Author: Jessamyn Hope

“Although Hope does a terrific job connecting the various plot lines, it’s the characters who spoke to me. I found myself caring deeply about them – particularly Claudette and Ofer – as they discover hidden depths within themselves. The author shows how small moments can make a large difference in people’s lives and how their actions – even if they can’t change the world – matter in themselves. By the end of the novel, I was so absorbed that it was a jolt when someone spoke to me; I couldn’t wait for them to finish so I could return to the kibbutz. While some readers may wish they knew more about the characters’ futures, I found the ending satisfying: it leaves many of them ready to face the next stage of their lives. I hope this moving novel is just the first in a long career.”

Read the rest of Rabbi Rachel Esserman’s review online.