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My Basmati Bat Mitzvah Hardcover – October 1, 2013

by
Paula J. Freedman (Author)
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Paula J. Freedman (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 10 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Age Range: 8 - 12 years
  • Grade Level: 5 - 9
  • Lexile Measure: 690L (What's this?)
  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 1, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1419708066
  • ISBN-13: 978-1419708060
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsA review from Bookworm1858
By bookworm1858 VINE VOICE on January 12, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a cute book was basically my thought when stumbling upon this book as well as upon finishing. It is technically in the middle-grade category focusing on a 12-year old preparing for her bat mitzvah and will probably work best for those in that age range as us older readers will likely have already had exposure to the cultural and spiritual issues it explores. Still it was a fun and very quick read.

Tara Feinstein has a great mixed heritage. Her father's family are Jews firmly rooted in New York; her mother's family hails from India, bestowing on Tara a Hindu cultural background. Much of this book focuses on Tara navigating her feelings and the expectations of others around about this mixture while also looking at best friend travails and a little bit of time is spent on boys. Unfortunately I tended to find those moments extraneous especially the part that plays out as a bit of a love triangle. The family time and Tara's exploration of her heritage were far more interesting to me.

Yep my favorite moments were definitely Tara's questioning as she readies for her bat mitzvah-we read several conversations between her and a rabbi who encourages her curiosity and doesn't try to spoon feed her answers. Other well-done moments were Tara's fears that she might erase one part of herself. If she goes through with her bat mitzvah, does that mean she's turning her back on her beloved Hindu grandparents? And if her mother converted to Judaism, is Tara also Jewish or does her mother have to have been born a Jew? These and other questions were sensitively handled.

But this book also seemed a little overstuffed.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsloads of fun
By Miss Print VINE VOICE on January 15, 2014
Format: Hardcover
My Basmati Bat Mitzvah by Paula J. Freedman (2013)

This is one of those books that can skew as either middle grade or a younger YA. Either works and either is appropriate. Tara, our narrator, is a lot of fun with a breezy voice that sounds authentic and true without being bogged down in vernacular or otherwise "talking down" to the reader. I also loved that Tara had supportive, understanding, present parents as well as friends.

Although the story deals with Tara understanding the two sides of her heritage she is largely comfortable in her own skin. Which is huge. There is just so much to like here from the light, fun story to the cover model who looks just like you'd expect Tara to look. This is a story about acceptance and identity but also about more than that. Recommended.

*This book was acquired for review from the publisher at BEA 2012*
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5.0 out of 5 starsIt's Awesome- per the recipient
By NCPinAtl on October 29, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
I read a tweet about the book and knew I had to buy this book for my niece. Not only is she a voracious reader, she is studying for her Bat Mitzvah. My niece received the book on a Saturday. She couldn't put it down! She finished it in short-order, and declared it awesome! I don't think it gets better than that...
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4.0 out of 5 starsReal girls with real joys and troubles
By Jennifer Donovan on October 8, 2013
Format: Hardcover
This is a realistic fiction novel about regular girls. They giggle, they gossip, they dance around their bedrooms. This realism is the kind of thing that appealed to me as a young reader, and that I still enjoy reading now (otherwise, how am I going to know how 12-year-olds really think?).

Tara Feinstein is half Jewish and half Indian. She's been going to Hebrew school with her best friend Rebecca, getting ready for her Bat Mizvah. But she's not so sure she believes in all that. Does she have to be sure before she goes through with it? If she does it, is she turning her back on her Indian heritage? These questions were handled in a totally age-appropriate way. Tara didn't have any grand introspection or revelations, but she did consider the issues.

In addition to studying for the ceremony, she's dealing with Ben O., who has always been one of her best friends. But now that they are in middle school, he's acting a little strange. Does he "like" her? Does he "like" someone else and so want to spend less time with her? And to give it the perfect middle grade novel trifecta (adding to boy issues and identity issues), there's girl drama. All of a sudden Rebecca and Sheila seem to be hanging out more, and she's changing. Is she going to lose her friend? Are they growing apart?

Kids who like multicultural stories will enjoy this one, set in a familiar present time, yet with glimpses of Indian and Jewish food and culture. I also think it's general enough to appeal to those who like reading about kids just like themselves.
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5.0 out of 5 starsWhat a wonderful surprise!
By Dr. Nieli Langer on January 4, 2014
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
An exceptionally well written book to introduce cultural pluralism to young readers. My grown daughter and her daughter, too were blown away!
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