Review: A Forgiveness Stone for Ezra
A Forgiveness Stone for Ezra (Golda & Ezra series)
by Hollie Michaels, illustrated by Claudio Cerri
Picture Window Books (imprint of Capstone Publishing), 2025
Category: Early Chapter Books
Reviewer: Jacqueline Jules
Buy at Bookshop.org
This early chapter book opens with a one-page introduction of the characters: Golda Gene Fisher, her stepbrother Ezra David Gomez, their parents, Ima and Aba, and their cats, Bagel and Lox. Ezra and Ima have brown skin. Golda and Aba have white. The illustrations show a multicultural school setting.
Chapter 1 starts with Golda eating a large lunch and commenting how “she can’t stop noshing” because yesterday she fasted for Yom Kippur for the first time. Since her class is eating outside, she has a view of the playground. Golda’s stepbrother Ezra is hanging on the monkey bars, clearly frightened. His classmates are beneath him, waiting to see what happens. When Ezra falls to the ground and hurts his wrist, Golda runs over to help.
In the nurse’s office, Golda learns that Ezra climbed the monkey bars on a dare. Now he is embarrassed and doesn’t want to return to school. Determined to help her stepbrother, Golda talks to Ezra’s best friend Luis and a boy named Ricky who is holding a painted rock. Ricky bursts into tears as he admits that he dared Ezra to overcome his fear of the monkey bars. Golda immediately forgives Ricky and comes up with a plan to soothe Ezra’s hurt feelings.
In the last of three short chapters, Golda solicits the help of the art teacher and all the students in the school to make a gift for Ezra. When Ezra returns after a day of being absent, he is welcomed by a trail of painted stones with messages like “We love you, Ezra” and “You’re One Tough Cookie.” Ricky hand delivers a rock, saying “You’re brave.”
Back matter explains a little bit about Yom Kippur and contains a glossary titled, “Learn Some Jewish Words.” General discussion questions follow, asking the reader to think about mistakes and how one can make others feel better. Instructions for painting a "pep rock" round out the back matter.
Yiddish words are sprinkled throughout the story, and the back matter provides more information on Jewish practice, but the connection between Yom Kippur and making up for a mistake is not made within the body of the story. There is no real explanation for why Golda, an elementary school student, decided to fast before her Bat Mitzvah. However, since Jewish characters are generally absent from early readers, Golda & Ezra: A Forgiveness Stone for Ezra along with the other books in this Capstone series can help to fill a hole in the children’s market.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REVIEWING BOOKS FOR THE SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE? CLICK HERE
Reviewer Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of fifty books for young readers including The Porridge-Pot Goblin, The Hardest Word, Picnic at Camp Shalom, Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva, Light the Menorah: A Hanukkah Handbook, and Never Say a Mean Word Again. Her middle grade verse novel, My Name is Hamburger, was a PJ Our Way selection. And her picture book, Moses and the Runaway Lamb, was a Junior Library Guild selection. She lives on Long Island and enjoys talking long walks along the water. Visit her online www.jacquelinejules.com.
This early chapter book opens with a one-page introduction of the characters: Golda Gene Fisher, her stepbrother Ezra David Gomez, their parents, Ima and Aba, and their cats, Bagel and Lox. Ezra and Ima have brown skin. Golda and Aba have white. The illustrations show a multicultural school setting.
Chapter 1 starts with Golda eating a large lunch and commenting how “she can’t stop noshing” because yesterday she fasted for Yom Kippur for the first time. Since her class is eating outside, she has a view of the playground. Golda’s stepbrother Ezra is hanging on the monkey bars, clearly frightened. His classmates are beneath him, waiting to see what happens. When Ezra falls to the ground and hurts his wrist, Golda runs over to help.
In the nurse’s office, Golda learns that Ezra climbed the monkey bars on a dare. Now he is embarrassed and doesn’t want to return to school. Determined to help her stepbrother, Golda talks to Ezra’s best friend Luis and a boy named Ricky who is holding a painted rock. Ricky bursts into tears as he admits that he dared Ezra to overcome his fear of the monkey bars. Golda immediately forgives Ricky and comes up with a plan to soothe Ezra’s hurt feelings.
In the last of three short chapters, Golda solicits the help of the art teacher and all the students in the school to make a gift for Ezra. When Ezra returns after a day of being absent, he is welcomed by a trail of painted stones with messages like “We love you, Ezra” and “You’re One Tough Cookie.” Ricky hand delivers a rock, saying “You’re brave.”
Back matter explains a little bit about Yom Kippur and contains a glossary titled, “Learn Some Jewish Words.” General discussion questions follow, asking the reader to think about mistakes and how one can make others feel better. Instructions for painting a "pep rock" round out the back matter.
Yiddish words are sprinkled throughout the story, and the back matter provides more information on Jewish practice, but the connection between Yom Kippur and making up for a mistake is not made within the body of the story. There is no real explanation for why Golda, an elementary school student, decided to fast before her Bat Mitzvah. However, since Jewish characters are generally absent from early readers, Golda & Ezra: A Forgiveness Stone for Ezra along with the other books in this Capstone series can help to fill a hole in the children’s market.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REVIEWING BOOKS FOR THE SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE? CLICK HERE
Reviewer Jacqueline Jules is the award-winning author of fifty books for young readers including The Porridge-Pot Goblin, The Hardest Word, Picnic at Camp Shalom, Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva, Light the Menorah: A Hanukkah Handbook, and Never Say a Mean Word Again. Her middle grade verse novel, My Name is Hamburger, was a PJ Our Way selection. And her picture book, Moses and the Runaway Lamb, was a Junior Library Guild selection. She lives on Long Island and enjoys talking long walks along the water. Visit her online www.jacquelinejules.com.
Comments
Post a Comment