvard, or if Andrew, the New Orleans Jesuit schoolboy, would have the grades for the George Washington Scholarship at Washington and Lee. Each student brought something new to the table, and while I was reading their stories, I was helping prepare myself for the process that lies ahead.
—Gabbi Baker, 17, Columbia, S.C.
Click!: The Girl’s Guide to Knowing What You Want and Making It Happen by Annabel Monaghan and Elisabeth Wolfe
Click! by Annabel Monaghan and Elisabeth Wolfe is a fantastic book. It discusses the benefits of being positive and how you can achieve 
that attitude. It’s not just about changing how others perceive you; Click! helps you change how you think. I really enjoyed how all of the examples are real-life situations that were easy for me to relate to. I was surprised at how you can slightly alter your perspective regarding a certain matter and in turn get an entirely different outcome.
At the beginning of every chapter, there’s a quiz you can take that evaluates your relationship with your parents, social life, academics, etc., and this really helped me highlight both my strengths and weaknesses, thereby helping me understand what I need to work on. The book also has a daily journal in the back where you can start to alter your outlook on life one day at a time. The format of the book made it a fast, easy and enjoyable read.
I recommend this book to every teenage girl. Even those who already have the most positive attitudes can still gain a lot from reading it. The message the authors are trying to send is extremely important and relevant to adolescent girls. Click! would make a great graduation gift, as it helps you realize what you want out of life and how to get it. So order it for you and your friends because it will help “make everything in your life click!”
—Tova Simenowitz, 16, East Longmeadow, Mass.
Lady Lazarus by Andrew Foster Altschul
Written in the style of an actual biography, complete with citations to real magazines and newspapers, Lady Lazarus tells the story of
Calliope Bird Morath, daughter of a rock star said to have killed himself, on her soul-searching quest for the truth about her father’s death. Much like the Sylvia Plath poem with which the novel shares its title, the story is about rebirth.
Eventually Calliope emerges to her own level of fame as “Death Artist,” a poet obsessed with death and morose topics. The poetry in the novel is powerful and yet subtle. I enjoyed how the author shows the reader “celebrity life” both through the eyes of an obsessed writer and from the perspective of Calliope herself. There were times when I pitied Calliope, who was forced by her father’s and then her own fame to endure the endless paparazzi cameras following her every move.
I would recommend this book, but check with your parents first since some of the language is a little colorful. Written with a touch of irony, it shows an interesting and complex part of our culture.
—Lily Nagy, 18, Portland, Ore.
Growing Up at Grossinger’s by Tania Grossinger
Little did I know, Growing Up at Grossinger’s by Tania Grossinger opened a piece of my family history that I
possibly never would have known about. The memoir follows a young Tania Grossinger as she sees the behind-the-scenes production of Grossinger’s Catskill Resort Hotel in the Catskill Mountains, near the town of Liberty, N.Y., and part of the Borscht Belt—the collection of summer resorts in the Catskills, which were popular for New York Jews at the holidays.
Upon finding the book lying around the house, my father informed me that when he was a kid, his family took seasonal trips to similar family camps. Who would have known? Furthermore, an even greater connection was that I spent a few days at Kutcher’s, another one of these camps, when my camp, Tel Yehudah, was flooded a few summers ago. It’s surprising how much an 18-year-old girl like me can have in common with a book about an 8-year-old girl in 1945. A relatable and truthful read, Growing Up at Grossinger’s is worth the summer neurons!
—Alanna Davis, 18, Raleigh, N.C.
Red: The Next Generation of American Writers—Teenage Girls—On What Fires Up Their Lives Today by Amy 
Goldwasser
The book Red is so cool. It was nice to have a book I enjoyed so much—I read it in about two days! I couldn’t put it down. It was similar to the Chicken Soup for the Soul collection but had its own style. I love how I could really relate to most of the stories. As a teenage girl, it’s often hard to express yourself truthfully with all the media and peer pressure out there, but Red helps you understand that you can be a teenage girl and be capable of anything, as long as you believe in yourself. It’s not always easy to fit in, that’s for sure, but Red lets you see that in any situation you’re in, there are other people out there like you—you’re not alone. I would definitely recommend the book to any teenage girl just trying to find her own place and be herself. It’s a great rainy day or beach book.
—Ariela Solomon, 14, Swampscott, Mass.
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti
A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti is a harrowing saga of an Israeli girl named Tal. While living in Jerusalem, she gives her brother a letter, stowed away inside a bottle, to launch into the Gaza Sea for someone to read and hopefully understand her angst about the Israeli-Arab conflict. However, her “message in the bottle” actually includes her email address to enable some sort of response. An Arab boy (aka “Gazaman”) becomes the recipient of Tal’s letter. Their relationship builds as they discuss life, love, loss and the situation at hand. As you read their emails back and forth, you understand how both sides deal with life in different yet similar ways. Personally, I believe A Bottle in the Gaza Sea represents how much we, as Jews, need to try to bring peace to our homeland. This book delivers a message of strength in times of loss.
—Michele Pinczuk, 14, Silver Spring, Md.
How Jesus Became Christian by Barrie Wilson
How Jesus Became Christian provides unique insights into the actual persona and beliefs of Jesus of Nazareth. The book corrected many misconceptions I had about early Christianity. It recounts that Jesus was, in fact, a devout Jew and wanted to simply preach commentary on Judaism as it stood in his lifetime, just like many other writers whose teachings contribute to the Tanach. It was Paul—having never met Jesus—who associated him as Christ and set the stage for Christianity to develop into what it is today—something completely separate from Judaism.
Paul’s movement isn’t what Jesus envisioned when he was preaching, and Wilson writes, “If [Jesus] were to return he’d probably be amazed…at what has been created in his name.” The book is profound and enhanced my views on contemporary religion. It’s part conspiracy theory, part theology thesis. The author is a professor and the book sometimes reads like a lecture, but the writing style is refreshingly inquisitive. I recommend it to anyone searching for a fresh look at the Jewish influence on Christianity.
—Greg Doolittle, 16, Fairfax, Va.
The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman
There’s certainly no shortage of books on teen drama, but some adolescent reading material is just different. The Year My Sister Got
Lucky’s pink façade may resemble past literary endeavors, but don’t let the girly touches fool you—this Aimee Friedman novel is like none other. The fiction book about the journey of two dancing sisters provides all the glamour and gossip of typical “chick lit” but with a more realistic, human touch. Though the events and reactions are slightly over-dramatized, the fast-paced and fashionable lives of Katie and Michaela Wilder are interesting to follow.
The resolution is sweet but not cavity-inducing, showing Friedman’s talent and skill for sculpting meaningful stories along with fun, chic details and dialogue. Friedman seems to be an expert at capturing regular happenings, such as making friends, flirting with boys and sibling relationships, with flair and descriptions that really resemble real-life thoughts and issues. Not only are the topics depicted accurately, Katie and Michaela’s problems are portrayed in a manner in which everyone can relate. For a fresh summer read with a little more substance, be sure to check out this book.
—Elizabeth Kirshner, 14, Oak Park, Mich.
What Your Mother Never Told You: A Survival Guide for Teenage Girls by Richard Dudum
Flipping through the book and reviewing its table of contents, I was a little hesitant. The topics were subjects that hadn’t really crossed my mind lately, and now that these issues had resurfaced, I was a little nervous! Not many people like to talk about sensitive subjects like confidence and self-esteem, manipulative boys and statistics about sex and drugs, including me. But when I started to read the book, I felt immediately at ease. Richard Dudum made it feel as if he were right there, trying to help me through the consequences of life.
His choice of words made him seem more like a friend than a parent. Though I must say that sometimes he was blunt—really blunt! He acknowledges this and said he needed to be blunt because these subjects aren’t necessarily easy to talk about. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend it because every girl needs to be aware of how to survive in this crazy world. If it helped me reach a better understanding of how life works, it will definitely help many girls out there who are struggling.
—Heather Reinblatt, 15, Ocala, Fla.
Golda by Elinor Burkett
Golda Meir is known for many things: She was prime minister of Israel during a time when women weren’t generally given leadership positions, she was an active Zionist and, on a more negative note, she’s known for her careless strategies during the Six Day War. In the
book Golda, author Elinor Burkett paints a slightly different picture. She paints a picture of a woman struggling for a Jewish homeland at the huge cost of her personal life and family. Honestly, this book didn’t really appeal to me because I felt it resembled a history book. But I think the real reason I didn’t enjoy it is because of my love of the archetypal hero fairytale.
I have always thought of Golda as being the quintessential feminist hero, and I loved that notion. In this book, Burkett’s portrayal of Golda shattered my vision of her as a hero. Though I still respect all that she accomplished for Israel, I was shocked at what it had cost her. Her kids were self-proclaimed orphans, her husband was neglected and she had two affairs under her belt and a temper like a thunderstorm. On top of that, she wasn’t even a feminist! It was interesting to read about how the women of the kibbutz mocked her for being too “soft” when she worked in the kitchen; she never fully gained respect from them. So though she was a great leader for the Jewish people, I didn’t love this portrayal of her.
—Sarah Gross, 18, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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