For a child navigating friendships and unexpected mentors, this humorous tale explores how surprising encounters can lead to self-discovery across New York City.
A parent might reach for this book when their child feels adrift, especially after a best friend moves away or when they are struggling to define their own identity. This story follows Amy Finawitz, who is lonely and uninspired by a school project to find her 'inner genius'. Her life takes a hilarious turn when her eccentric elderly neighbor, Miss Sophia, and her Hasidic Jewish nephew, Beryl, decide to 'help'. Their adventures across New York City, told through emails, plays, and lists, forge an unlikely but powerful friendship. The book humorously explores themes of identity, loneliness, intergenerational connections, and cultural understanding, making it perfect for a preteen navigating the confusing, funny, and wonderful world of growing up.
The book deals directly with cultural and religious identity, specifically focusing on Hasidic Judaism through the character of Beryl. The approach is respectful, educational, and filled with humor, aiming to break down stereotypes and foster understanding. The resolution is hopeful, highlighting the value of cross-cultural friendship. The loneliness of a friend moving away is also a central theme, handled with realism and empathy.
Ideal Reader
This book is perfect for an introspective, witty 10 to 13-year-old who feels a bit like an outsider or is trying to figure out what makes them special. It's especially resonant for a child dealing with the recent move of a close friend or for one who enjoys character-driven stories with a unique narrative voice and a lot of heart.
Parent Prep
No specific preparation is needed; the book can be read cold. The author does a great job of explaining cultural specifics (like aspects of Hasidic life) organically within the story. A parent might be prepared to have a conversation about stereotypes or different religious practices if the child has questions, but the book itself provides excellent context. A parent has heard their child say, "I'm so boring," or "I don't have a special talent." The child might be expressing sadness over a changing friendship or feeling overwhelmed by a big, open-ended school assignment that requires self-reflection.
Age Experience
A 10-year-old will likely be drawn in by the humor, the zany adventures, and the core story of making new friends. An older reader, around 12 or 13, will better appreciate the nuanced exploration of identity, the cleverness of the mixed-media format, and the subtler emotional journey Amy undertakes to define herself outside of her friendship with Keri.
What Makes It Special
The epistolary and mixed-media format is the book's most unique feature. Telling the story through emails, plays, and fortunes creates an incredibly intimate and hilarious first-person voice. The specific triad of friendship, a secular Jewish girl, an elderly gentile woman, and a Hasidic boy, is a highly original combination that allows for a fresh exploration of intergenerational and intercultural connection.
Read plot summary
Twelve-year-old Amy Finawitz is feeling lost after her best friend, Keri, moves to California. A school 'passion project' to discover her 'inner genius' only adds to her anxiety. Her elderly, eccentric neighbor, Miss Sophia, takes a keen interest and inserts herself, along with her nephew Beryl, a young Hasidic Jew, into Amy's project. The mismatched trio embarks on a series of quirky quests across New York City. The story is told through Amy's witty emails to Keri, as well as one-act plays, Chinese-style fortunes, and other creative formats, documenting her journey to understanding friendship, family, and herself.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Amy communicates in many different ways: emails, plays, fortunes. Why do you think she chooses these formats? How do they show us different parts of her personality?
2
How does Amy's opinion of Miss Sophia and Beryl change from the beginning to the end of the book? What specific events cause this change?
3
Beryl faces stereotypes from others because of how he dresses and the community he belongs to. How does he handle this, and what does Amy learn from his example?
4
The school project is to find an 'inner genius'. What do you think Amy's inner genius turns out to be by the end of the story? Is it what she expected to find?
