Mode

kid

parent

It's My Party and I Don't Want to Go

Ages

10+
Only four months left to go until Ellie’s bat mitzvah, and everyone is so excited! Everyone except for Ellie. There’s only one way out, and she’s got a plan…
Ages 10+
Pages 224
Publisher Scholastic
Coming Jun 2022
Awards
PJ Our Way Author Incentive Award Winner

Average Rating

67 Reviews
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What the Book Is About

Ellie loves being Jewish and very much wants to be an adult in the community, but she’s pretty sure she’ll die if forced to go through with her bat mitzvah. She enlists the help of best friend Zoe to derail the party, but all their best attempts backfire in the biggest way, as older sister Hannah steps in, determined to give Ellie the best party ever. This fast-paced story tackles the all-too-common issue of social anxiety with both humor and heart and includes positive messages about Judaism, family, and friendship.

Jewish Content & Values

  • Ellie is Jewish, attends Hebrew school, and belongs to a Jewish youth group.
  • She studies for her bat mitzvah in the beit midrash (house of learning) and worries about singing her haftorah and Torah portions. The cantor one of the few adults to notice she’s struggling.
  • Her family observes Shabbat, though not strictly. They mostly keep kosher and a major plot point involves a kosher caterer.

Content Advisory

Zoe's dog is diagnosed with cancer. At one point Ellie briefly believes he has died; he hasn’t, but he’s old and Zoe’s family plans to put him to sleep once he’s in pain, which might upset some readers.
What the Book Is About

What the Book Is About

Ellie loves being Jewish and very much wants to be an adult in the community, but she’s pretty sure she’ll die if forced to go through with her bat mitzvah. She enlists the help of best friend Zoe to derail the party, but all their best attempts backfire in the biggest way, as older sister Hannah steps in, determined to give Ellie the best party ever. This fast-paced story tackles the all-too-common issue of social anxiety with both humor and heart and includes positive messages about Judaism, family, and friendship.

Jewish Content & Values

  • Ellie is Jewish, attends Hebrew school, and belongs to a Jewish youth group.
  • She studies for her bat mitzvah in the beit midrash (house of learning) and worries about singing her haftorah and Torah portions. The cantor one of the few adults to notice she’s struggling.
  • Her family observes Shabbat, though not strictly. They mostly keep kosher and a major plot point involves a kosher caterer.

Content Advisory

Zoe's dog is diagnosed with cancer. At one point Ellie briefly believes he has died; he hasn’t, but he’s old and Zoe’s family plans to put him to sleep once he’s in pain, which might upset some readers.