The Book of Dahlia
The Book of Dahlia by Elisa Albert is the saga of a young woman’s battle against aggressive terminal brain cancer. She reflects back on a life of Jewish day schools, college, wasted years of being high on pot while watching Terms of Endearment and opportunities that are gone forever. But Dahlia miraculously finds hope in this seemingly futile situation. The Book of Dahlia is accessible to all young adults—those fighting serious illnesses and those who are healthy. Albert captures precious moments that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.
—MICHELE PINCZUK

The Red Leather Diary
The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel is a modern take on the old diary style of books. It’s about a diary found in a New York Dumpster by a young journalist. The story is about the real events in the life of Florence Wolfson in the late ’20s and early ’30s. Koppel incorporates the diary entries into a story of this young girl in the incredible city of New York while also telling us a little about herself. Though the book looks long, it’s worth every page. It will make you feel like you’re in the 1920s, involved in the world of this young woman in her amazing city.
—MARISSA SNYDER

Brotherhood of Warriors
Aaron Cohen is definitely not your typical 18-yearold from Beverly Hills. Instead of going off to college or work like most American teens, he moves thousands of miles away to a place he has never been to join the army. Brotherhood of Warriors is Cohen’s story—the story of a Jewish-American teen’s journey to become an elite Israeli counterterrorist. His story taught me to fully appreciate the country of Israel. Before I read this book, I had no idea the extent of sacrifice that Israeli soldiers endure so the Jewish people can have a homeland in Israel.
—ALYSSA MANDEL

The Israelis
The Israelis by Donna Rosenthal is a vivid book that impressively succeeds in capturing the many cultures of Israel. It introduces the 6.8 million people and explains the stories of many Ashkenazim, Mizrahim, Russian and Ethiopian Israelis. It also captures the viewpoints of non-Jews, including Muslims, Bedouins, Druze and Christians. Even if you’ve visited Israel before, this book doesn’t fail to teach you something new when it comes to the unpredictable nature of the country, the army, dating and business. From the outside looking in, readers are able to experience these people’s views on marriage, polygamy, adultery and divorce. And it doesn’t leave out other topics, including homosexuality, hookers and hash.
—NICOLE SCHMIDT

We Are Quiet, We Are Loud
Every person has a story, and whose are better than teens’? We are known to be the moodiest, craziest and most expressive. This open spirit is captured in We Are Quiet, We Are Loud: The Best Young Writers and Artists in America, a book of short stories and poetry compiled by Jewish writer David Levithan. The stories are about issues that today’s youth face, like growing up, homosexuality, friendship and going abroad. The writing styles are as varied as the subject matter and the voices behind it. Painting a picture of what being a teenager is really like, this book is unique in its approach. Levithan shows us all the ways teenagers are loud, quiet, powerful and special.
—ELIZABETH KIRSHNER

Life As We Knew It & The Dead and the Gone
A meteor crashes into the moon and pushes it closer to Earth, changing the world forever. Tidal waves cover whole states, magma is pulled to the surface of the ground and volcanic eruptions coat the world with a layer of ash that blocks out the sun. Yet these disasters are just the beginning. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer is the journal of 16-year-old Miranda. In it, she describes how her family, in their house in Pennsylvania, struggles to survive the global catastrophe. The sequel, The Dead and the Gone, is the powerful account of Alex Morales’s experiences in New York City during the same calamity. He is just 17 and is responsible for his two younger sisters. Both books express heroism on the subject’s part, but Alex is much braver and more mature than Miranda, who focuses on petty things when she should be worrying about survival. Both books tell the stories of teens forced to act older than their ages. But The Dead and the Gone is by far a more moving tale and will send chills down your spine with its vivid descriptions of tragedy, death and survival.
—TOVA SIMENOWITZ

Chill
If there’s one thing to pencil into your busy schedule, it’s to read Deborah Reber’s new book, Chill. Reber reaches out to girls everywhere in her book that takes stress-reducing techniques to a new level. Chill includes organizational tips, interactive exercises, self-quizzes and so much more to help you get in the right frame of mind. Reber is so successful because she not only draws her information from interviews with teenage girls, but she understands exactly what stressed-out young women are going through. Her book is an easy read and a great resource. So stop what you’re doing, take a second and chill!
—GABBI BAKER

In Their Shoes: Extraordinary Women Describe Their Amazing Careers
If you didn’t catch Deborah Reber’s other book, In Their Shoes: Extraordinary Women Describe Their Amazing Careers, enter to win a free copy!

The Scandal Plan
The Scandal Plan by Bill Folman is the ideal summer novel, with short chapters and a great plot. After reading the creative prologue and the beginning of the first chapter, I was already excited by the topic: a fictionalized presidential election. With the perfect sex scandal concocted in his favor, Sen. Ben Phillips hopes his chances at the presidency will be sealed. The “game” of politics is explored through enthralling action and a taste of comedy. Though the release of the fabricated scandal to the public is the climax of the novel, more laughter, action and entertainment follow. I would recommend this novel to readers of any age, especially those who enjoy adventure and political satire.
—EVAN KLINE

Moose
Meet Stephanie Klein, hormonal preteen and “fat girl.” She’s the laughingstock of her peers until she’s persuaded to attend Camp Yanisin, home of endless “jamnastics,” climbing “Bitch Hill” and before-and-after pictures. In this bare-all memoir, Klein candidly chronicles her experiences at fat camp. Never succumbing to “fat girl” clichés and written with refreshing sincerity and jaw-dropping details, Klein entertains her readers with her descriptions of everything from the “Yanisin Roll” (a special way to get out of the pool) to the girl who never changes her underpants. Beautifully written and detailed, the most outstanding aspect of this novel is that it’s real, and that’s what makes Moose well worth your time this summer.
—TAMMY ELLENHORN

Shut Up, I’m Talking
Shut Up, I’m Talking by Gregory Levey, a former speechwriter for the Israeli delegation to the United Nations, is a hilarious memoir and insider’s look into Israel’s diplomatic affairs. An interview for an internship at the Israeli delegation of the U.N. soon became a full-time job as Levey found himself writing official government statements and attending U.N. sessions on behalf of the Israeli government. In the prime minister’s office, he began writing speeches in English for Ariel Sharon, and later for Ehud Olmert. From the unforgettable meeting with Israel’s foreign minister in his underwear to his determination to sneak in Seinfeld references in the prime minister’s speeches, you’ll want to read these countless laugh-out-loud stories over and over.
—DANNY WEIN