Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Fantastic story! This book was so much more than I had bargained for — on so many levels.

On the personal level, Leah combats her own adolescent insecurities, while at the same time she faces the difficulty of making friends as a new kid in a new environment.

On the family level, Leah struggles to keep the family together, to prevent things from changing within her extended family dynamics, and to help her aging grandfather retain his own personal freedom and independent lifestyle, even in light of his rapidly increasing dementia.

On the cultural level, we see through Leah’s eyes her experiences in her previous Jewish school compared to those in her new secular school — complete with lunchroom politics, cultural ignorance, stereotypical prejudices, and personal misunderstandings.

But by far the most fun and absolute highlight in this captivating story comes in the form of the unexpected magical surprises! I don’t want to offer any spoilers, but I was so taken away by this magical story — especially by Leah’s personality, with all her imperfections, misunderstandings, bad decisions, and… “good ideas”!

I can highly recommend this book to readers of any age!

I loved this story!

It was adorable and cute and I loved learning about the Jewish religion and mythology through a young child's eyes.

I found it wholesome and fantastic for middle grade students. I will definitely recommend this one to all my book clubs!

This extremely timely book deals with a young girl's struggle to accept herself and her culture in a school where she is the only Jewish student. Her comfort zone is even about to disappear as her Zaide is having unusual symptoms and the family is considering moving him into care. Drawing on Jewish mythology, she build a clay golem, but the situation does not go as hoped and she must grown in her own strength to make things better. I am reviewing this book after receiving an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

DNF. Didn't connect with the main character and the family health difficulties just hit a little too close to home right now.

I received an e-arc of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

I thought that the premise behind this story was really interesting. I loved how it was slightly magical with the golem coming to life but was also rooted heavily in the real world and dealt with a lot of real problems and emotions. Our main character Leah was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that a lot of things in her life was changing and she wasn't ready for all of these changes to happen. The emotions behind the story were very well portrayed and I could definitely feel and understand what Leah was going through and why she was thinking those thoughts. I also understand the comments that she was making about her nose and disliking it but I do wish that maybe the comments would have been a little less. There were some chapters where Leah would mention multiple times how much she hated her nose and couldn't wait to turn 18 so she could get a nose job and I thought that the point still could have come across with how much she disliked her nose with a few less comments about it being made. I was really glad to see though that some progress was made by the end of the book even though it wasn't a full 180, which I think is completely realistic.

The overall story arch flowed really well and kept me interested throughout the whole reading experience. I think the strongest point of the book was the emotions that Leah was going through. They were very relatable and recall going through similar emotions and thoughts throughout middle and even high school. I do wish the the other characters were maybe fleshed out a little better as I didn't really feel like those connections to our main character were really there. But maybe that was designed to be that way since our main character feels like she is on her own and doesn't really have any friends.

The Trouble with Good Ideas was a really good read and definitely had some good lessons sprinkled throughout. It was also eye opening to read an experience through a Jewish main character that wasn't taking place during the second world war and just a more every day experience.

4.5/5 stars

I really liked this middle grade novel! Leah and her parents have just moved to a new house in order to be closer to Leah's ailing great grandfather. Zaide is experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer's and his grandchildren are considering moving him to an assisted living facility. Leah thinks this is a terrible idea - she doesn't want to lose Saturdays at Zaide's, she'll miss playing chess with him and hanging out with her cousins every weekend. Leah's dealing with a lot more change than just her Zaide getting older though. Moving to a new house means that she's going to a new school. Until now, Leah's been going to a Jewish school so when she starts at this new school, she's not just dealing with having to make new friends, but having to make new friends in a place where she seems like one of the only Jewish kids.

After Zaide tells her the story of the Golem of Prague, Leah happens upon the chance to create a golem of her own, and thinks she's found the perfect solution to her problems. At first it seems like it's going okay, but then "the trouble with good ideas" starts. The golem/magical aspect of this book is creepy but not overly so, I think it makes sense for the age group the book is written for.

This book is overall about change and dealing with change and learning what problems we can fix and what changes we have to learn to live with. It's also about loving yourself, being proud of who you are and where you come from, and standing up for yourself.

Along with her worries about Zaide, Leah is also struggling with making friends. A large part of her story also includes navigating this - trying to hold onto her old friends, trying to fit in at her new school, trying to make (who she thinks is) the "right" friends. As Leah is navigating all this, she also experiences antisemitism from one of her peers - the culminating moment is painful and scary (there are shorter incidents with this character prior to the "big scene" as well) but I thought the book handled it well.

I loved the strong and loving family dynamic in this book. A wonderful great grandfather, loving and caring parents, and cousins that genuinely enjoy spending time together. Leah was a realistic 12 year old girl and I enjoyed her character growth from the beginning to the end of the book, it felt realistic and the character was self aware. I'm not Jewish myself so I can't speak to what it would be like to read this as a Jewish reader, but I really liked how we got to see the character's religion and culture and her love for it through her voice.

Content warning: antisemitism

The basic plot about worrying about change, Leah’s relationships with her family members and classmates, and even her supernatural “solution” were fairly standard middle grade fare, and I appreciated the consistent use of Jewish history and culture (a charoset prep scene - you love to see it!). However, the writing style sometimes felt inexpert and some plot elements such as Elsa’s transforming personality and the backstory between Zaide and Maria awkward or simplistic; the portrayal of antisemitism was so textbook in its use of major stereotypes that it felt almost ham-handed; and the focus on the “Jewish nose” felt a bit outdated and clumsy in its constant use. I couldn’t help feeling that the result here was average overall, though I always like seeing what’s new in Jewish literature for young readers, especially #OwnVoices.

It is definitely nice to find a story that involves a character who is Jewish that is living in their day to day. I know one of my co-workers who always wants to find protangonists who are Jewish (like herself) that aren't always about Hitler and the Nazis.
I love the magical realism component intertwined - reminded me a lot of Natalie Llyod and her writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the family connections, and the religious practices and explanations. The character development wasn't entirely my favorite from a teacher perspective, but I know students will enjoy this story given that it's a face-paced book.

This is a story that I could tell is near and dear to the authors heart! Twelve-year-old Leah has major self-esteem issues when it comes to her nose. She feels like she is constantly being judged even though her grandpa Zaide doubts it. She recently changed schools where she originally attended a Jewish school and had great friends, but this new school is nothing like it. She misses her friends, AND she finds out that her parents are thinking about putting Zaide in an assisted-living facility. A mix of anger and a touch of unexpected magic things change quickly... Readers will notice that Leah is not a happy-go-lucky kind of character. She is very angry, self-conscious, and wants what is best for her Grandpa. I think readers will be able to see themselves in her shoes so they can relate to her more.

Leah Nevins' favorite day of the week is Saturday, when her whole family gathers at her Zaide's house for chess, food, and fun. Zaide's house is full of so much life and love. It is where the family gathers for Seder at Passover, where Leah and her cousins have spent so many hours playing together, where Zaide raised his children and then his grandchildren and now enjoys time with his great-grandchildren. But something is wrong with Zaide; one day, when Leah arrives at his house, he doesn't recognize her, scaring both himself and Leah. Now Leah's parents and uncle are talking about putting Zaide in an assisted living home, and Leah won't stand for it. She has to keep Zaide in his house no matter what.

Inspired by one of Zaide's stories and coming across a curious find in his garage, Leah takes it upon herself to make a golem--a creature made out of clay that should keep Zaide safe. But the beautiful golem--who calls herself Elsa (yes, like the Disney Princess)--soon has ideas of her own about what she should and should not be doing with her time. None of Zaide's stories could have prepared Leah for her creation turning on her--or threatening all that she holds dear. Does Leah have the strength to destroy what she has made? And does she have the strength to accept change in her life?

This brilliant, beautiful middle grade novel hits on so many of the insecurities that come with being twelve and change. New town, new school, new friends, missing one's old life and worrying that old friends are forgetting about you... Well, it's no wonder Leah puts her foot down and says enough is enough when she finds out her parents want to add more change (or, rather, don't want this kind of change but accept that it needs to happen). And then to top it all off, Leah is coming to terms with her Jewish identity in a new way, as this is her first time attending secular public school and not having any Jewish friends in town, having to travel two hours away just to go to temple, and--sadly--having to deal with racist stereotypes and assumptions based on her faith. Then there is Leah's relationship with Zaide and her cousins, which are lovely and beautiful, full of warm, cozy feelings. And even that presents some changes--again, relating somewhat to growing up and growing older, but also that the love you have for your family will never ever change.

Reading "The Trouble with Good Ideas" is a good idea sans trouble!

I didn’t end up finishing this story. The message of the story and the writing are adequate, but I couldn’t connect with the story enough to really engage with the plot, unfortunately.

The Trouble with Good Ideas is the story of 12-year-old Leah, who has to leave her community and Jewish school to move with her family to live closer to her great grandfather. There, she is the only Jewish girl, and she has to learn how to make new friends while fighting stereotypes about her culture. She creates a golem to help take care of her great grandfather in order to prevent her family from moving him into an assisted living facility. At first, things are great, and then it takes a turn, and Leah has to confront her own feelings about herself, her friends, her family, and more.

I enjoyed this book. It was a very quick and easy read. I am not Jewish, so there was a lot in the book that I really wasn’t familiar with prior to reading this book. I felt like the author did a great job of explaining the different concepts in a way that did not take away from the story.

There were aspects of this book that I liked. I could tell that the author was telling a personal story, one that means a lot to her. But, I just don't think it will appeal to a broad audience. There are other books dealing with grandparents and their cognitive decline that are better.

I did not finish at 65%. I think this is the type of book children would read in school, and potentially could be useful in that setting. It was an interesting concept, but the execution did not work for me. I found it overall frustrating.

A magical story mixed into the real struggles of a girl struggling to accept herself, her history, and the struggles of a finding out a beloved family member is experiencing Alzheimer’s. Leah is a new girl at school, and she is the ONLY Jewish girl there. Leaf finds that she can’t seem to fit in and feels that no one wants to be her friend because she is different. Leah absolutely hates her nose, a distinct feature in her family. But the one thing that gets her through all her struggles, is always visiting her great grandpa Zaide, but he’s been acting strange lately and suddenly Leah over hears her parents want to send him to an assisted living facility. Leah refuses to let her great-grandpa be sent there so when she learns about building a golem, a creature from Jewish mythology made out of clay, she thinks this is the perfect solution to help take care of her great-grandpa and stop him from being sent away. Things get out of hand real fast once the golem arrives and Leah has to begin to not only accept her situation, but also that she should be proud of herself and that she doesn’t need to change herself to fit in, just love herself. This was a beautiful story that dealt with very real struggles of being different, of learning to love your features and your history, of trying to fit in, of dealing with racism, and of the struggles and sadness that comes with someone you know having Alzheimers and how you can just be there for them. Truly a beautiful and heartwarming story filled with magic and mischief. This is an excellent read that I would definitely recommend for anyone of all ages!

While the golem is a common trope in Jewish children's literature, it was a nice change to see a book about a Jewish middle grader that did NOT focus on bar or bat mitzvah, just for a change. This golem was truly creepy, especially in contrast to the very realistic contemporary story within which it was set. The human relationships were realistic and believable, and the growth arc was satisfying. Another unusual feature was the direct confrontation of casual modern antisemitism. The embedded information about the Holocaust may be too intense for readers (especially Jewish readers) who have not yet learned that history. Overall, a well-written and intriguing story with important messaging.

I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Leah and her family have recently moved to be near her great-grandfather. She's adjusting to leaving her best friends and finding her way at a new middle school. Plus, her great-grandfather is in the early stages of Alzheimer's and getting worse. Leah does not want him sent to an assisted living center so does whatever she can to keep him in his home. This includes finding the remains of the golem her grandfather had made back in Poland before World War II. He told her part of the story but alluded to issues he didn't explain. She decided it would be a good idea to create a golem to protect him. However, as readers see, she poured all of her hurt and mixed up emotions into this being. This backfires and Leah learns a hard lesson everyone does that there are some things beyond their own control. She has to take on the golem and save her cousins and other family members from the dark side of herself. She realizes that people situations change and people have to change and adapt too.
Readers will relate to the emotions and challenges faced by the main character. They may not face this exact situation but who doesn't wish for a magic solution to remove conflicts and pain. Sadly, too many have faced prejudice for who they are as well. The scene where Leah takes on the popular bully will empower so many to stand up for themselves too.
A terrific class read as the chapters are shorter and offer plenty to discuss throughout the book.

This one was... okay. It was nice to have a golem story actually by a Jewish author and about a Jewish protagonist, and not just "oh yeah, here's the character celebrating Hanukkah," but actually living a Jewish life. The emphasis on popularity kind of didn't do it for me, and I lost interest and struggled to finish it. Still, I think this one would be good for an elementary/middle school library.

Didn't end up finishing, but made it about halfway through. Felt too heavy-handed and talked down to its readers.