When the Angels Left the Old Country
by Sacha Lamb
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Pub Date Oct 18 2022 | Archive Date Feb 02 2023
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Description
Sydney Taylor Award Winner
Michael L. Printz Honor Book
National Jewish Book Award Finalist
AudioFile Earphones Award Winner
BEST OF THE YEAR
NPR · New York Public Library · Kirkus
For fans of “Good Omens”—a queer immigrant fairytale about individual purpose, the fluid nature of identity, and the power of love to change and endure.
Uriel the angel and Little Ash (short for Ashmedai) are the only two supernatural creatures in their shtetl (which is so tiny, it doesn't have a name other than Shtetl). The angel and the demon have been studying together for centuries, but pogroms and the search for a new life have drawn all the young people from their village to America. When one of those young emigrants goes missing, Uriel and Little Ash set off to find her.
Along the way the angel and demon encounter humans in need of their help, including Rose Cohen, whose best friend (and the love of her life) has abandoned her to marry a man, and Malke Shulman, whose father died mysteriously on his way to America. But there are obstacles ahead of them as difficult as what they’ve left behind. Medical exams (and demons) at Ellis Island. Corrupt officials, cruel mob bosses, murderers, poverty. The streets are far from paved with gold.
P R A I S E
★ “Powerfully moving. Broad in scope, the strong queer relationships at its core provide an unfaltering anchor.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred)
★ “Immersive…Propulsive. A mashup of historical fiction and magical realism, this will find a satisfied audience in fans of both.”
—BCCB (starred)
★ “Extraordinary….Absorbing. A sublime novel about the fantastical, freeing nature of love.”
—Foreword Reviews (starred)
★ “Gorgeous, fascinating, and fun. Deftly tackles questions of identity, good and evil, obligation, and the many forms love can take.”
—Kirkus (starred)
★ “Terrific. Richly imagined and plotted, this inspired book has the timeless feeling of Jewish folklore.”
—Booklist (starred)
★ “Expansive queer tale that marries historical fiction with inventive world-building. Witty, cerebral storytelling.”
—Horn Book (starred)
★ "A must-buy for any collection, Lamb’s historical fiction novel brings soft queer joy to a compelling tale of immigrants and unions and Jewish folklore."
—School Library Journal (starred)
“Liars, lovers, grifters, a good angel and a wicked one—all held together with the bright red thread of unexpected romance, enduring friendship and America’s history. You don’t have to be Jewish to love Sacha Lamb—you only have to read.”
—New York Times Bestseller Amy Bloom
“I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!! I read it in two days and then I spent the next two weeks thinking about it. Literally forgot to take my lunch break at work because I was busy thinking about it. This book is SO fun and funny and beautiful. Inherently, inextricably deeply queer-and-Jewish in a way that makes my brain buzz. I am obsessed.”
—Piera Varela, Porter Square Books
“I love this book more than I can say (but I’ll try!) I was delighted by the wry narrative voice of this book from the first paragraph. The author perfectly captures the voice of a Jewish folk tale within an impeccably researched early 20th century setting that includes Yiddish, striking factory workers, and revolutionary coffee houses. It gave me so many feelings about identity, love, and their obligations to the world, themselves, and each other. This story will forever have a place in my heart and in my canon of favorite books. I can’t wait to have it on my shelves!”
—Marianne Wald, East City Bookshop
“A beautiful story of an angel and demon set on helping an emigrant from their shtetl, and the fierce girl that joins them on the way... A must read for all ages—one filled to the brim with heart.”
—Mo Huffman, Changing Hands Bookstore
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781646141760 |
| PRICE | $19.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Jenna D, Librarian
4.5 stars.
This is a very Jewish Good Omens-like book, and so, of course, I loved it. It was also queerer than Good Omens, with a genderless angel, a queer demon, and a lesbian lady as the main characters. This book is chocked full of Jewish and Yiddish terms that I, as even a reform Jew, had to look up some things. It did have a glossary at the end, but it would have been easier, I think, for goyim to read with the terms and customers explained as they read. The pacing started slowly, but it sped up near the middle and end. I loved all the characters and wanted them all to succeed. The relationship between Little Ash and Uriel was believable and very cute. I love relationships based on arguing about Jewish ideas. Rose, their new friend, is a great character who knows who she is and what needs to be done. She reminds me of Jewish women who have their brains on and are more together than most men.
Overall this is an excellent story of supernatural creatures and humans coming together to make a better life for each other and defeating evils known and unknown. This trend of Jewish fantasy is making me so happy though this one is especially Jewish, so it might not be for everyone.
Alexa K, Librarian
I meant to post this review sooner, but I finished reading months ago and have been recommending to people ever since! Truly a beautiful book.
Abbe L, Reviewer
The angel and the demon have lived side by side in their tiny nameless shtetl for centuries, passing their time studying and arguing over fine points of the Talmud. The world around them is changing, though, as threats of pogroms grow closer and more young people are leaving for the promise of the New World. When the two hear of a villager’s daughter who has disappeared along the way, they decide to head to America to find her. The demon, Little Ash, finds promise of mischief and excitement, while the angel sees a duty, a mitzvah, to watch out for the residents of their village.
And adventures ensue! Along the way they encounter murderers in Warsaw, the ghost of an old rebbe, a headstrong girl on her way to America still bitter that her crush married a man, demons at Ellis Island, New York mobsters, dybbuks, and more!
But what I love most of this book was the relationships and the way it is such a sweet, beautiful song of being alive, being human (even when you’re not), and the many shapes of identity. I really can’t put into words how beautiful I found this book. If you’re looking for a queerplatonic story with a demon and an agender angel (it pronouns) that explores themes of names, change, identity, and soulmates, for lack of a better word, that is unashamedly Jewish/Yiddish -- if any of that sounds like something you’d like to read, go pick this up now! (You won’t necessarily need to know anything of Yiddish culture to appreciate it)
I was sucked into this story feeling all the feels, and it’s definitely my top book of 2022 now.
Emma S, Reviewer
Just an absolutely fantastic read, loved the writing, the characters and the setting. Thank you Sacha Lamb for saving YA.
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