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shieldbearer's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A nice little read with some surprising emotional complexity- our protagonist has a lot of tangled thoughts and feelings and she does not always choose the "right" reaction. Even though my experiences are different, I can relate quite a bit to the protagonist. In some ways, the book is a bit too self-aware- referring to "Western beauty standards" and social justice topics in a way that doesn't exactly read as flippant, but in a way that's definitely difficult to interpret as sincere. If there was more thought and nuance put into these references, then it would work better I think.
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
A moving coming of age story featuring a young Jewish girl and her twin brother as they travel to Israel to spend a week learning more about their Jewish roots. I enjoyed the snippets of Jewish history sprinkled throughout the story and how the author explored the many different ways there are to be Jewish. Tally and her brother Max, for example were raised interfaith and their father is the Jewish parent (as opposed to the Orthodox viewpoint that to be Jewish you have to have a Jewish mother).
Other highlights for me included the Broadway play song titles as chapter titles, the cards against humanity scenes, the focus on grief, mental health and sexuality. Tally and Max lost a close friend because of drunk driving and both are struggling with their guilt and grief. On top of this, Tally has a lot of anxiety over her future and her brother's mental health AND she is grappling with her sexual identity and desire, learning she may be demisexual (on the asexuality/ACE spectrum).
This book honestly had a LOT going on (maybe almost too much?). That said there is amazing representation (Jewish faith and identity, mental health/anxiety, asexuality, etc). A great book for teens exploring their Jewish and sexual identity. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!
CW: death of a friend from drunk driving, anxiety, asexuality
Other highlights for me included the Broadway play song titles as chapter titles, the cards against humanity scenes, the focus on grief, mental health and sexuality. Tally and Max lost a close friend because of drunk driving and both are struggling with their guilt and grief. On top of this, Tally has a lot of anxiety over her future and her brother's mental health AND she is grappling with her sexual identity and desire, learning she may be demisexual (on the asexuality/ACE spectrum).
This book honestly had a LOT going on (maybe almost too much?). That said there is amazing representation (Jewish faith and identity, mental health/anxiety, asexuality, etc). A great book for teens exploring their Jewish and sexual identity. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!
CW: death of a friend from drunk driving, anxiety, asexuality
illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this one. If you like YA novels, go forth and read it or listen to it. It is just so very good.
A+ narration, 5 star book
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Honestly, I am not always a fan of audiobooks. Often I feel like the narrators sound like they are from NPR or their voices just don't match what I hear in my mind. This one, though, is excellent. Cady Zuckerman nailed it. Her voice has character and draws you in. She makes you feel the emotions that Tally is experiencing with the subtle changes and intonation of her voice. She captures the cast of characters in the story, using a distinct voice for each one.
At a glance:
- Themes of discovery, identity (religious, sexual, as a person, as a twin), friendships, relationships, and grief
- Mental health rep
- Jewish and Interfaith rep
- LGBTQIA+ rep
- Standing on the cusp of adulthood
- Chapter titles from musicals
- Exchange trip to Israel
A+ narration, 5 star book
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Honestly, I am not always a fan of audiobooks. Often I feel like the narrators sound like they are from NPR or their voices just don't match what I hear in my mind. This one, though, is excellent. Cady Zuckerman nailed it. Her voice has character and draws you in. She makes you feel the emotions that Tally is experiencing with the subtle changes and intonation of her voice. She captures the cast of characters in the story, using a distinct voice for each one.
At a glance:
- Themes of discovery, identity (religious, sexual, as a person, as a twin), friendships, relationships, and grief
- Mental health rep
- Jewish and Interfaith rep
- LGBTQIA+ rep
- Standing on the cusp of adulthood
- Chapter titles from musicals
- Exchange trip to Israel
spicedragon's review against another edition
1.0
A book that ignores the plight of Palestinians and the genocide faced at the hands of Israel. How can someone who claims to support BLM turn around in the same breath and write a cutesy book set in Israel?
Despite the efforts of a Palestinian activist to reach out and get in contact with both the author and agent, with feedback that they need to address the occupation in Palestine, both author and agent ignored them.
Read books written by Palestinian authors instead, or books by authors who don't ignore the Palestinian occupation.
Edit: Forgot I had notifs turned off for this but anyways dying at the comments shitting bricks and straight up spitting out zionist talking points, I'm sorry to say but maybe read The Hundred Years War on Palestine and then talk about the occupation of Palestine, actually scratch that how about you look at the news and how the IOF continues to slaughter innocents simply for being Palestinian and using the American talking point of them retaliation to "violence"... maybe grow some fucking braincells and humanity and basic empathy you rock for brains... some of the most braindead ppl in the comments fr... hope this book and author flop so bad that you ppl eat your words
Despite the efforts of a Palestinian activist to reach out and get in contact with both the author and agent, with feedback that they need to address the occupation in Palestine, both author and agent ignored them.
Read books written by Palestinian authors instead, or books by authors who don't ignore the Palestinian occupation.
Edit: Forgot I had notifs turned off for this but anyways dying at the comments shitting bricks and straight up spitting out zionist talking points, I'm sorry to say but maybe read The Hundred Years War on Palestine and then talk about the occupation of Palestine, actually scratch that how about you look at the news and how the IOF continues to slaughter innocents simply for being Palestinian and using the American talking point of them retaliation to "violence"... maybe grow some fucking braincells and humanity and basic empathy you rock for brains... some of the most braindead ppl in the comments fr... hope this book and author flop so bad that you ppl eat your words
erinkayata's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. I know there was some controversy over this one which I didn’t know about when I grabbed it and I went in with an open mind but I don’t think this book necessarily offered a nuance look at the Israel/Palestine situation. And frankly there was so much going on here, I felt like we didn’t dive deep enough into any of the issues this book tries to tackle.
frankiesellitto's review against another edition
3.0
It was fine. I didn't have super high expectations for it, but I think I was expecting more than what it was. Overall, I enjoyed the book, it was a very normal YA read, but that was it. Despite its explicit demisexual and Jewish rep, I didn't feel as connected to Tally as I thought I would.
penelopefain's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
bibliobrittish's review
5.0
The way this was exactly what I needed. This book is a celebration of life amidst incredible grief and self discovery.
Rep: demisexual/ace spectrum, anxiety, Jewish (Can songwriter count as rep too? Cause it feels like its own thing to me at this point, but maybe that's just cause I am one)
CW: internalized acephobia (disputed), death of friend in drunk driving accident, antisemitism (disputed)
Rep: demisexual/ace spectrum, anxiety, Jewish (Can songwriter count as rep too? Cause it feels like its own thing to me at this point, but maybe that's just cause I am one)
CW: internalized acephobia (disputed), death of friend in drunk driving accident, antisemitism (disputed)
zaggeta's review against another edition
5.0
Haven't read this. Not my genre. But I will stand up for an author against hordes of morons who rage about something they know nothing about.
notinjersey's review against another edition
5.0
“You’re not weird; you are living your own story.” My first 2022 book was Once More With Chutzpah by Haley Neil and I loved it. This book is about discovery, identity, Judaism, sexuality, anxiety, and grief. Tally wants to help her twin brother Max heal after a car accident that injured him and killed the driver. The two embark on a winter break exchange program to Israel, where Tally hopes Max will meet new friends and get himself back on track. But what she’s not ready to address is her own feelings about what happened and how the trip will also help and heal her. I loved this book so much. The Jewish pride, the setting, the friendships, the queer representation, the chapter titles being songs from musicals, etc, etc! Such a great YA debut.