Kirkus Reviews QR Code
SHARING SHALOM by Danielle Sharkan

SHARING SHALOM

by Danielle Sharkan ; illustrated by Selina Alko

Pub Date: Sept. 17th, 2024
ISBN: 9780823455560
Publisher: Holiday House

A young girl heals as her community comes together following an antisemitic incident.

Attending Hebrew school helps Leila feel connected to her family and heritage, but after the synagogue’s window is broken, being Jewish suddenly doesn’t feel good or safe. Wondering if her classmates hate her for being different, she tries to hide signs of her Judaism, from her Star of David necklace to the bagel with lox she brings to school for lunch. But when Leila’s diverse classmates help repair the window, she’s reminded that she still belongs and that being Jewish is something to be proud of. Hebrew letters and prayers and Jewish symbols are beautifully woven into both the text and the collage-style illustrations, reinforcing the tale's unique Jewishness alongside its universal message about the importance of allyship. With sensitivity and candor, Sharkan demonstrates how pride in one’s identity can lead to shame and fear in the wake of a hate crime. In an author’s note, she mentions that her story was based on a real-life childhood experience and speaks to the rise in antisemitic incidents around the world; books like these will help young people process complex emotions. Although hate takes forms that can’t be as easily addressed as a broken window, this is nevertheless a lovingly crafted, age-appropriate doorway into a difficult topic. Leila and her family are light-skinned, while their neighborhood is diverse.

An especially important book for the current moment that will empower children to stand up in the face of bigotry.

(glossary, bibliography) (Picture book. 4-8)