THE MANY PROBLEMS OF ROCHEL-LEAH

A young Jewish girl longs to learn to read.

Rochel-Leah’s problem? She lives in a shtetl in the 1830s, a time when girls aren’t permitted to read. Only boys learn to read Hebrew in the Jewish school so they can study the Torah, a tradition going back generations; they also learn languages such as Yiddish and Russian. Her three brothers teach her a few letters, then chase her away so they can study. Rochel-Leah appeals to the rabbi: “Rules can be broken…or changed.” Fiercely persistent, she peeks through the school window, observing the lessons, even sitting on her father’s ladder for a better view. The rabbi notices her—and, amazingly, allows her to enter, admitting that rules “can be bent a little.” He accepts that it must be divine will for a girl to want “to read this much.” Rochel-Leah eventually learns to read and becomes a teacher. Yolen reveals in an author’s note that this “true(ish)” tale about one of her relatives, passed down through generations, is part of her family’s lore. This warm offering about a determined young person demonstrates how families are enriched by stories from their past; it's a testament to the importance of preserving the memories of those who have preceded us, for our identities are determined by our histories. The earthy digital illustrations, made by combining paper texture and digital brushes, expertly capture the setting.

An empowering tale about a resolute young person and how our present is shaped by our past.