Identity and religion. Well done. Will have an audience. ( )

check all similar books for Grade 7 book talk at the beginning of the year

This book reminded me a lot of "Are You There God? It's me Margaret". The story begins as Caroline loses her grandmother and inherits her Star of David necklace. Meanwhile her best friend is planning a Bat Mitzvah party. Caroline deals with the loss of her grandmother and her own nagging questions about the religion her parents never practice. Trying not to hurt the feelings of her Christian father and Jewish mother both of whom have an ambiguous relationship with organized religion Caroline navigates the big questions. ( )

This was a sweet little book. Caroline is sad when her grandmother dies and she receives a Star of David necklace from her. Slowly she begins to explore her Jewish identity as her best friend prepares for her bat mitzvah. She begins to understand the grown-up relationships around her are not as simple as she assumed. She wonders if she has the right to become bat mitzvah because her family is lax about keeping the customs and religious days and her father is not Jewish. But then, with the help of her friends and family, she starts to decide that maybe it is okay to be Jewish and that she has the right to be.

The Little Bookworm ( )

Her mom is Jewish, her dad is Christian, and at age 13 Caroline has begun to think about who she is. When Caroline inherits a Star of David necklace, she worries what her family and friends will think if they see her wearing it.