Your PJ Our Way Books for October

Sorry for Your Loss
by Joanne Levy

Ages 10+

264 pages

Evie Walman is going into 8th grade, and she knows two things: she doesn't want — or need — friends, and she's going to take over her parents' Jewish funeral home when she grows up. The mean girls at school make fun of her, but they don't understand how important Evie's parents' work is.

Evie rarely helps her parents with the grieving families until her parents ask her to help with Oren, a boy who hasn't spoken a word since he lost both of his parents in a terrible car accident. When Oren ends up hanging out with Evie over the course of the summer, Evie's kindness helps Oren find his voice again, which is healing for both of them.

Although Sorry for Your Loss explores a challenging topic, it does so in a remarkably sensitive, thoughtful, and accessible way.

The Prince of Steel Pier
by Stacey Nockowitz

Ages: 10+

248 pages

13-year-old Joey Goodman and his family spend every August helping out at his grandparents' kosher hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the summer of 1975, while playing Skee-Ball, Joey attracts the attention of Artie Bishop, a local mobster. When the charismatic Artie hires him to chaperone his 15-year-old daughter, Joey soon finds himself caught up in some shady business. He also finds himself lying to his family; white lies that eventually develop into outright deception. This fast-paced, exciting coming-of-age story is infused with warm Jewish content and a 1970s Jewish world view.

The Golden Dreidel
by Ellen Kushner

Ages: 9+

116 pages

The story begins as sulky eleven-year-old Sara celebrates “boring” Hanukkah with her family. It quickly morphs into a wild fantasy ride where she meets biblical-era kings and demons and saves the day using her wits and magic. This creative, clever, and amusing tale will enchant young readers with its fresh and whimsical illustrations and outrageous characters.

The Lemonade Crime
by Jacqueline Davies

Ages: 9+

165 pages

Fourth grade isn't off to a great start for Evan Treski. His younger sister Jessie skipped a grade and is now in his class, and when he hears that Scott Spencer has a brand-new video game console, he's certain that Scott bought it with money he stole from Evan. To make matters even worse, it seems like every single child in the class is going over to Scott's house to play his video games! Meanwhile, Jessie is trying to find her place as the youngest student in the fourth grade. How much should she speak up in class, and with whom should she hang out on the playground? At least Megan Moriarty, the friend she made over the summer, is still her friend at school! As Jessie becomes increasingly convinced that Scott stole the money from Evan, she decides to take matters into her own hands. With the help of a legal booklet her mother wrote, Jessica writes up an arrest warrant for Scott Spencer and arranges a mock trial on the playground. The other students serve as judge, jury, and attorneys. But when the outcome of the trial doesn't go the way Evan and Jessie had hoped, can they still find out the truth? This is the sequel to The Lemonade War but also works well as a standalone book.