Your PJ Our Way Books for September
PJ Our Way is proud to offer four fantastic books this month. Your reader can join Becca as she uncovers a connection to ancient Israel at an archaeological dig, cheer for Gilah as she break dances her way to her bat mitzvah, experience the Cold War through the eyes of David as he prepares for his bar mitzvah, and follow along as Maurice and his family flee Nazi-occupied Europe in search of freedom in Jamaica.
Be sure to have your PJ Our Way subscriber choose their book by September 10th!
Detour Ahead
By: Pamela Ehrenberg & Tracy López
Ages 10+
352 pages
In alternating chapters of prose and verse, Gilah prepares for her upcoming bat mitzvah while her new friend Guillermo enters a poetry contest. The compelling dual point-of-view brings readers into the minds of Gilah, who is neurodiverse and attends a special needs school, and Salvadoran American Guillermo, who is finding his voice through poetry.
The Treasure of Tel Maresha
By: Tammar Stein
Ages 9+
116 pages
Becca Goldberg is not happy about moving from Boston to Florida, and her parents’ attempt to make it up to her with a trip to Israel isn’t helping. Everyone at the archaeological dig at Tel Maresha is finding cool artifacts, except Becca.
Meanwhile, 2000 years ago, Rebeka lives in Maresha with her family.
When her father saves a Greek man from a mob in Jerusalem, he gives the family a pair of gold earrings in the shape of the Greek god Nike and invites them to move to Athens with him. As tension rises between the Maccabees and the Syrians, the family decides to go.
Back in the present day, Becca finally digs up a treasure, and it’s way cooler than anyone could have imagined!
Readers will love this sweet story about two Jewish girls’ lives who are connected across time and space (and they’ll learn some cool Israeli history along the way!).
This is Just a Test
By: Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Ages 10+
237 pages
Between preparing for his bar mitzvah, memorizing random facts with his trivia team, and mediating between his Jewish Granny M. and his Chinese grandmother Wai Po, David Da-Wei Horowitz has a lot on his mind. But when he realizes that the Soviet Union could start a nuclear war, that starts to make all his other worries seem irrelevant. Set in 1984 with plenty of vintage Cold War references, this book showcases David’s efforts to keep the peace between his friends, within his family, and across his country. Kids will identify with his relatable struggles and realistic voice.
Maurice and His Dictionary
By: Cary Fagan
Ages 9+
56 pages
Fourteen-year-old Maurice dreams of becoming a lawyer, but when the Nazis invade Belgium, his family must flee across several countries, eventually finding safety in a refugee camp in Jamaica. Throughout it all, Maurice’s treasured English dictionary serves as a symbol of his dreams and gives him the determination to get the education he needs, whatever it takes.
Note: Quantities of each title are limited! If you see another book offered for selection this month, head over to Story Central to check it out.