ON ALL OTHER NIGHTS

An anthology centered around the seder, a dinner held on the first one or two nights of the eight-day springtime holiday of Passover.

“Why is this night different from all other nights?” This question is one of four asked by the youngest child present at a Passover seder, an ancient celebration with steps guided by the reading of the Haggadah and highlighted by a delicious meal. In this anthology, the steps are named in Hebrew, with definitions followed by four related, open-ended questions from the editors. Each story opens with a striking black-and-white illustration. The diversity of the contributors (including Laurel Snyder, Adam Gidwitz, Sofiya Pasternack, Ruth Behar, A.J. Sass, and Veera Hiranandani) and the families portrayed in the stories are real strengths. The entries include hilarious mix-ups, grief for a departed grandparent, and immigrants struggling to leave the old country or adjusting to life in early 20th-century New York City. Other themes include coming to grips with the dark history of Exodus, experiencing angst about fitting in, growing up and accepting new roles, and being truthful about gender identity. Some Yiddish and Hebrew expressions aren’t fully defined, and the volume overall expects readers to have a deep knowledge of Judaism. Young people will become engrossed in the richly detailed narratives, learn a great deal about different ways to conduct a seder, and root for the protagonists.

Unusual, entertaining, and deeply moving.