Golemcrafters
Of all the gifts her brother Shiloh got for his bar mitzvah, Faye thought the box of clay from their Jewish grandpa was the strangest.
Until things started to get even weirder…
Until things started to get even weirder…
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What the Book is About
Jewish Content and Values
Content Advisory
What the Book is About
When their estranged grandfather sends Shiloh a box of uncured clay as a belated bar mitzvah gift, he and younger sister Faye discover that their Jewish ancestors were golemcrafters – a heritage their father has rejected. (A golem is a creature made of clay and brought to life through the Hebrew alphabet, created to protect the Jewish people.)
Shiloh andFaye’s Japanese-American mom convinces their dad to let them spend spring break in New York City with Zeyde (their grandfather), who teaches them the ancient art of creating golems. It quickly becomes clear that Faye has a remarkable gift for golemcraft.
At night, the siblings share vivid and often frightening dreams in which they find themselves living through moments of Jewish persecution across history alongside their own ancestors. As they grapple with antisemitic bullying in their own lives and the violence their ancestors faced, Faye and Shiloh must decide what it means to be Jewish, to be brave, and to carry on the legacy of those who came before them. A lengthy bibliography confirms the extensive research done by the author of this moving story for mature readers.
Shiloh andFaye’s Japanese-American mom convinces their dad to let them spend spring break in New York City with Zeyde (their grandfather), who teaches them the ancient art of creating golems. It quickly becomes clear that Faye has a remarkable gift for golemcraft.
At night, the siblings share vivid and often frightening dreams in which they find themselves living through moments of Jewish persecution across history alongside their own ancestors. As they grapple with antisemitic bullying in their own lives and the violence their ancestors faced, Faye and Shiloh must decide what it means to be Jewish, to be brave, and to carry on the legacy of those who came before them. A lengthy bibliography confirms the extensive research done by the author of this moving story for mature readers.
Jewish Content and Values
- Faye and Shiloh, their father, and their grandparents are Jewish. Shiloh has had his bar mitzvah, and Faye will have a bat mitzvah. They have Hebrew names; Jewish names and naming traditions are central to the book.
- They experience antisemitic bullying at school, and through dreams they learn about antisemitism at various points in history.
- Zeyde teaches them to build golems, mystical creatures made to fight antisemitic violence.
- The importance of remembering our ancestors (l'dor v'dor) is a key theme; in a touching and funny scene, several ancestors join Zeyde, Shiloh, Faye for a Passover seder.
Content Advisory
Faye and Shiloh’s grandmother was murdered years ago; when summoned by Faye, Grandma Sarah comforts her, saying their ancestors welcomed her home. The children dream of realistic scenes of violent antisemitism and pogroms; a photo of dead Jewish children with their heads held to face the camera is briefly described. Their father and grandfather have complicated relationships with Judaism and this book grapples with age old questions around Jewish identity, faith and victimhood and references ideas around atheism and polytheism. The acronym LMAO is used, and Faye says, “screw you” and “sucks to be you” to her brother.
Though the book is recommended for mature middle-grade readers, parents should know the story concludes with powerful scenes of Jewish strength and joy.
Though the book is recommended for mature middle-grade readers, parents should know the story concludes with powerful scenes of Jewish strength and joy.
What the Book is About
What the Book is About
When their estranged grandfather sends Shiloh a box of uncured clay as a belated bar mitzvah gift, he and younger sister Faye discover that their Jewish ancestors were golemcrafters – a heritage their father has rejected. (A golem is a creature made of clay and brought to life through the Hebrew alphabet, created to protect the Jewish people.)
Shiloh andFaye’s Japanese-American mom convinces their dad to let them spend spring break in New York City with Zeyde (their grandfather), who teaches them the ancient art of creating golems. It quickly becomes clear that Faye has a remarkable gift for golemcraft.
At night, the siblings share vivid and often frightening dreams in which they find themselves living through moments of Jewish persecution across history alongside their own ancestors. As they grapple with antisemitic bullying in their own lives and the violence their ancestors faced, Faye and Shiloh must decide what it means to be Jewish, to be brave, and to carry on the legacy of those who came before them. A lengthy bibliography confirms the extensive research done by the author of this moving story for mature readers.
Shiloh andFaye’s Japanese-American mom convinces their dad to let them spend spring break in New York City with Zeyde (their grandfather), who teaches them the ancient art of creating golems. It quickly becomes clear that Faye has a remarkable gift for golemcraft.
At night, the siblings share vivid and often frightening dreams in which they find themselves living through moments of Jewish persecution across history alongside their own ancestors. As they grapple with antisemitic bullying in their own lives and the violence their ancestors faced, Faye and Shiloh must decide what it means to be Jewish, to be brave, and to carry on the legacy of those who came before them. A lengthy bibliography confirms the extensive research done by the author of this moving story for mature readers.
Jewish Content and Values
Jewish Content and Values
- Faye and Shiloh, their father, and their grandparents are Jewish. Shiloh has had his bar mitzvah, and Faye will have a bat mitzvah. They have Hebrew names; Jewish names and naming traditions are central to the book.
- They experience antisemitic bullying at school, and through dreams they learn about antisemitism at various points in history.
- Zeyde teaches them to build golems, mystical creatures made to fight antisemitic violence.
- The importance of remembering our ancestors (l'dor v'dor) is a key theme; in a touching and funny scene, several ancestors join Zeyde, Shiloh, Faye for a Passover seder.
Content Advisory
Content Advisory
Faye and Shiloh’s grandmother was murdered years ago; when summoned by Faye, Grandma Sarah comforts her, saying their ancestors welcomed her home. The children dream of realistic scenes of violent antisemitism and pogroms; a photo of dead Jewish children with their heads held to face the camera is briefly described. Their father and grandfather have complicated relationships with Judaism and this book grapples with age old questions around Jewish identity, faith and victimhood and references ideas around atheism and polytheism. The acronym LMAO is used, and Faye says, “screw you” and “sucks to be you” to her brother.
Though the book is recommended for mature middle-grade readers, parents should know the story concludes with powerful scenes of Jewish strength and joy.
Though the book is recommended for mature middle-grade readers, parents should know the story concludes with powerful scenes of Jewish strength and joy.
