Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me free access to the digital advanced copy of this book.

An uplifting hi-low novel that deftly weaves the theme of tolerance throughout its pages. A quick and engaging read.

I have read a few other of Joanne Levy's books and I find them easy to read and well written. She tackles a lot of hard topics including being different, hate crimes and other things plaguing youth of today with grace. I usually discover that the protagonist is often someone I'd like to be friends with and Elsie is no exception. Highly recommended for anyone interested in YA books

Jewish books! My absolutely favorite, and since I don’t always check NetGalley with regularity (because I’m pretty realistic about what I have time for, unless it’s a used book sale and then all reality flies out the window), I often miss out on what they have to offer. Not this time! I came across The Book of Elsie by Joanne Levy (Orca Book Publishers, 2022) while browsing NetGalley’s stacks one day and leapt to request it. Lo and behold, I was approved! Huge thanks to NetGalley. Orca Book Publishers, and Joanne Levy for allowing me to read an early review of this book.

Elsie is super excited about Purim this year. Her Queen Esther costume, created by her costume designer dad and which she’s still trying to accessorize with the perfect finishing touches, is going to be amazing, and she can’t wait to wear it at her synagogue’s Purim celebration. But then the bad news drops: the Purim celebration is cancelled. The synagogue is in serious financial trouble and is in danger of closing altogether. Elsie is devastated…and then she gets to work. If Queen Esther saved the Jews, Elsie can surely save her synagogue!

With her rabbi’s approval, Elsie’s synagogue opens up the Purim celebration to outsiders and begins to sell tickets to the events. It’s not just hamantaschen and hard work; Elsie and her best friend Grace experience a little bit of prejudice along the way. Things only get dicier when the synagogue is vandalized. Can Elsie continue to find inspiration in the story of Esther, or will Purim and the synagogue be cancelled entirely?

This is a charming, modern-day story centered around the Jewish holiday of Purim, which celebrates how Queen Esther saved the Jewish people from imminent death at the hands of the evil villain Haman. It’s traditional to dress up in costumes (biblical or not; there was a banana at my synagogue this year), get drunk (yes, really!), and make lots of noise (including a very loud, “BOOOOOOOOOOOO!” when Haman’s name is mentioned). Elsie’s Christian best friend Grace serves as an outsider who’s unfamiliar with Purim and needs the basics explained to her, opening up this story to be enjoyed and understood by middle grade readers of all backgrounds.

Elsie is a spunky, determined kid who doesn’t always make the right choices (and what kid does?), but she learns from her mistakes and has excellent follow-through. Not only is this book full of fabulous Jewish representation, her best friend is Black, and her two dads, Dad and Abba, make for great LGBT representation, especially as it’s never commented on as being A Thing, just presented as Elsie’s everyday life, which I loved.
There are a few instances of antisemitism and racism here. Nothing violent and in-your-face scary, but sensitive kids on the younger end of the middle grade spectrum who aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of what it means to live with these threats may benefit a few conversations about them with a loving adult. Elsie’s courage in the face of hatred and the violation of her community’s sacred space provides a great lesson in bravery and the refusal to back down when it comes to creating the kind of future you want and need.

The Book of Elsie is a quick, charming read that should delight younger readers as well as educate those who may not be familiar with Purim. This would make for a great parent-child read; not only is it a lovely book headed by a determined main character, there are a lot of great discussion points throughout the book, and I can imagine many wonderful conversations a parent and child may have as they make their way through the story. I’m going to read this with my just-turned eight-year-old in a few weeks, when we finish up our current read. I expect that she’ll love it. : )

Elsie is looking forward to celebrating purim, when she finds that the synagogue might have to close. Like Queen Esther, she will do anything she can to save her community.

Yes, there is a hate crime. Yes, bad things happen. But good things happen as well. We even have her two dads who don't want to open up the purim celebration to the non-jewish community, because one of them was treated badly for being gay.

A little predictable, but a good story, none the less. I think that kids will love that it is a contemporary jewish story, and includes two dads. Representation matters.

A quick read, part of the hi-lo book series that have interesting story lines that are written at a slightly lower grade level.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

There is a lack of Jewish juvenile books that don't take place during the Holocaust and I'm happy to now have this one. The story is about Elsie, a girl who's hero is Queen Esther, who stood up to Haman for her people and can't wait to dress up like her for Purim. Unfortunately Elsie soon learns first hand how common antisemitism still is and it threatens her synagogue and Purim costume contest.

The story of Queen Esther means a lot to me and by the end I was definitely tearing up along with the rabbi. As a kid, the synagogue I went to, and others in the area, had many similar incidents over the years, so I know first hand how Elsie felt to see the hate that people still hold in their hearts.

And while it wasn't the point of the story I really appreciated that Elsie had two dads, there's not enough Jewish LGBTQIA+ representation out there and I've already started recommending this book for when it comes out.