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The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman

by: Mari Lowe  

Ages

10+
Everyone knows Gayil is perfect. All the teachers adore her and she’s the most popular girl in the entire sixth grade. But what happens when the model student decides to have a little fun?
Shaindy is about to find out.
Ages 10+
Pages 192
Publisher Levine Querido
Last Offered Jul 2025
Awards
Sydney Taylor Gold Medal Winner
National Jewish Book Award Winner

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What the Book is About

Twelve-year-old Shaindy attends an Orthodox girls’ school, where she struggles academically and doesn’t have good friends -- unlike her super smart and popular next-door neighbor, Gayil. Everything changes when Shaindy sees Gayil standing at her bedroom window with a sign saying, “Want to know a secret?” The unexpected invitation leads to a chain of pranks that escalate from harmless mischief to something much darker. Torn between friendship with the popular girl and doing what’s right, Shaindy realizes she has to figure out how to stop the pranks or she could end up being Gayil’s next target.

Jewish Content and Values

  • Shaindy’s family are observant and they live in an Orthodox community. 
  • There are references to Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Purim. Jewish summer camp plays a significant part.
  • Teshuvah (repentance or return) is a key theme in the book.

Content Advisory

The pranks get out of hand (stealing a secret notebook, releasing bees into the school), and we learn that they are revenge for a particularly cruel moment that happened at overnight camp. However, there is nothing graphic or inappropriate.
What the Book Is About

What the Book is About

Twelve-year-old Shaindy attends an Orthodox girls’ school, where she struggles academically and doesn’t have good friends -- unlike her super smart and popular next-door neighbor, Gayil. Everything changes when Shaindy sees Gayil standing at her bedroom window with a sign saying, “Want to know a secret?” The unexpected invitation leads to a chain of pranks that escalate from harmless mischief to something much darker. Torn between friendship with the popular girl and doing what’s right, Shaindy realizes she has to figure out how to stop the pranks or she could end up being Gayil’s next target.

Jewish Content and Values

  • Shaindy’s family are observant and they live in an Orthodox community. 
  • There are references to Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Purim. Jewish summer camp plays a significant part.
  • Teshuvah (repentance or return) is a key theme in the book.

Content Advisory

The pranks get out of hand (stealing a secret notebook, releasing bees into the school), and we learn that they are revenge for a particularly cruel moment that happened at overnight camp. However, there is nothing graphic or inappropriate.