Book 1 in @sarahkapit Rachel Friedman lower MG series releases tomorrow!
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Rachel loves being Jewish, but attending synagogue services is boring. She has ADHD and having to sit, be still and quiet for that long usually has Rachel breaking all the rules. When her dad makes her a deal to see if she can go one week following all the rules for tickets to see her favorite gymnast, she jumps at the chance. But when she ends up breaking a rule for the right reason, will that still count?
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I absolutely adored this novel from @mackidsbooks! Growing up we didn’t have hardly any Jewish people in our community. I didn’t even learn what Judaism was until third grade. I am so glad we have more #books like these on the shelves for kids to either learn about cultures and religions different from their own or connect with the characters because they know what it’s like to be Jewish. I can’t wait for the rest of this series, as Rachel was just too adorable. Fans of The Ryan Hart titles will also love this one!

CW: death of parent (mentioned)

A solid relatable concept. Kids can struggle with rules, both when they need to be stuck to strictly and when they can be ignored. I like that this narrative both acknowledges the contradiction and gives rationale for why rules matter. The intent here is clear and easy to understand.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Our protagonist is such a splendidly relatable character whose outlook on the world and its injustices is simultaneously childish and - when one stops to seriously consider her grievances - quite logical.

I might be in my thirties, but sometimes an adorable chapter book is still all I need to feel better. I've loved Sarah Kapit's previous middlegrades, so while I don't read a lot of chapter books, I immediately knew I wanted to read this one! It's about Rachel, who's Jewish and has ADHD, and who HATES having to follow rules that don't make sense to her. This story is adorable and hilarious in equal measures, and I would love to read the second installment as well!

This is a cute little chapter book that should appeal to Jewish families. It has all the requisite tropes of the day, but don't let that stop you from focusing on Rachel, a very imperfect but lovable little girl. Feisty girls will enjoy the story greatly.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I look forward to more of Rachel Friedman!

This was a short and sweet read. I enjoyed learning about Rachel and her life. I liked learning more about Jewish traditions. I think this is a very important books for kids now. The only thing I didn’t like was the length. The story felt too short, and it would have been nice to see her meet her gymnast idol unless there is going to be another book. I highly recommend this book.

I loved the 100% Jewishness of this one, but I found Rachel's narrative voice to be obnoxious and alienating. And while I was somewhat charmed by her antics at shul, the rabbi's and community's reactions didn't quite ring true to me.

Fantastic chapter book feature a precocious and relatable character that young readers will want to go on adventure after adventure with. Highly recommend!

An early middle grade novel about a Jewish gymnast being raised by her single father? Yes please. Rachel is flawed but likeable, and like any elementary school kid (or human??) she struggles to follow rules, especially if she doesn't understand the reason behind the rule. Kapit does a wonderful job of allowing the reader to quickly fall in love with Rachel and root for her success. My only concern was that the ending was super didactic, which is not my favorite. I love how many kids will be able to see themselves in this book, but wish it had ended a little differently. Will still recommend all over the place.

This is a fun story for young kids. The illustrations—and their very expressive characters—are my favorite part of this book.

Rachel Friedman is a delightful and relatable main character who will quickly join the beloved ranks of Ramona Quimby and Ryan Hart. Rachel's story provides really strong representation for both Jewish children and children with ADHD, and her pluck and penchant for breaking the rules will be understandable to all elementary school readers. This book is ideal for a second or third grade independent reader and would make a great read aloud for younger children as well.