Review: Gittel

Gittel

by Laurie Schneider

Fitzroy Books (imprint of Regal House Publishing), 2025

Category: Middle Grade

Reviewer: Ellen Scolnic

 

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Gittel is the story of a Jewish family in 1912 who escaped shtetl life and pogroms in Eastern Europe to settle in Wisconsin. We see their adjustment to farming life and to being a very small minority in a new world/town. Daughter Gittel must deal with a town bully, but she has two good girlfriends and a loving family who support her love of books and poetry.

 

This quiet story could give readers a glimpse of farming/pioneer activities like churning butter and harvesting hay. Some names and terms (Chautauqua, Jane Addams, Dubliner) are not explained well and may be difficult for young readers to understand. The pace is slow, and may not hold the attention of readers seeking adventure.

The Jewish content feels authentic. The chapter where Gittel is embarrassed about celebrating Hanukkah did ring true. Jewish holidays, foods, and grandparents figure large in the story. Most  Jewish content is explained in context ("Borscht, who would want a soup that tastes like dirt?") which is not done for other historical things in the book. Gittel's interactions with other characters are believable, for the most part. On the other hand, the ending and her confrontation with Karl and realization that "family love is what makes them different" is sanctimonious and didn't sound like anything a teen would say. 

 

An old-fashioned story that many not have broad appeal, but does provide Jewish representation in a unique setting.

 

 

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Reviewer Ellen Scolnic has been an award-winning writer for more than 20 years. Her features and personal essays appear in Parents Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Christian Science Monitor, The Jerusalem Post, The Independent, The Forward and more. Ellen and her writing partner, Joyce Eisenberg, write, speak and blog together as The Word Mavens. They dispense their advice and opinions on everything from dealing with new technology to sneaking out of a party early. Together, they are the authors of the best-selling "Dictionary of Jewish Words,” "The Whole Spiel: Funny essays about digital nudniks, seder selfies and chicken soup memories," and “Stuff Every Grandmother Should Know.” Connect with them at TheWordMavens.com.