Review: Beinoni

Beinoni

by Mari Lowe

Levine Querido, 2025

Category: Middle Grade

Reviewer: Leah Cypess

 

Buy at Bookshop.org

In this unique take on the “chosen one” trope, 12-year-old Ezra has been trained since birth to fight a monster. If he succeeds, he will keep the world “beinoni”—in an in-between-state in which nothing terrible can happen. But after Ezra is nearly kidnapped at a classmate’s bar mitzvah, bad things begin to happen in his neighborhood and in the larger world—things that should be impossible in a “beinoni” time.

Meanwhile, Ezra himself is falling out with his best friend, falling behind in school, and falling in with a bad influence—foster kid Aryeh, who spreads chaos wherever he goes. His life feels like it’s spiraling out of control, and no one will tell him why. But his pursuit of the truth will make him question everything he’s been told about his place in the world.

Ezra, his family, and his friends are all Orthodox Jews, and the depiction of his community is deep and authentic. The fantasy elements are heavily influenced by Jewish concepts, from the idea of “beinoni” to the “Sanhedrin” that guides Ezra’s training, while also drawing from more classic fantasy elements (a chosen one born in every generation, mysterious symbols of a secret society, even Omelas).

This book, like Lowe's other books, is fairly rare in its authentic, matter-of-a-fact depiction of an Orthodox Jewish community. Both the identity of the characters and the fantasy elements are deeply steeped in Jewish history and tradition, and are seamlessly interwoven into the narrative. It ends with a twist that is both surprising and makes complete sense in retrospect. A highly recommended addition to the small subgenre of middle grade Jewish fantasy.

 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REVIEWING BOOKS FOR THE SYDNEY TAYLOR SHMOOZE? CLICK HERE

 

Reviewer Leah Cypess is the author of the "Sisters Ever After" series of MG fantasy books, and of a new early chapter book series, "Miriam's Magical Creature Files," about an Orthodox Jewish girl who investigates magical creatures. Her book "Future Me Saves the World (And Ruins My Life)" will be published in July 2025. Leah has also written Judaica books under the name Leah Sokol, most recently "Standing Together: The Story of Natan Sharansky." Her work has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award and the Andre Norton Nebula Award. Leah lives in Silver Spring, MD with her family. You can learn more about her and her books at www.leahcypess.com.