The many problems of Rochel-Leah

Yolen draws on family lore to tell this rousing historical tale of a Jewish girl determined to read despite prevailing norms in her 1830s Russian shtetl. "More than anything in the world, more than anything in God's universe, Rochel-Leah wanted to learn to read." Approaching various family members for assistance, the protagonist finds that her female relatives haven't been taught to read, while her male relatives say no or grow bored. A request to the rabbi initially seems another dead end, but after realizing that his ambivalent response leaves an opening, Rochel-Leah begins eavesdropping on lessons until he relents, finding divine will in the child's drive for literacy. Ribbons of text--in English and Hebrew--wind across Henditirto's digital renderings, which rely on paper textures and brushwork to create a layered effect that appropriately highlights the illuminating power of reading. An author's note and glossary conclude. Characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 4--7. (Sept.)

"The first problem Rochel-Leah had was that she was a girl." This picture book relates a "true(ish) story" set in a shtetl in Russia in the 1830s and inspired by a cousin of Yolen's. Rochel-Leah wants to learn to read, but the cheder, or Jewish school, is only for boys. (Her mother and aunts can't help her; her father and brothers won't help her.) But perhaps rules can be bent...with determination, an open cheder window, and a rabbi who can be persuaded. A storyteller's cadence ("It was very tiring standing on tiptoe, but she managed. Just") brings life to Rochel-Leah's frustration and her tenacity. Similarly lively illustrations, "made digitally from combining paper texture and digital brushes," propel the story forward with frequent instances of words or letters swirling across the page. An epilogue-like coda and an author's note establish family connections, and a brief glossary defines Yiddish and Hebrew terms. Shoshana FlaxNovember/December 2024 p.79 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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. (glossary)(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.