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There is nothing Ellie Taylor loves more than a good argument! But is the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts Camp the best place for a Jewish girl to speak her mind?
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What the Book is About
Jewish Content & Values
Positive Role Models
Content Advisory
Talk it Over!
More for You
What the Book is About
Ellie Taylor’s dream is to attend the prestigious Benedict’s Conservatory of Arts and Academics and join the best speech team in the country. Benedict’s is a private school that is expensive, competitive, and Christian, but Ellie has a plan. She enrolls in the school’s summer camp, hoping to earn herself a place and a full scholarship by winning the final competition. Ellie soon discovers, however, that although her religion shouldn’t matter, it does to Mrs. Doris Yeats, the benefactor sponsoring the scholarship. Ellie ultimately decides that her Jewish identity is something to be proud of, no matter what.
Jewish Content & Values
- Jewish identity is a major theme in this book. Ellie has been brought up in a Jewish home, and has a close relationship with her zeydeh (grandpa). However, while trying to get the scholarship, Ellie finds herself hiding her Jewish star necklace, calling herself Christian on her application, and even going to church to impress Mrs. Yeats. But when her beloved Zeydeh is hospitalized, and Mrs. Yeats reveals the depths of her anti-Jewish beliefs, Ellie embraces her Jewish identity and users her oratory prowess to speak out against prejudice.
- In her attempt to be Mrs. Yeats' vision of the perfect Benedict scholarship winner, Ellie hides her Jewish identity and does not speak out against blatant anti-Semitism. Later, Ellie does teshuvah (repentance) – she regrets her actions and returns to who she really is: a strong and courageous Jewish girl who takes a stand for what is right.
- It takes nerve to speak your mind -- especially when speaking your mind may ruin your chance for a school scholarship! Ellie uses her chutzpah (Yiddish for “audacity” or “nerve”) to try to change Mrs. Yeats' anti-Semitic ideas.
- Yiddish culture and Jewish experiences are woven throughout the book. Ellie's family celebrates Shabbat and she had a bat mitzvah; Zeydeh enters his matzo ball soup in the Har Zion cooking contest and peppers his sentences with colorful Yiddish phrases.
Positive Role Models
- Ellie grows from the girl who is willing to do anything to get the Benedict scholarship to the girl who understands that some things come at too great a price. Ellie rejects Doris Yeats' vision of who she should be in an inspiring and dramatic way.
- Zeydeh's connection to Judaism and Jewish history is an inspiration for Ellie and helps her to reclaim her own Jewish identity. Zeydeh is also able to admit when he is wrong, and he apologizes when he has gone too far.
Content Advisory
Ellie develops a big crush on Devon Yeats. She describes him as "intensely hot"; she "sizzles" when they touch; her friend Megan declares, "He's hot for you"; and Ellie and Devon kiss. Doris Yeats is anti-Semitic. When she was young, she was in love with a Jewish boy whose parents rejected her because she was not Jewish. Doris continues to judge all Jews negatively because of her painful experience.
Talk it Over!
At first Ellie compromises in small ways, like hiding her Jewish star necklace when she goes to talk to Doris Yeats. But soon, half-truths become lies and life becomes even more complicated! Have you ever felt like you had to hide something about yourself to make someone like you? How did that make you feel?
More for You
Jews have been arguing for thousands of years! The best example of Jewish debate is the Talmud, the written record of Judaism's oral tradition. It contains laws, stories, commentary, and many differences of opinion between rabbis living in different time periods. Although it was codified around 500 CE, Jews all over the world still debate the Talmud and its commentaries today.
What the Book is About
What the Book is About
Ellie Taylor’s dream is to attend the prestigious Benedict’s Conservatory of Arts and Academics and join the best speech team in the country. Benedict’s is a private school that is expensive, competitive, and Christian, but Ellie has a plan. She enrolls in the school’s summer camp, hoping to earn herself a place and a full scholarship by winning the final competition. Ellie soon discovers, however, that although her religion shouldn’t matter, it does to Mrs. Doris Yeats, the benefactor sponsoring the scholarship. Ellie ultimately decides that her Jewish identity is something to be proud of, no matter what.
Jewish Content & Values
Jewish Content & Values
- Jewish identity is a major theme in this book. Ellie has been brought up in a Jewish home, and has a close relationship with her zeydeh (grandpa). However, while trying to get the scholarship, Ellie finds herself hiding her Jewish star necklace, calling herself Christian on her application, and even going to church to impress Mrs. Yeats. But when her beloved Zeydeh is hospitalized, and Mrs. Yeats reveals the depths of her anti-Jewish beliefs, Ellie embraces her Jewish identity and users her oratory prowess to speak out against prejudice.
- In her attempt to be Mrs. Yeats' vision of the perfect Benedict scholarship winner, Ellie hides her Jewish identity and does not speak out against blatant anti-Semitism. Later, Ellie does teshuvah (repentance) – she regrets her actions and returns to who she really is: a strong and courageous Jewish girl who takes a stand for what is right.
- It takes nerve to speak your mind -- especially when speaking your mind may ruin your chance for a school scholarship! Ellie uses her chutzpah (Yiddish for “audacity” or “nerve”) to try to change Mrs. Yeats' anti-Semitic ideas.
- Yiddish culture and Jewish experiences are woven throughout the book. Ellie's family celebrates Shabbat and she had a bat mitzvah; Zeydeh enters his matzo ball soup in the Har Zion cooking contest and peppers his sentences with colorful Yiddish phrases.
Positive Role Models
Positive Role Models
- Ellie grows from the girl who is willing to do anything to get the Benedict scholarship to the girl who understands that some things come at too great a price. Ellie rejects Doris Yeats' vision of who she should be in an inspiring and dramatic way.
- Zeydeh's connection to Judaism and Jewish history is an inspiration for Ellie and helps her to reclaim her own Jewish identity. Zeydeh is also able to admit when he is wrong, and he apologizes when he has gone too far.
Content Advisory
Content Advisory
Ellie develops a big crush on Devon Yeats. She describes him as "intensely hot"; she "sizzles" when they touch; her friend Megan declares, "He's hot for you"; and Ellie and Devon kiss. Doris Yeats is anti-Semitic. When she was young, she was in love with a Jewish boy whose parents rejected her because she was not Jewish. Doris continues to judge all Jews negatively because of her painful experience.
Talk it Over!
Talk it Over!
At first Ellie compromises in small ways, like hiding her Jewish star necklace when she goes to talk to Doris Yeats. But soon, half-truths become lies and life becomes even more complicated! Have you ever felt like you had to hide something about yourself to make someone like you? How did that make you feel?
More for You
More for You
Jews have been arguing for thousands of years! The best example of Jewish debate is the Talmud, the written record of Judaism's oral tradition. It contains laws, stories, commentary, and many differences of opinion between rabbis living in different time periods. Although it was codified around 500 CE, Jews all over the world still debate the Talmud and its commentaries today.
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