How to Find What You're Not Looking For
New historical fiction from a Newbery Honor–winning author about how middle schooler Ariel Goldberg's life changes when her big sister elopes following the 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision, and she's forced to grapple with both her family's prejudice and the antisemitism she experiences, as she defines her own beliefs.
Twelve-year-old Ariel Goldberg's life feels like the moment after the final guest leaves the party. Her family's Jewish bakery runs into financial trouble, and her older sister has eloped with a young man from India following the Supreme Court decision that strikes down laws banning interracial marriage. As change becomes Ariel's only constant, she's left to hone something that will be with her always--her own voice.
Twelve-year-old Ariel Goldberg's life feels like the moment after the final guest leaves the party. Her family's Jewish bakery runs into financial trouble, and her older sister has eloped with a young man from India following the Supreme Court decision that strikes down laws banning interracial marriage. As change becomes Ariel's only constant, she's left to hone something that will be with her always--her own voice.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Ariel and Leah Goldberg are close knit sisters growing up during the 60’s in a conservative Jewish household. Their parents, Sylvia and Max are devoted to their Jewish heritage and religion. So when Leah invites her boyfriend Raj Jagwani for dinner, you can just imagine Sylvia’s and Max’s surprise and disappointment in Leah and her choice of dating a non Jew. And to top it off, her date is an Indian American.
But at this time, the Supreme Court just ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were illegal so no one should have been surprised when Leah leaves one day to elope to Raj. The problem is that her little sister Ariel is left behind to try and understand everything that follows. Why would Leah leave her without warning? Why are her parents so upset? Add this to dealing with a learning disability and having a new teacher who actually is trying to help, Ariel is overwhelmed trying to figure it all out. She turns to poetry as a form of release and it is through poetry that Ariel begins to cope with everything around her.
Inspired by true events, Veera Hiranandani does such a phenomenal job bringing up such important issues and times in our history in a way that is relatable to any middle grade readers. This book brings up antisemitism, racism, abelism, political rights, the Vietnam War, the Loving vs. Virginia case, and everything else happening around that time. These can be tough topics but having this story told from a 12 year old perspective makes it much more readable. It was very hard to put this book down!
I also really enjoyed that it was almost told in a 2nd person format because although we were getting the story from Ariel's perspective, it came through "you" instead of "I." Very different but very unique! I really loved all the Jewish elements mixed in; it brought me back to my childhood.
I am so glad that a story like this was told and I will definitely be recommending it to all of my students!
Quotes I loved:
"Why would you feel guilty for being happy?" you ask. "Because there's so much wrong with the world." pg. 20
"Except Raj isn't part of the group who hates you. Your family isn't even that religious. You don't observe the Sabbath. Sometimes you drive down to Brooklyn for the Jewish holidays, and sometimes you don't. It feels like Ma and Daddy are figuring out the rules as they go so why is this rule so important to them?" pg. 77
"You really want to be good and not cause any more trouble for Ma. You want to try hard and do better at school. You don't want to push things off anyone's desk. But you wonder, if you were who everyone wants you to be, would it even make a difference?" pg. 147
"How do you know?' you say again, louder, the anger filling your body. How can they take this much away? First your sister, then the bakery, and now the apartment. They've even taken what happened today away, the first good thing that has every happened in school. But there's not point in telling them now." pg. 180
"All day you think about what Jane said. Miss Field once told you an old saying - that a razor blade is sharp but can't cut down a tree and that an ax is strong but can't cut hair. When you asked her what it meant, she said "It means you have everything you need. You just have to find the right purpose to suit the tools you have." pg. 252
"Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that" pg. 276
"You are more confused than ever. You understand a part of what your mother wants - the part of wanting to show the people who hate you that you aren't afraid. But Leah and Raj are also showing people that they aren't afraid. Didn't the Lovings do that too?" pg. 308
"He smiles. 'I'm glad you're taking responsibility. So what do you think you're doing that's bothering him?' 'Being Jewish,' you say with the straightest face you can. 'That's what I'm doing to bother him." pg. 334
"Every story carries its own fingerprint, the unique pattern created out of the writer's singular quest, background, and imagination. A story that moves you with the depth of its own truth is truer than anything I know, and I hope you discover some truths meaningful to you while reading this book." pg. 378
But at this time, the Supreme Court just ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were illegal so no one should have been surprised when Leah leaves one day to elope to Raj. The problem is that her little sister Ariel is left behind to try and understand everything that follows. Why would Leah leave her without warning? Why are her parents so upset? Add this to dealing with a learning disability and having a new teacher who actually is trying to help, Ariel is overwhelmed trying to figure it all out. She turns to poetry as a form of release and it is through poetry that Ariel begins to cope with everything around her.
Inspired by true events, Veera Hiranandani does such a phenomenal job bringing up such important issues and times in our history in a way that is relatable to any middle grade readers. This book brings up antisemitism, racism, abelism, political rights, the Vietnam War, the Loving vs. Virginia case, and everything else happening around that time. These can be tough topics but having this story told from a 12 year old perspective makes it much more readable. It was very hard to put this book down!
I also really enjoyed that it was almost told in a 2nd person format because although we were getting the story from Ariel's perspective, it came through "you" instead of "I." Very different but very unique! I really loved all the Jewish elements mixed in; it brought me back to my childhood.
I am so glad that a story like this was told and I will definitely be recommending it to all of my students!
Quotes I loved:
"Why would you feel guilty for being happy?" you ask. "Because there's so much wrong with the world." pg. 20
"Except Raj isn't part of the group who hates you. Your family isn't even that religious. You don't observe the Sabbath. Sometimes you drive down to Brooklyn for the Jewish holidays, and sometimes you don't. It feels like Ma and Daddy are figuring out the rules as they go so why is this rule so important to them?" pg. 77
"You really want to be good and not cause any more trouble for Ma. You want to try hard and do better at school. You don't want to push things off anyone's desk. But you wonder, if you were who everyone wants you to be, would it even make a difference?" pg. 147
"How do you know?' you say again, louder, the anger filling your body. How can they take this much away? First your sister, then the bakery, and now the apartment. They've even taken what happened today away, the first good thing that has every happened in school. But there's not point in telling them now." pg. 180
"All day you think about what Jane said. Miss Field once told you an old saying - that a razor blade is sharp but can't cut down a tree and that an ax is strong but can't cut hair. When you asked her what it meant, she said "It means you have everything you need. You just have to find the right purpose to suit the tools you have." pg. 252
"Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that" pg. 276
"You are more confused than ever. You understand a part of what your mother wants - the part of wanting to show the people who hate you that you aren't afraid. But Leah and Raj are also showing people that they aren't afraid. Didn't the Lovings do that too?" pg. 308
"He smiles. 'I'm glad you're taking responsibility. So what do you think you're doing that's bothering him?' 'Being Jewish,' you say with the straightest face you can. 'That's what I'm doing to bother him." pg. 334
"Every story carries its own fingerprint, the unique pattern created out of the writer's singular quest, background, and imagination. A story that moves you with the depth of its own truth is truer than anything I know, and I hope you discover some truths meaningful to you while reading this book." pg. 378
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.