Shira & Esther's Double Dream Debut was a fun and interesting book because it is about two Jewish girls who look almost exactly alike but want totally different lives. Shira is the rabbi's daughter and everyone expects her to be serious and study for her bat mitzvah, but she wants to perform. Esther grew up around Yiddish theater and her mom wants her to be on stage, but she really wants to study Torah and learn Hebrew. I liked that the book showed more than one way to be Jewish. My favorite part was how Shira and Esther each feel like everyone else has already decided who they are supposed to be. That felt very familiar, even though the story is set in a different time. I also liked the funny narrator and all the Yiddish words because it made the book feel Jewish without feeling like a lesson. I think kids my age would like it if they enjoy stories about family expectations and figuring out what kind of Jewish life feels right for you.
