The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah
Author:
Jane YolenIllustrator:
Felishia Henditirto
Available
SKU:
5639ISBN:
9781681156392Format:
HardcoverGrade Level:
P-2Pages:
32
$19.95
A "rousing historical tale"—Publisher's Weekly
Once upon a time, girls were not allowed to learn to read. This is the story of a girl who decided to change that.
Inspired by a true story from award-winning author Jane Yolen's family history, The Many Problems of Rochel-Leah is a stirring tale of what it feels like to be denied equality and the persistence it takes to work for change and fair treatment.
More than anything, Rochel-Leah wanted to learn to read. She wanted to read stories, and recipes, and poems that set your hair on fire. But in her small Jewish village in 19th century Russia, only boys learned to read, as they had for centuries. Still, Rochel-Leah was determined. She asked her mother and her aunties, but they couldn't read either. Her father told her to learn to cook instead. She even asked the rabbi, who said there were rules. But Rochel-Leah knew something important—she knew that rules could be changed.
"Yolen draws on family lore to tell this rousing historical tale of a Jewish girl determined to read despite prevailing norms in her 1830s Russian shtetl. “More than anything in the world, more than anything in God’s universe, Rochel-Leah wanted to learn to read.” Approaching various family members for assistance, the protagonist finds that her female relatives haven’t been taught to read, while her male relatives say no or grow bored. A request to the rabbi initially seems another dead end, but after realizing that his ambivalent response leaves an opening, Rochel-Leah begins eavesdropping on lessons until he relents, finding divine will in the child’s drive for literacy. Ribbons of text—in English and Hebrew—wind across Henditirto’s digital renderings, which rely on paper textures and brushwork to create a layered effect that appropriately highlights the illuminating power of reading. An author’s note and glossary conclude. Characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 4–7." —Publisher's Weekly
