Review: Call Me Gebyanesh
Call Me Gebyanesh
by Arlene Rosenfeld Schenker and Gebyanesh Addisu, illustrated by Chiara Fedele
Apples & Honey Press (imprint of Behrman House), 2025
Seven-year-old Gebyanesh, a young Ethiopian Jew, starts the new school year in Jerusalem, where her family has recently settled after escaping from persecution, famine, and civil war. When her teacher is unable to pronounce her name, she is instead assigned a new name - Rakhel. Gebyanesh/Rakhel experiences her new school as an outsider and with the exception of another student named Daria, she is not accepted by the other Israeli kids. She is mocked for her different food, her clothing, and the color of her skin.
Gebyanesh hides her school experience from her family until her younger brother discovers her schoolwork with the name Rakhel on it. Gebyanesh's mother tells her to be proud of her name and where she comes from, showing Gebyanesh a family photo album that reminds the young girl of her family origins. Gebyanesh confronts her teacher and reclaims her name and identity.
The story is peacefully illustrated with bold colors that bring to mind the Ethiopian fabrics and spices, as a way to visually support Gebyanesh's journey in a new land while embracing her true identity.
Call Me Gebyanesh powerfully portrays the experience of a young Ethiopian Jewish girl, Gebyanesh, who emigrates to Jerusalem in the 1980s. Based on the real-life story of co-author Gebyanesh Addisu, the narrative illuminates the struggles of the Beta Jewish community, who fled Ethiopia to escape war, famine, and persecution. The heart of the story lies in Gebyanesh's personal journey, highlighting the emotional toll of displacement and the search for identity in a new land. The story relates an important and lesser known part of our shared Jewish history and identity.
Gebyanesh’s emotional journey is profoundly told through the narrative, which connects with the reader as if they are in conversation with the main character. Readers will cheer for Gebyanesh when she reclaims her identity and insists she be called by her given name. Readers of all backgrounds will gain a poignant understanding of the immigrant experience, and what it is like to leave so much behind – culture, family, home.
Call Me Gebyanesh is richly illustrated with colors, textures, and fabrics that mirror Ethiopian culture. The Jewish content is central to the story and will serve to spark young readers’ curiosity to learn more about the Beta Jewish community. Call Me Gebyanesh is highly recommended for its gently honest, simple, and approachable narrative, vibrant illustrations, and protagonist. Parents, educators, and guardians will welcome the glossary and historical back matter including an interview between the co-authors, Arlene Rosenfeld Schenker and Gebyanesh Addisu, adding another personal touch.
How does one pronounce Gebyanesh? Is there a pronunciation guide in the book?
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a pronunciation guide on the copyright page so that a reader will know how to pronouce Gebyanesh before strating to read the story! Say it like this: Geb-YA-nesh
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