Review: Jason Belongs

Jason Belongs: The Story of Jason Schachter McKinney

by Audrey Ades and Jason Schachter McKinney, illustrated by Isabel Muñoz

Kar-Ben Publishing (imprint of Lerner), 2025

Category: Picture Books

Reviewer: Doreen Robinson

 

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This is a beautiful true story that expresses the universal themes of embracing one’s identity and what it means to connect to your roots, no matter what other people say or think. It is especially relevant in a world where antisemitism is increasing and diversity equity and inclusion programs are decreasing.

Jason Schachter McKinney is Jewish and Black. As a young boy, Jason attends a Jewish Day School. He is proud of his identity and loves to sing, pray, and celebrate Shabbat. Later, he faces doubts when people at school question his identity: can you be both Jewish and Black? Despite the rabbi and his teachers telling him that he does in fact belong, Jason disconnects. He leaves his Jewish school, stops going to synagogue, and stops caring about the Jewish songs and prayers he once loved. He even feels like an outsider in an African American church.

As an adult, Jason’s career as a singer takes him around the world - but his heart and spirit are still disconnected. Then, by chance while in Antwerp, Belgium, Jason enters a synagogue on a Friday night. Alone, in the last row, he finds comfort in the familiar prayers and cantor’s voice. Jason begins to sing and in that moment he finds connection in the welcoming smiles of Jewish strangers joined together in prayer. Jason goes on to become a cantor and connects deeply to his African American Jewish identities - praying in churches and synagogues and even performing Hanukkah songs at the White House

This is an excellent picture book to use as a teachable moment, to discuss Jewish diversity, what it means to be Jewish, and how to be true to yourself. It's an important book that tackles the universal theme of belonging and the search for identity. Reading about Jason’s lived experience, I felt a pang of collective Jewish guilt…we should never question someone’s identity, but I fear it happens in Jewish and secular communities and organizations - everywhere. I would love to see Kar-Ben or the author add a section of back matter or on a website that includes questions for discussion. This would give parents, teachers and librarians a tool to work with on social emotional learning through the lens of identity and inclusion.

The illustrations are vibrant and enhance the story with tons of Jewish representation and diversity. I especially loved the spreads of young Jason singing, and adult Jason as he reconnected in synagogue. This story just sings with Jewish joy, struggle, and connection.

 

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Reviewer Doreen Klein Robinson is a journalist and editor for community newspapers. As a first-generation American, she's proud of her Israeli heritage. Her feet are in Florida but her heart is in Israel. Her debut picture book GOLEM LOVES LATKES comes out in October 2025 by Intergalactic Afikoman. She writes stories for children that spread Jewish joy. Am Yisrael Chai!