Neshama

Gr 3-7–Anna is a shayna neshama, a beautiful soul, but most people don’t see her that way. All they see is the weird girl who claims to see ghosts. School is miserable, and her home life is not much better, but Anna takes refuge in spending Shabbos with her Bubbe. Then, during a visit at Bubbe’s, Ruthie, the ghost of Anna’s aunt, asks to be let into Anna’s body so she can finally heal after dying at the young age of 11, and Anna agrees. But Ruthie is very angry, and what started as her helping Anna be brave is becoming more sinister. This novel in verse is a spiritual exploration of how the past can have lasting effects through generations of a family. It is a lesson in being oneself even when no one, not even those meant to love you, accept you for who you are. Anna is a beautiful, strong, and inspiring character; if only readers could spend more time with her. Unfortunately, the verse format leaves aspects of the story feeling rushed and unexplored. Anna and her family are Jewish.