Customer Reviews

A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am an Orthodox Jewish girl at an Orthodox Jewish school, and I read this book because I am very interested in books about my faith. I think that the author did really well on Simone and her boyfriend and her friend and the friend's boyfriend, and that reminded me of other great teen books I have read, too. I do not think she did as well on the stuff about what it is like to lead a Jewish life. My best friend who is also Jewish has an adopted younger brother and I know that her family really tried to find a Jewish baby in order to adopt it but there were not any. I really do not think that Rifka would have given her baby to a gentile couple unless Rifka hated being Jewish, but she did not! The most interesting parts of the book was the part where Rifka and Simone met for the first time, and the parts about Simone and her boyfriend. There are some plot things that come up fast and then are dropped too fast, like the stuff about the club at school.

Dana Reinhardt's novel zooms in on an important and unique turning point in the life of Simone. Adopted at birth, Simone has lived in the loving and supportive home of her mom, dad and younger brother, Jake. She has tucked thoughts about who her birth parents might be into a deep pocket. But when she hears her birth mother, Rivka, would like to communicate with her, Simone chooses to dip into that pocket, albeit cautiously at first. What ensues is Reinhardt's poignant novel.

This is one of those books that touches tender in the hearts of readers. Simone's catharsis is very much a result of her endeavor to learn about Rivka and her past. One admires Simone for her courage and her refusal to harbor resentment for Rivka and her parents. Instead, she opens herself to her past and as a result, is able to open herself up more readily to the present.

Teens and adults alike will enjoy the authenticity of Simone's voice. Her friendships with her peers are meaningful, her candid relationship with Rivka is admirable and her willingness to take a chance on love is inspirational.

This is a story of love, friendship and family. Beautifully written. Inspirational. Spiritual. A great read. A MUST read.

I would classify this as an early young adult book, appropriate for grades 7 and up. It's about a sixteen-year-old girl named Simone, who grows up knowing that she was adopted, without wanting to know anything about her birth parents. She is resentful when her parents tell her that her birth mother, Rivka, wants to get to know her. She eventually gives in, and finds her life enriched by knowing Rivka.

I liked this book a lot. I found myself wanting to keep walking and listening, so that I could spend more time with Simone. I found her voice realistic (and the narrator did a wonderful job with this). She is sometimes a resentful teen, and sometimes awkward or insecure, and sometimes wise beyond her years. She has an unabashedly good relationship with her parents and her younger brother (ok, this is a tad unrealistic in my experience, but still nice to see). She has a small group of true friends, and a crush on a boy named Zack. I found the scenes between Simone and Zack particularly enjoyable. There's a scene in which Simone gets off the phone, and jumps up and down. Reading it, I almost wanted to be her. I certainly could identify with her.

This book also has a lot of information about what it means to be Jewish. Simone is an atheist, being raised by atheist parents, but her birth mother, Rivka, was raised as a Hasidic Jew. As Simone gets to know Rivka, she learns about various Jewish ceremonies and customs. I found this a tiny bit heavy-handed. It was interesting to me to learn more about Passover and Seder, etc. But I felt once or twice like the author was deliberately educating me, which I tend to find off-putting when reading fiction. However, this was not off-putting enough to keep me from absolutely loving the book, and it was an important part of the story. And I actually think that the whole Jewish aspect to the story has the potential to increase my understanding of and empathy with some of my Jewish friends. Certainly it could do so for young adult readers.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's a light-hearted, engaging read that also deals with complex issues. It brought a few tears to my eyes near the end, but made me smile, too.

This review was originally posted on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on April 4th, 2006.

Simone Turner-Bloom is your average above-average teenager. She has a mother, a father and a younger brother. She lives in an upper middle class home and is an excellent student with a gift for math. But, Simone is different from most of her peers in one significant way. She's adopted and doesn't look like her parents or her brother. This doesn't bother her much, because she's happy in her family and really feels an integral part of the Turner-Bloom home.

One day, however, Simone's parents tell her that her birth mother, Rivka, wants to meet her. Simone struggles with this decision for months until, finally, she agrees to invite Rivka to Thanksgiving dinner. And, guess what? Simone finds herself drawn to her young birth mother and they begin a close relationship as Simone finds out about her past from her birth mother. Part of Rivka's past is Judaism, and atheist Simone is drawn to Rivka's practice of Judaism and its culture.

There's a hitch, however, in this happy new relationship and it is the reason Rivka sought Simone out before adulthood. Rivka's sick with ovarian cancer and only has months to live. And, in the background of these momentous changes in Simone's life are everyday teenage challenges--first kisses, boyfriends, a friend's family troubles, etc.

"a brief chapter in my impossible life" is different from most YA fiction in one, very unique way. Everyone involved--from Simone, to her friends and family, past and present--is essentially good. There's no abuse, alcoholism, or cutting in this book. It's a gorgeous examination of what happens when an extraordinary, but perfectly understandable, event challenges an essentially good, well-meaning teen.

Reviewers write a lot about how YA fiction offers much to teens who are struggling with issues, but books like "a brief chapter in my impossible life" are important too. Simone and her story, minus the adoption and math genius issues, are easily recognizable to me and I suspect will be to many teen readers.

"a brief chapter in my impossible life" is a beautifully written story. Simone's voice is strong and sympathetic. "a brief chapter in my impossible life" reminded me most of Justina Chen Headley's "Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies)." Both are highly recommended.

This "brief chapter" depicts several months in the life of adopted teen Simone. She's an atheist and an activist living with her an ACLU-lawyer mom and a Mr. Mom political cartoonist dad, as well as a perfect star-athlete younger brother. This all-American family questions authority and eats cous cous at dinner. Simone has always known she was adopted, but never pushed the issue any further.

Then the bombshell drops--Simone's birth mother calls and leaves a phone number. Simone is surprised at how firmly her parents encourage to reach out to a woman she knows on as Rivka.

Rivka was raised a Hassidic Jewish family and put her baby up for adoption after giving birth at age 16. The offspring of that devoutly Orthodox family ends up living with liberal parents who encourage her to crusade for the separation of church and state. Simone's experience is eye-opening, revealing that the world offers no simple black and white answers, even for atheists. Judaism is much more than a religion, and the chance to bond with Rivka opens up a new world of lineage and cultural tradition for young Simone.

Reinhardt's debut novel presents dozens of strands relating to religion, civil liberties, tradition, and the meaning of family. The plot should serve to remind teens to be open about lifestyles different from their own. However, the execution is merely satisfactory, so this isn't a 5-star book. Plot developments are touching, but visible from pages away, and the book wraps up with a predictable warm-fuzzy of an ending.

I bought this book hoping to find material suitable for my soon to be 12 year old who is longing to meet her birth mother. I thought the story of the adoptee-birth parent meeting was terrific and a good model for teens and adults alike. However, the main character is in high school and as such reports on experiences appropriate to that age which I would prefer not to encourage in my seventh grader. Therefore I will have to shelve it for a couple of years. Too bad, there isn't much in the way of adoptee-birth parent literature for this age group.

Sixteen-year-old Simone has always known that she is adopted and that her birth mother is a woman named Rivka. But, when Simone learns that Rivka is the daughter of a Hasidic Rabbi who accidentally got pregnant as a teenager, Simone's whole life and identity is turned up-side down. As Simone gets to know Rivka, who is dying from ovarian cancer, she also learns about Judaism, celebrating Shabbat, Hanukkah, and Passover, experiences her first relationship with a boy, and comes to terms with her own spiritual identity. Reinhardt's characters are smart, sassy, realistic American teenagers and her portrayal of a warm, loving, functional adoptive family is refreshing. Highly readable, fast-paced, and thought-provoking, A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life will be enjoyed by YA readers of all faiths.

A Brief Chapter In My Impossible Life is an equal-opportunity offender when it comes to stereotypes and portrayals of different ideological and political groups.

The basic plotline is a young teen girl relunctantly chooses to meet her birth mother for the first time. She's hesitant because she's been happy all her life until her parents start throwing her birth mom's name around. Our heroine is proud of her liberal and atheistic heritage. Vocal in politics and 'religion' she shouts her views loudly and proudly in front of the student body and the local grocery story. She makes a point of showing her narrow minded everyone else is...while holding tightly to her belief that her view is the right view and everyone else is an idiot.

She meets her mother, a former Hasidic Jew who was disowned by her father when she became pregnant. She's still a Jew, but she's a cultural Jew...she doesn't really 'believe' in God so much as having him around for holidays to make her feel comfortable.

The climax of the novel...her mother reveals she's dying. They share their last months or weeks together. And our heroine superficially explores Judaism.

There is nothing wrong with the book. I am not opposed to the book. She explores her doubts, explores normal teenage feelings regarding love, sex, alcohol, etc. But I'm not seeing the 'great' book that everyone else seems to be reading. It's okay, not better or worse than the majority of books out there.

Simone's life is right on track. She has cool, supportive, laid-back parents, she gets along great with her younger brother, she has a small group of close friends, and she's doing well in school. Her guidance counselor tells Simone that she needs to get more involved in extracurricular activities, so she joins the Atheist Student Alliance and the school paper --- which also happens to have a really cute photographer. Sure, Simone worries about her best friend, who's involved with a real jerk, and about her own prospects with guys. But all in all, Simone is pretty happy with how her junior year is going.

Then, something happens that sends Simone's life veering off in a totally new and unexpected direction. Simone has always known that she was adopted --- her parents have never kept it a secret, and they've stayed in contact with Simone's birth mother, Rivka, her whole life. But now, out of the blue, Rivka wants to meet Simone, and soon. Instantly, Simone's life is turned upside down. Why does Rivka need to meet Simone now? Doesn't she know that Simone has enough to deal with? What if she's not ready to meet her birth mother?

After talking to another adopted student, Simone makes a leap of faith and contacts Rivka. Their reunion is not always easy, and Rivka's complicated family history (she comes from a Hasidic Jewish background) causes Simone to question her own atheism. Nevertheless, Simone's rich and intense encounters with Rivka cause her to reflect deeply on the meaning and importance of family. When Simone discovers
the reasons behind Rivka's urgent need to meet her daughter, Simone must also learn how to lose this precious gift she's only just discovered.

A BRIEF CHAPTER IN MY IMPOSSIBLE LIFE is Dana Reinhardt's first novel. Her project is ambitious, and the book is packed full of storylines and characters. Just when it seems like the novel is trying to accomplish too much, though, it opens up with quiet, reflective moments and surprising revelations about such topics as faith, family heritage, and grief. Despite its serious subject matter, it also manages to be genuinely funny. The first-person narrative is sometimes wise, sometimes snarky, sometimes vulnerable, but always observant and honest. Simone is a quirky, likable character, and her faults will only endear her to readers, who will be eager to hear more from this talented new author.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Sixteen-year-old Simone has always known she was adopted but has never questioned it. She's aware of her dark features in her family of blond hair and fair skin. Her "parents" have talked to her about her birth mother, a woman named Rivka, but Simone has never wanted to learn more simply because she's happy with the family she has.

Then, one day, Rivka calls and wants to get in contact with Simone. With her parents urging her along, Simone is going to face her past--her real mother, her real family, and her true cultural background.

This book was a real treat to read. I enjoyed the different scenes and elements it contained: Simone meeting Rivka and learning the story of her adoption; Simone speaking up for her beliefs (she's an atheist who supports abortion); and Simone dealing with her high school crush.

All in all, this is a book definitely worth reading.

Reviewed by: Safia Abdul