A parent might reach for this book when their child is struggling with perfectionism or is afraid of making mistakes. It's for the kid whose good intentions sometimes backfire, leaving them feeling frustrated or like a failure. The story follows Leah, a young girl from a family of magical craftspeople, whose grandfather is losing his memory. Her 'good idea' to help him by secretly creating a golem (a magical clay horse) spirals into a town-wide disaster. This charming fantasy adventure explores resilience, problem-solving, and the beauty of imperfection. For ages 8-12, it's a wonderful, gentle way to open conversations about how mistakes are opportunities, not catastrophes.
The book deals with a grandparent's cognitive decline and memory loss. The approach is metaphorical and seen through a child's loving but worried perspective. It is a secular story, focusing on the family's emotional journey of adaptation and acceptance. The resolution is hopeful and realistic: Zaide's condition isn't magically cured, but the family finds a new, collaborative way to appreciate his craft and support him.
Ideal Reader
This book is perfect for a 9-11 year old who struggles with perfectionism, anxiety, or a fear of failure. It's for the child who gets deeply frustrated when their art project or homework isn't exactly as they envisioned. It would also be a gentle and supportive read for a child who is witnessing a grandparent's memory loss and needs a safe, story-based way to process their feelings.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold without any specific preparation. The themes are handled gently. If the family has direct experience with a relative's cognitive decline, a parent might want to be prepared for the story to open up conversations about their own family's situation, particularly around Zaide's moments of confusion. A parent has just seen their child crumple up a drawing in frustration, saying 'It's not right!' or hears them say, 'I'm not going to try, I'll just mess it up.' Another trigger could be a child expressing sadness or confusion about a grandparent who is becoming more forgetful.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will likely connect most with the magical adventure: a cool horse made of clay comes to life and smashes things! An older reader (10-12) will better appreciate the nuanced emotional layers: Leah's complex motivations, the metaphor of the out-of-control golem, and the bittersweet reality of her grandfather's changing abilities.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many fantasy books focused on epic battles, this story's central conflict is internal and relational: confronting perfectionism and accepting change in a loved one. The grounding of magic in creative arts like pottery and clockmaking is unique, and the specific use of a golem from Jewish folklore provides a fresh cultural anchor for the 'magic-gone-wrong' trope.
Read plot summary
Leah lives in a town where everyone is a magical artisan. Her beloved grandfather (Zaide), a famous clockmaker, is struggling with memory loss and can't finish his entry for the annual town festival. In a desperate attempt to help, Leah sculpts a golem, a magical clay horse, to assist him. But the golem takes her instructions too literally and begins to 'fix' everything in town, causing chaos and destruction. Leah must team up with her perceived rival, Cody, to stop the creature she created, learning along the way that true success isn't about perfection.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Leah’s 'good idea' to make the golem ended up causing a lot of trouble. Can a good intention still lead to a bad outcome? Talk about a time you tried to help but accidentally made things worse.
2
Leah and Cody started out as rivals but learned to work together. Why was it hard for them to be friends at first? What specific moment made them realize they needed to be a team?
3
At the end of the story, Zaide’s clock isn’t 'perfect,' but the town loves it anyway. What does the book teach us about the difference between something being perfect and something being wonderful?
4
The golem was created to follow instructions, but it started doing its own thing. Why do you think it stopped listening to Leah? What did the golem seem to want?
