The SLJ reviews editors rounded up our reviews of the books lauded at the 2025 Youth Media Awards. Here, the reviews of the Sydney Taylor Book Awar and Honors winners.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Gold Medalist - Picture Book

An Etrog from Across the Sea by Deborah Bodin Cohen & Kerry Olitzky (text) & illus. by Stacey Dressen McQueen. Kar-Ben. Aug. 2024. 32p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9798765604496.

Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalists - Picture Book

Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants by Norman H. Finkelstein (text) & illus. by Vesper Stamper. Holiday House. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780823451647.
K-Gr 4–This picture book biography is an engaging tribute to Abraham Cahan (1860-1951) whose commitment to language, justice, and education left an enduring impact on the lives of Jewish immigrants in America. The story chronicles Cahan’s evolution from a natural linguist, with Yiddish as his favored language, to an advocate for newcomers trying to assimilate into a very different culture. Fleeing Lithuania to escape from the oppression of czarist Russia, Cahan found refuge in New York City, where his days working in factories were complemented by nightly English studies. His transition into a teacher, educating fellow Jewish newcomers, sets the stage for his pivotal role as the co-founder and editor of the Yiddish language newspaper, Forverts, or the Forward, a Jewish daily. This newspaper was the preeminent foreign-language newspaper in America, connecting Jewish communities with local and global news. In his dual role as a teacher and newspaper editor, he focused on filling the cultural gaps for immigrants, fostering their understanding of America’s customs, language, history, and the significance of voting. The narrative skillfully weaves in Cahan’s commitment to workers’ rights, portraying him as a champion of immigrants and an advocate for labor unions working in pursuit of improved working conditions and wages. The illustrations, painted in gouache, meticulously capture the characters and historic time period, adding authenticity to the storytelling. The back matter includes an author’s note, time line, bibliography, a further resources. VERDICT A commendable addition to library collections focused on immigration, little-known historical figures, and the pivotal role of language and the written word in shaping the immigrant experience.-Reviewed by Lynne Stover 

Joyful Song: A Naming Story by Lesléa Newman (text) & illus. by Susan Gal. Levine Querido. May 2024. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781646143702.
PreS-Gr 3–In a book whose pages sing with rainbow smudges, swirls of watercolor, and crowds of ebullient folk on their way to a Jewish naming ceremony, readers meet narrator Zachary’s family. He has a newborn baby sister, two moms with different shades of brown skin, and they are leaving their cozy digs to stroll over to the synagogue. Neighbors playfully pry for the baby’s name: Miss Fukumi, watering her roses, side-eyes Zachary, and he almost answers. “Little Babka,” his mother supplies for him. As other neighbors in this multicultural community join this momentous walk, more names are put forth, each one unique: Shayneh, Maideleh, Snuggle Bunny. All of them agree on one fact: that babies are precious. At the synagogue, the name is revealed; there are mazel tovs to go around as well as an adios or two as the neighbors return to their homes and family. Gal’s art leads with joy, too, for every spread shows a different aspect of a community, from parks and green spaces to apartment buildings of a small scale. Everyone is overflowing with good will and happiness. This should be a story-hour favorite, but more, it sets a standard for inclusivity that highlights the invisible ties that bind people to one another. VERDICT A new sibling book of a different stripe, to cherish and reread; despite the sacred, tender ceremony at its center, the story welcomes all to participate in a small moment writ large.-Reviewed by Kimberly Olson Fakih

Rising by Sidura Ludwig (text) & illus. by Sophia Vincent Guy. Candlewick. May 2024. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781536225495.

The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World by Elisa Boxer (text) & illus. by Alianna Rozentsveig. Penguin/Rocky Pond. Jan. 2024. 40p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593617120.
K-Gr 4–Boxer and Rozentsveig provide a story of hope in this book, focusing on the life and legacy of a maple tree planted in secret by Irma Lauscher, a Jewish teacher, and students in Terezin (located in modern-day Czech Republic). Miraculously, both the teacher and the tree survive the Holocaust and WWII. Subsequently, seeds from the tree are planted around the world; those trees are still thriving today, despite the original “dropping its last leaf” in 2007. The difficult subject matter feels more approachable both through the narrative’s language and accompanying soft illustrations. A sparingly used, intense red indicates the Nazis’ presence and amplifies with a jolt the otherwise earth-toned artwork. After the narrative, an author’s note provides additional information about the descendants of the original tree, the teacher, and the location itself. Selected sources are also included. Front end papers feature fall-colored foliage on a black background, while in the back, bright spring colors evoke hope and a new day. VERDICT An approachable and valuable resource. Recommended for most collections.-Reviewed by Taylor Worley 

Sydney Taylor Book Award Gold Medalist - Middle Grade

The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival by Estelle Nadel & Bethany Strout (text) & illus. by Sammy Savos. Roaring Brook. Jan. 2024. 272p. pap. $17.99. ISBN 9781250247773.
Gr 7 Up–Enia loved her life with her family in their small Polish village before the war. It was home, it was safe, and she was free to run, play, and help her mother in the kitchen. On September 1, 1939, the dark clouds of war began to circle, and she felt the safe comforts of home being ripped away. The Girl Who Sang is a powerful story of survival where readers are given the privilege of following Enia’s life before, during, and after surviving the Holocaust, and in some ways, survival signaled only the beginning of Enia’s struggles. The illustrations tell Enia’s story in ways words cannot. Readers can immediately sense the range of Enia’s emotions in every situation, from joyous family celebrations to horrific trauma. Students with an interest in the Holocaust, especially the lives of survivors, will find this book vital to developing an understanding of the long-term effects on families. Educators who appreciate the richness of using biographies to teach history will find multiple opportunities for utilizing this title, especially in social studies courses. Although Enia is the main subject in her life story, there are many other figures whose perspectives enhance study of the Holocaust and its aftermath. An excellent accompaniment to lessons on World War II, this book will help countless students examine the Holocaust on a personal level. VERDICT A must-have. The graphic novel format will appeal to those whose first choice might not be history or biography, and all others will be invited to consider the full-life experiences of Holocaust survivors.-Reviewed by Darby Wallace

Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalists - Middle Grade

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. Feb. 2024. 272p. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780593323403.
Gr 3-7–Beginning with the Inquisition and the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 and spanning over 500 years, this powerful historical novel by Behar relates the journeys and discoveries of four young girls from different generations of the same family. The stories of Benevida, Reina, Allegra, and Paloma are linked through the Spanish songs that they learn and pass along through an oud, a musical instrument that becomes a precious family heirloom and symbol of hope. Another recurrent connecting theme is travel—each protagonist embarks on a journey, whether fleeing persecution, searching for liberty, or discovering her past and her future. The plot takes readers from Spain to Naples and Turkey to Cuba, Miami, and back to Spain. The simple, resonant, and lyrical narrative transmits the hope and trust that have sustained Sephardic Jewish communities through the generations. Even the names of the title characters speak a blessing. Benevida means welcome; Reina means queen; Allegra means happiness; and Paloma means peace. An author’s note explains Behar’s connection to this important history. This moving historic tale treats every word used as if it is a fleeting and impossibly beautiful note in a song that can never be forgotten, as it illuminates a people and a past that deserves to be forever remembered. VERDICT This will appeal to fans of Jane Yolen’s Briar Rose, and is highly recommended for all collections.-Reviewed by Kelly Kingrey-Edwards

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. May 2024. 256p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780063248243.

Just Shy of Ordinary by A.J. Sass. Little, Brown. Jan. 2024. 368p. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780316506175.
Gr 4 Up–Thirteen-year-old Shai has a plan to create a new normal; come out as nonbinary, get a haircut that expresses who they are, attend public school, and stop picking at their arms. Ever since their mom lost her job during the pandemic, Shai has been picking the hairs on their arm and wearing arm sleeves to cover the scars it leaves behind. They believe that going from homeschooling to public school will provide the distraction they need to stop picking. As Shai makes new friends and their relationship with an old one evolves, they learn that no matter how strong you are, sometimes you need support. Shai’s struggles sharing their identity with friends, and the growing pains experienced as relationships change will resonate with readers. Shai has a strong support system of adults who care for them, including their mom, mom’s best friend, and grandparents. A class project also leads Shai to investigate their family’s roots in Judaism and why their mom no longer practices the religion. The potential for romance with a classmate who identifies as a lesbian brings up further conversations on the relationship between gender and sexuality. VERDICT Shai’s struggles with identity, anxiety, first love, and faith will resonate with middle grade and young adult readers. A recommended purchase for all secondary school collections.-Reviewed by Ashley Leffel 

Sydney Taylor Book Award Gold Medalist - YA

Night Owls by A.R Vishny. HarperCollins. Sept. 2024. 368p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780063327306.
Gr 9 Up–In this stunning debut, Jewish vampire sisters battle the Prince of Demons while finding love and championing indie cinema in a novel that is by turns hilarious, heartrending, and historically illuminating. Teens Clara and Molly Sender are the managers of the Grand Dame Cinema on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, dedicating their spare time to saving early films—and drinking blood. Clara and Molly are Estries: century-old female vampires from Jewish folklore who can also turn into owls. Clara has two rules for survival: “No romance. Only feed on Jews.” The second rule is meant to protect their community from antisemitism, but the rule about romance is made to be broken. Molly (who was a Yiddish theatre starlet in her past life) is making viral clips about Yiddish theatre with her girlfriend, Anat, when their romance catches the eye of her landlord, Ashmodai, Prince of Demons. When Ashmodai steals Anat and Molly goes in search of her, Clara teams up with her secret crush, Boaz Harari, a Syrian-Jewish American high school graduate who also has the ability to see and converse with ghosts. In line with Jewish folk tales, the sisters and Boaz need to outwit Ashmodai to protect the world of the living. Alongside the suspenseful plot, Clara, Molly, and Boaz’s voices are distinct, offering poignant perspectives on what it has meant to be Jewish in America throughout history. Vishny’s prose is full of ironic humor, too: The sisters depend on the East Village bubbes at the cinema to send them Nice Jewish Boys to snack on (but not kill), a neat inversion of community matchmaking. VERDICT Sisterhood, vampire romance, and the immigrant history of Manhattan makes this novel a triumph.-Reviewed by Katherine Magyarody

Sydney Taylor Book Award Silver Medalists - YA

The Forbidden Book by Sacha Lamb. Levine Querido. Oct. 2024. 256p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781646144563.
Gr 9 Up–When the prospect of marrying into a prominent family feels too dire a reality to withstand, 17-year-old Sorel Kalmans leaps from her window and flees into the unknown. Disguising herself in the stable-boy’s clothes and stealing a knife for protection and an impromptu haircut, Sorel takes on the name of Isser Jacobs. Her momentary freedom as Isser is short-lived, however, as it turns out that there is a real-life Isser Jacobs and that undertaking his existence also means taking on his significant troubles. As she navigates the world as Isser, Sorel finds that their lives are far more interconnected than she could have ever imagined. Beyond the chilling and enticing first line, this novel presents many hurdles for readers. Undefined Yiddish words are prominent, excluding all but intermediate to advanced students of the language. A disorienting journey is intensified by the presence of two Issers and a protagonist that goes by three first names. The plot lacks a sense of urgency and momentum, and the characters’ motives and desires are unclear. VERDICT Despite the promise of “a genderqueer lesbian with a knife,” fans of Lamb’s previous work will struggle to connect with an uninspired lead character and a dearth of adventure.-Reviewed by Ingrid Conley-Abrams 

Trajectory by Cambria Gordon. Scholastic. Apr. 2024. 304p. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781338853827.
Gr 6 Up–This novel opens with peppy song lyrics, artfully changed to include mathematical terminology. That’s this book in a nutshell: a deftly handled story, presenting intense military and mathematical strategy in a digestible way. It’s the tale of 17-year-old Eleanor Schiff, a fictionalized version of the real women used to compute missile ballistics during World War II. She’s a young Jewish American woman used to hiding her math skills, out of guilt for an unfortunate family tragedy. The army discovers her gifts and recruits her, sending Eleanor on a cross-country journey of undercover math. Her journeys reveal how people can go about their normal lives, even with atrocities happening around them. There’s also no timidness about the raw underbelly of American bigotry against just about everyone. Eleanor squirms at casual racism against German Americans, fights against her Black coworker’s mistreatment, and startles at hate speech from soldiers. One of her friends points out that, “fighting words are becoming acceptable. Normalized, even.” Readers may find that sounds eerily similar to the present. But Eleanor’s story shows what can happen when a single person perseveres. Thrillingly paced, this novel not only makes math exciting but also connects the past to today while urging for constant progression. VERDICT A fast-paced journey through STEM and WWII history.-Reviewed by Cat McCarrey