Do you want a sweet novel with a good message for personal character development? Broken Mirrors is exactly that! Read about how four diverse families come together and how each reacts to a situation.
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
The title of this book is great, because it is referring to twins that are no longer the reflection of each other. It is also about looking at oneself in the mirror and seeing how you appear in the situation, which might be different than you'd like to appear.
Some Details I Liked:
I liked how the author developed the characters' thoughts to describe their inner struggles.
There were also subtle hints to how the righteous get their way and cheaters never prosper.
Who This Book is For:
This book is more a girly book. It is well written, so that a younger reader can enjoy it and an older reader will truly appreciate it.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
This book is not for those looking for academic reading. It is a true novel in the sense that it is made up and has a happy ending. It does mention President Kennedy's death and how it was shocking, so it has a bit of historical fact mixed in.
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
It seemed to me that the characters in the adoption agency were not developed to the same point as the more main characters in the story. It was hard to know if they were Jewish or not, young or old, etc.
In Conclusion:
This is a very nice read. Enjoyable and satisfying!
Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.
Did you ever open a Chumash and wonder "What's Beyond the Bible Text?" This book is full of background and questions in order of the Parsha. It is great for group reading as well as individual learning.
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
This book is a professional text. It is well researched and put together in a clear fashion.
The cover uses the word "Bible" and not Torah or Chumash, as does the rest of the book. So, expect to read about Joseph instead of Yosef and Isaac instead of Yitzchok, etc.
Some Details I Liked:
I enjoyed the concept of the book a lot. To ask questions and probe for deeper understanding of familiar information.
Who This Book is For:
Being that the names are written in the Anglicized version, I would say that this book appeals to those that are comfortable with that terminology. It is also for people with understanding of the text already, as well as the general events of the Parsha.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
This book is not for young readers, as it discusses every topic in the Bible equally, including why people would be considered tamei after intimate relations.
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
So, I would have liked some answers or at least the start of one, rather then ending each chapter with a bunch of questions.
In Conclusion:
For the right crowd, this can be an unbelievable tool to start Torah discussion at the Shabbos table or the classroom.
Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.
A Fortunate Find is exactly what this book is! Written by Rivkah Small, this is an adorable, mystery chapter book. It starts off continuing from (I'm assuming) the previous Double Trouble mystery book, but it is easy to follow along.
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
The cover is clearly designed for kids and the book is about kids. It shows some scenes of the story, just enough to pique interest.
The book is a nice size paperback, perfect for smaller hands, as well as more mature ones.
Some Details I Liked:
I liked the plot a lot. The fact that the mystery was somewhat Torah-based, but not really and that there was good ethic in it as well. There is also some funny lines that seem to have gotten in there for the inevitable more mature reader.
Who This Book is For:
I would suggest this book to any newer reader that is starting on chapter books. The font is large and the vocabulary is pretty basic. It is also what I would consider "intelligent literature", aka, fun, light reading.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
This book is more boy oriented. If your daughter likes reading about girls, then this isn't a good read for her.
It has a little bit of a scary part at the near end, as do most mysteries. It isn't too graphic, but a child might imagine it more intensely.
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
So being that this book isn't catered to adults, I can't really complain about it much. I would enjoy reading the rest of the series.
In Conclusion:
This is a great investment. I would even suggest it as a gift for any young reader in your life.
Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.
