For readers enchanted by tales of true love and destiny, this lyrical story explores the timeless bond between two souls, meant to be together forever.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is curious about profound concepts like soulmates, destiny, or a love that feels preordained. This beautifully illustrated story retells a classic Jewish folktale about two souls promised to each other in heaven. When they are separated on Earth, the boy's spirit becomes a 'dybbuk' and enters the body of the girl he was meant to marry, seeking to reunite with his other half. It gently explores deep themes of love, loneliness, and spiritual connection. Best for thoughtful children ages 7 and up, it’s a unique and lyrical way to introduce a different cultural tradition and open conversations about love that transcends the physical world.
A spirit (dybbuk) enters a girl's body. It is presented as mystical, not frightening.
Cultural Content GapMild
The story is rooted in Jewish folklore (dybbuk, rabbis) which may need context for some readers.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with the death of both main characters. The approach is spiritual and rooted in Jewish mysticism, not secular or tragic. The deaths are framed as a peaceful, beautiful, and necessary reunion of souls who could not be together on Earth. The resolution is therefore spiritually hopeful, though it involves physical death.
Ideal Reader
A sensitive, curious 7-9 year old who loves folklore, mythology, and asking big questions about love, life, and death. This child appreciates poetic language and rich, detailed illustrations and isn't afraid of a bittersweet ending. It is for a child ready to understand that not all love stories end with a wedding.
Parent Prep
Parents must preview the ending. The fact that both characters die to be together needs to be contextualized as a beautiful reunion, not a tragedy. Explain that a 'dybbuk' in this folktale is not an evil ghost but a lost soul trying to find its rightful place. This book benefits from a conversation about how different cultures tell stories about love and the afterlife. The child asks, "What are soulmates?" or "Are some people meant to be together forever?" Or, a child shows interest in ghost stories but needs a non-scary, more spiritual or folkloric entry point.
Age Experience
A younger child (6-7) will likely focus on the fairy tale elements: the promise made in heaven, the beautiful pictures, and the idea of true love. They may find the dybbuk concept confusing. An older child (8-9) can better grasp the complex themes of destiny, spiritual promises, and the bittersweet nature of the ending. They can engage more deeply with the cultural and religious context.
What Makes It Special
Unlike most Western fairy tales that culminate in a wedding and earthly happiness, this story presents a spiritual, Jewish folkloric perspective on love. Its unique power lies in defining 'happily ever after' not as a life lived together, but as a transcendent reunion of souls. It introduces complex theological and emotional ideas with grace and beauty.
Read plot summary
Two souls are betrothed in heaven before they are born. On Earth, they are Chonon and Leah. After Chonon's family moves, Leah's father forgets his promise and arranges for her to marry another. Heartbroken, Chonon dies, and his soul becomes a dybbuk (a wandering spirit). On her wedding day, his spirit enters Leah's body, declaring she is his destined bride. The rabbis try to exorcise the spirit, but upon learning of the heavenly promise, they hesitate. Ultimately, both Leah and Chonon die, and their souls are reunited in the afterlife.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
