October 15, 2017
Seventh-grader Noah Cohen and his best friend, Dash, eat, sleep, and breathe comedy, so it's no surprise they choose to research Jewish comedians for their mitzvah project at Hebrew school, even if it means partnering with Noah's female nemesis, Noa Cohen. As long as Noah and Dash can spend their weekends watching movies and making up comedy sketches with Dash's dad, the "coolest guy on the planet," life is good. Until it isn't. Dash's father's unexpected death is devastating for Noah, not only because he misses Gil, but because it drives a wedge between the two best friends as Dash struggles to cope. What's worse is that Dash has found a new confidant seemingly overnight, leaving Noah reeling and desperate to win back his best friend. Despite the support of his two moms, his sister, and his rabbi, Noah leaps and lurches awkwardly through his first real experience with death. While it is uncomfortable and sometimes even painful to read, Noah's struggle also feels incredibly authentic. And fortunately for readers, there's just enough humor to help lighten the mood when things get dark. While the primary characters all appear to be white, it is beyond refreshing to see a story that is so thoroughly Jewish without a hint of persecution. And while bookshelves are filled with stories about children losing a family member, this novel offers something new by focusing on the unexpected loss of someone beloved but not related. An author's note and list of resources follow the story. An authentically awkward exploration of grief particularly well-suited for preteen boys. (Fiction. 8-12)
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October 23, 2017
Twelve-year-old Noah Cohen loves spending time with his best friend Dash and Dash’s father, who turn sleepovers into raucous comedy nights. Noah and Dash are both preparing for their bar mitzvahs, and Noah is dismayed to discover that his is scheduled for the same day as the bat mitzvah of Noa Cohen, his homophonic Hebrew school nemesis. But when Dash’s father commits suicide, Dash withdraws completely, leaving Noah desperate to reconnect with him. After Noah finds Dash’s missing phone, he holds onto it, reading and responding to several of Dash’s text messages, a violation that results in Noah’s bar mitzvah being postponed and much soul searching with help from his rabbi, older sister, and two mothers. Perl (The Capybara Conspiracy) has created a moving coming-of-age journey steeped in Jewish traditions and comedic history, elegantly balancing humor with an honest look at the impact of suicide. While the book’s many references to famous comedy routines may not be instantly funny to those unfamiliar with them, Noah’s genuine voice and tricky situation will have readers pulling for him. Ages 10–up. Agent: Carrie Hannigan, Hannigan Salky Getzler.
October 15, 2017
Grades 5-8 A rabid young fan of funny movies and standup comedy really puts his foot in it when his best friend's dad commits suicide. Wisecracking seventh-grader Noah is looking forward to his upcoming bar mitzvah, even though he's forced to work with obnoxious Hebrew school classmate Noa on a mitzvah project that highlights great Jewish comedians. Then something happens at Noah's best friend Dash's house, and suddenly he's a stranger. Despite sympathy and support from his two moms, his big sister, and the school's rabbis, Noah's efforts to understand show his knack for making poor decisions and ill-timed overtures, and he winds up alienating peers and grownups alike to such an extreme that he's eventually judged unready, as yet, to stand on the bima. The tale's most disturbing sights are kept behind the curtain, but watching Noah repeatedly sliding on a banana peel (even, once, literally) gives readers plenty of occasions to wince, to chortle, and ultimately, to applaud. Perl adds personal notes and a resource list to this emotionally complex episode.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2018
After comedy buff Noah Cohen's best friend's dad commits suicide, Noah's responses are decidedly immature, damaging the friendship and calling into question rather-dense narrator Noah's readiness to be a bar mitzvah. Perl ably explains both details of classic comedy bits and modern Jewish ritual. A welcome portrayal of a very difficult situation's impact--with funny moments to make it all easier to handle. Reading list, websites.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
March 1, 2018
Comedy buff Noah Cohen's biggest concerns are sharing his bar mitzvah date with a not funny classmate and finding time for comic riffs with his best friend Dash and Dash's dad Gil. But when Gil dies in what's eventually revealed to be a suicide, Noah's responses to the tragedy and to the changes in Dash are decidedly immature, damaging the friendship and calling into question whether Noah is ready to be a bar mitzvah; his Hebrew school takes seriously the maturity that implies. Perl uses rather-dense narrator Noah to show how difficult it can be to get serious in a friendship that's been all about laughs, and to navigate grief as a young person encountering it for the first time. There's lots of detail to keep up with, in terms of both classic comedy bits and modern Jewish life (Noah has two moms and an interfaith family, both treated casually) and ritual, but Perl explains it all ably. Definitely not the light read implied by the title and book jacket, but a welcome portrayal of a very difficult situation's impact on someone not ready to deal with it?and there are plenty of funny moments to make it all easier to handle. Supportive Resources Related to Suicide, Bereavement, and Healing are appended. shoshana flax
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)