A Dreidel in Time

July 1, 2019
Devorah and her younger brother, Benjamin, anxiously await their Hanukkah presents. They are disappointed when their grandparents give them only a very old, misshapen dreidel to share, but Mom knows that this dreidel has magical properties that once helped her reach a true understanding of Hanukkah. The children's first spin lands on Shin, meaning they have lost something. They have also somehow landed (with the dreidel) in ancient Modi'in, where Jews are in conflict with the Syrian king. The children find that they are speaking and understanding Hebrew and quickly become caught up in the fight between the Maccabees and the Syrian army. After the next spin, Nun, meaning neither gain nor loss, two years have passed and the battles continue. Hey, or halfway, leads to "a great miracle happened here": one night's oil burning for eight nights. Finally they spin Gimmel, or everything, and at last return home with a better understanding of their holiday traditions. These modern children are not only witnesses; they use historical information to guide the Maccabees' leaders and to participate bravely in the events--to the extent that the author seems to imply that these ancients might not have been able to succeed without them. Castro's black-and-white cartoon illustrations provide readers with visual context, depicting both historical and modern characters with pale skin. This exciting retelling of the Hanukkah story should appeal to both Jewish and non-Jewish children. (Historical fiction/fantasy. 8-10)

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September 1, 2019

Gr 2-4-This accessible chapter book tells the story of the events that led to the first Hanukkah. Devorah and Benjamin are disappointed when they receive an old dreidel from their Bubbe as a Hanukkah present. However, when they spin the dreidel, they are shocked to find themselves in ancient Modi'in with the Maccabees. Devorah and Benjamin land in the middle of the action as the Maccabees fight the soldiers of King Antiochus and try to reclaim their right to practice their religion. The two children have such an impact that it is implied that the Maccabees wouldn't have succeeded without them. The miracle oil that lasted eight nights is briefly introduced at the end of the story. There are a couple of time jumps that break up the flow of the plot. The black-and-white illustrations enhance the action. All the characters are depicted as white. VERDICT A fun introduction to the story of Hanukkah. Recommended for libraries seeking Jewish stories for their early chapter book sections.-V. Lynn Christiansen, Wiley International Studies Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, NC

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 7, 2019
Devorah and her brother Benjamin are eagerly anticipating their Hanukkah gift haul. Instead, Bubbe gives them an odd and very old dreidel (“Devorah’s disappointment kept her from thanking her grandparents as she knew she should”), which the kids begrudgingly spin—then suddenly find themselves transported back to the time of the Maccabees, when Hanukkah “hasn’t become a holiday yet.” They realize they have considerable reserves of ingenuity and courage, and use their advance knowledge of history to help the Maccabees save the day. Berneger and Castro’s time-traveling chapter book is Hebrew school earnest, with much declaiming on the part of the ancient Jews (“It seems, Judah, that our strange friends have done us a great service”). The only flash of humor is when Benjamin shouts “Hey, you stupid jerks!” to Antiochus’s soldiers while perched atop an elephant. Ages 8–12.