The Witch of Woodland
Zippy isn’t sure about a lot of things. Judaism. Her friendship with Bea. Why she, a lifelong vegetarian, has suddenly developed a love for lox. But there’s one thing she is absolutely positive about: no one will ever believe what happened the year she turned thirteen.
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What the Book Is About
Jewish Content and Values
Content Advisory
Zippy McConnell has always shared everything — including her interest in magic and witchcraft — with her best friend, Bea. But as Zippy and Bea enter 7th grade, Bea is acting funny, everyone at school thinks Zippy is weird, and Zippy struggles to make sense of the Torah portion she needs to learn for her bat mitzvah.
When Zippy's parents are too tired to attend tashlich (a Rosh Hashanah ceremony performed near water), Zippy goes on her own and brings a mysterious old red journal she found in the public library with her. While struggling to read it, Zippy conjures Miriam, a near-translucent young girl with wings but no memories.
As Zippy tries to figure out who Miriam is and where she comes from, she also begins to make sense of all the changes happening in her own life.
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Zippy and her parents are Jewish; they belong to a synagogue and attend High Holiday services. Zippy creates her own tashlich ceremony (a ceremony involving the casting off of sins into water) on Rosh Hashanah.
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Rabbi Dan, a kind and wise guide, tutors Zippy as she prepares for her bat mitzvah. Zippy is ambivalent about her Judaism, in part because she is passionate about witchcraft, which, according to her bat mitzvah portion, is not acceptable in the Torah.
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There are a number of Hebrew words and phrases throughout the book. For a period of time, Zippy is fluent in Hebrew and can sing the Shabbat morning blessings flawlessly.
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As Zippy struggles to make sense of the magic in her life, she learns about dybbuks and ibburs, two different Jewish mythological beings.
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The book ends with Zippy leyning (chanting Torah) and giving a d’var Torah (a talk about her Torah portion) at her bat mitzvah.
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Witchcraft and magic are central to the story. There are some age-appropriate references to kissing and crushes. At one point, Miriam inadvertently sucks some of Zippy’s memories from her. There is nothing graphic about it, but it might be upsetting for our most sensitive readers.
What the Book Is About
Zippy McConnell has always shared everything — including her interest in magic and witchcraft — with her best friend, Bea. But as Zippy and Bea enter 7th grade, Bea is acting funny, everyone at school thinks Zippy is weird, and Zippy struggles to make sense of the Torah portion she needs to learn for her bat mitzvah.
When Zippy's parents are too tired to attend tashlich (a Rosh Hashanah ceremony performed near water), Zippy goes on her own and brings a mysterious old red journal she found in the public library with her. While struggling to read it, Zippy conjures Miriam, a near-translucent young girl with wings but no memories.
As Zippy tries to figure out who Miriam is and where she comes from, she also begins to make sense of all the changes happening in her own life.
Jewish Content and Values
-
Zippy and her parents are Jewish; they belong to a synagogue and attend High Holiday services. Zippy creates her own tashlich ceremony (a ceremony involving the casting off of sins into water) on Rosh Hashanah.
-
Rabbi Dan, a kind and wise guide, tutors Zippy as she prepares for her bat mitzvah. Zippy is ambivalent about her Judaism, in part because she is passionate about witchcraft, which, according to her bat mitzvah portion, is not acceptable in the Torah.
-
There are a number of Hebrew words and phrases throughout the book. For a period of time, Zippy is fluent in Hebrew and can sing the Shabbat morning blessings flawlessly.
-
As Zippy struggles to make sense of the magic in her life, she learns about dybbuks and ibburs, two different Jewish mythological beings.
-
The book ends with Zippy leyning (chanting Torah) and giving a d’var Torah (a talk about her Torah portion) at her bat mitzvah.
-
Content Advisory
Witchcraft and magic are central to the story. There are some age-appropriate references to kissing and crushes. At one point, Miriam inadvertently sucks some of Zippy’s memories from her. There is nothing graphic about it, but it might be upsetting for our most sensitive readers.
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