Your PJ Our Way Books for November 2025

The Blackbird Girls
By: Anne Blankman

Ages 11+

352 pages

Valentina and Oksana live in Chernobyl, where their fathers both work at the nuclear power plant. When a reactor explodes, the girls must flee to safety in Leningrad, where Valentina’s grandmother lives. Valentina’s mother and grandmother are estranged, and Oksana’s abusive father has taught her to hate Jews, but out of necessity, the girls must learn to trust one another. Told from the perspectives of Valentina, Oksana, and Valentina’s grandmother as a girl during the Holocaust, this award-winning book for our oldest readers is a fascinating page-turner with serious content but an ultimately uplifting message of hope and love.

Let It Glow
By: Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy

Ages 9+

304 pages

In this humorous Parent Trap-like story, twelve-year-old identical twins separated at birth literally bump into each other one day. Aviva Davis is visiting Bubbe at her assisted living center; Holly Martin is touring the place with her grandfather. The girls quickly learn that besides looking alike, they share a birthday and are both adopted–and neither one knew they had a biological sibling, much less a twin. The sisters hatch a plan to switch places and surprise their families with a big reveal at the center’s upcoming holiday pageant. Underpinning the lighthearted twin-swap tale is Aviva’s more serious exploration of her religion and what will help her feel more Jewish in her non-observant family.

Turtle Boy
By: M. Evan Wolkenstein

Ages 11+

391 pages

Will Levine would rather hang out with his turtles than with most people-his facial difference left him with a problematic bite and receding chin, and the kids at school won’t let him forget it. As 7th grade starts, Will learns that he needs surgery to fix his chin, but he’s terrified of hospitals since his father died during a routine operation when Will was four years old.

Will’s social anxiety has made it hard for him to stick with a tikkun olam project, which he has to complete for his bar mitzvah preparation. Rabbi Harris has Will visit RJ, an older boy who is hospitalized with an incurable disease. Will is not happy about this, but as RJ teaches Will how to play drums, the two become friends. RJ asks Will to complete the remaining items on his bucket list, including swimming in the ocean, getting drumsticks from his favorite drummer, and riding a roller coaster.

In the midst of all this, Will struggles with his friendships, his relationship with his mother, and his beloved turtles. But as Will tackles each item on RJ’s bucket list, he learns that life is too short to live in a shell.

Best Kids’ Jewish Holiday Jokes Ever!
By: Highlights

Ages 9+

128 pages

Readers will love this illustrated book filled with over 500 delightful (and wholesome!) Jewish jokes about Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Passover, and other holidays.