Publishers Weekly
09/25/2023
Twelve-year-old Shaindy—who attends an Othodox Jewish school, and whose classmates are famous for their reputation of being kind and respectful students—has been feeling lonely and struggles to connect with her peers. She follows the “other girls around at recess, trying to join their conversations and always falling flat.” When next-door neighbor Gayil—who’s beloved by teachers and classmates alike—invites her to hang out, Shaindy can’t resist. She’s ecstatic to have finally found a friend and even goes along with what Gayil insists are “harmless” pranks that end up hurting girls in their class. Through Gayil’s seemingly genuine overtures of friendship, Shaindy develops new skills such as in-line skating, all the while becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the escalating schemes. In this inviting read, Lowe (Aviva vs. the Dybbuk) effectively employs a Jewish cultural milieu, setting Shaindy and Gayil’s antics against the High Holidays’ emphasis on personal responsibility and forgiveness. Shaindy’s perceptive first-person voice is convincing in its rendering of a tween trying to find her footing and moral compass while navigating her community’s significant expectations. Main characters are Jewish and read as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Tamar Rydzinski, Context Literary. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
Kirkus Top 10 Middle Grade Novels for Fall '23
“A nuanced exploration of the intricacies of friendship…Engrossing and deeply relatable.” – Kirkus
“An enormously rewarding meditation on friendship, fairness, and forgiveness.” – Booklist
[STAR] “[An] introspective novel full of perceptive emotional observations.” – Horn Book (starred)
“This thoughtful middle grade novel explores the complexity of middle school friendships, bullying, and what it means to make amends and have a fresh start.” – Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
[STAR] “[An] introspective novel full of perceptive emotional observations.” – Horn Book (starred)
“With careful precision, Mari Lowe explores the complex nature of preteen social interactions, as well as their emotionally dangerous consequences.” – Jewish Book Council
“Pitch-perfect… The struggle between trying to fit in and keeping true to yourself will resonate with all tweens.” – School Library Journal
[STAR] “An outsider aching for inclusion becomes the perpetrator of escalating stunts before her inevitable undoing in Mari Lowe's absorbing and principled middle-grade triumph The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman.” – Shelf Awareness (starred)
School Library Journal
11/01/2023
Gr 3–7—Shaindy lives in a small Jewish suburb where life is quiet, and Jewish traditions are closely followed. Shaindy is thrilled to be chosen to participate in a prank by the most popular girl in her yeshiva's all-girl sixth grade class. She sees her classmates rollerblading and wants to join them, but her parents won't buy her a pair until she proves adept at it. As an incentive for joining in on the pranks, cool girl Gayil promises to teach Shaindy how to rollerblade. At first, Shaindy overlooks her misgivings and follows along, but as time passes, Shaindy starts to realize that the pranks are not harmless and are filled with spite. This causes Shaindy to wonder about the connections among those being pranked, herself, and Gayil. Eventually, the mean girl pins Shaindy as the only guilty party. Initially, the protagonist is very angry at Gayil, but then Shaindy begins to truly think about mercy as her community celebrates Yom Kippur, a day of forgiveness. There is a dearth of middle grade, non–Holocaust-related novels with Jewish main characters. Lowe's second novel for middle schoolers is a well-written, pitch-perfect contribution for the audience. The struggle between trying to fit in and keeping true to yourself will resonate with all tweens. VERDICT Readers will eagerly follow Shaindy's story and root for her to make decisions aligned with her values.—Charla Hollingsworth
Kirkus Reviews
2023-07-25
Shaindy and Gayil are neighbors and classmates, but they have never been friends.
It’s the beginning of sixth grade, and Shaindy and Gayil attend an Orthodox Jewish girls’ school that prizes both education and kindness. Awkward, chubby Shaindy feels invisible, while smart, popular Gayil is considered the perfect student. Their community is celebrating the High Holidays, with their particular emphasis on repentance (teshuva) and atonement. Ironically, Gayil chooses to begin a series of “harmless” pranks at this time, and she enlists Shaindy as her partner-in-crime. Shaindy craves a friend so much that she eagerly participates, but Gayil’s schemes soon escalate from putting slime on a good friend’s hairbrush to unleashing bees in the classroom (despite the potential danger to an allergic student) to faking another girl’s handwriting to get her in trouble with the teacher. Shaindy’s conscience starts to bother her until it finally all comes to a head and Gayil reveals the secret behind her unusual behavior. This is a nuanced exploration of the intricacies of friendship, and the fully realized setting, a close-knit development for Orthodox Jews, offers a very specific picture of Shaindy’s home and school life. Transliterated Hebrew words will be familiar to some (there is no glossary), but the universal themes of desiring friendship and popularity will resonate with many. Characters are cued as Jewish and white.
Engrossing and deeply relatable. (Fiction. 9-12)
