The Trouble with Good Ideas

by Amanda Panitch (Author)

The Trouble with Good Ideas
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

From author Amanda Panitch comes The Trouble with Good Ideas, a hilarious middle-grade novel with a magical twist about a girl, a golem, and her ailing grandfather, perfect for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish.

Twelve-year old Leah Nevins is NOT a fan of change.

So when her parents start whispering about sending her beloved Jewish great-grandpa Zaide to an assisted living facility (hospital jail!), she is very resistant. Zaide's house, where her family gathers on Saturday afternoons, is the only place where Leah feels like she truly belongs. Sending Zaide away would change everything.

Luckily, Leah remembers a story Zaide once told her about building a golem--a creature from Jewish mythology made out of clay--to protect their family from the Nazis in Poland. So, of course, Leah decides to make a golem of her own to look after Zaide. The directions he gave her were pretty easy to follow, but there is one thing he never told her: what to do when a golem turns against its creator.

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School Library Journal

Gr 4-6--Leah loves her great-grandfather Zaide. She loves going to his unique house for family gatherings on Saturdays, and she loves his stories. He once told her about how to build a golem--a creature from Jewish mythology molded from clay with the purpose of protecting the family from the Nazis in Poland. As Zaide begins to decline mentally, Leah's parents start talking about sending him to an assisted living facility. Leah is not a fan of this change and decides to build a golem to help Zaide so he can stay in his home. Everything seems to be going to plan until the golem becomes more demanding, seemingly neglecting its purpose of helping and protecting Zaide. There's a crucial part of the golem myth Zaide failed to mention--how to handle a golem that has turned on its creator. This is a well-written, easy-to-follow middle grade novel with relatable characters. Leah suffers from insecurities about herself and her place in the world that will resonate with many tweens. There is a strong focus on familial relationships and connections, as well as friendship both within and outside the family. While the book does a wonderful job centering Jewish customs, history, and mythology, Leah repeatedly comments on how much she hates her big nose. This sort of stereotyping combined with such a strong focus on the way a person "should" look can be harmful in literature for young readers. VERDICT An additional purchase for larger libraries.--Jessica Trafton, Skidompha Lib., Damariscotta, ME

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

A representation of a modern Jewish family with a folkloric twist.—Kirkus Reviews

Panitch's twisted fairy tale, by turns heartwarming, bittersweet, and creepy, explores Leah's Jewish identity through her realistic, 12-year-old perspective.—Booklist

Amanda Panitch
Amanda Panitch spent most of her childhood telling stories to her four younger siblings, trying both to make them laugh and scare them too much to sleep. Now she lives in New York City, where she writes dark, funny stories for teens, kids, and the pigeons that nest on her apartment balcony.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781250821645
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Roaring Brook Press
Publication date
August 09, 2022
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV012030 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | General
Library of Congress categories
Grandparent and child
Golem

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