Excellent Storytelling
Ariel and Leah Goldberg are close knit sisters growing up during the 60’s in a conservative Jewish household. Their parents, Sylvia and Max are devoted to their Jewish heritage and religion. So when Leah invites her boyfriend Raj Jagwani for dinner, you can just imagine Sylvia’s and Max’s surprise and disappointment in Leah and her choice of dating a non Jew. And to top it off, her date is an Indian American.
Stunned at the revelation that her parents could be so narrow-minded, Leah decides to elope with Raj. At that time, the Supreme Court had just ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were illegal. As such, Leah commits to leaving the comfort of her home and marrying Raj. Leah does so, suddenly, leaving Ariel confused and hurt.
Ariel, eleven at the time, struggles to understand the significance of Leah’s decision and how her parents can be so blinded by their intolerance for non Jews. Coupled with a form of a learning disability, Ariel turns to poetry as a form of release and revelation. It is through poetry that Ariel learns to cope with family tensions and her own shortcomings.
Inspired by true events, the author has done an excellent job at composing a story about familial ties and how love gives one the ability to conquer hate.
The story is supported by well developed characters so raw and so real, that it feels like you are there in Ariel’s world living and learning about life, and love.
Overall, How to Find What You’re Not Looking For is a brilliant novel and a perfect Own Voices book well suited for the Young Adult and Adult readers. Five amazing stars.
I received a finished hardcover book from Kokila through the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Stunned at the revelation that her parents could be so narrow-minded, Leah decides to elope with Raj. At that time, the Supreme Court had just ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were illegal. As such, Leah commits to leaving the comfort of her home and marrying Raj. Leah does so, suddenly, leaving Ariel confused and hurt.
Ariel, eleven at the time, struggles to understand the significance of Leah’s decision and how her parents can be so blinded by their intolerance for non Jews. Coupled with a form of a learning disability, Ariel turns to poetry as a form of release and revelation. It is through poetry that Ariel learns to cope with family tensions and her own shortcomings.
Inspired by true events, the author has done an excellent job at composing a story about familial ties and how love gives one the ability to conquer hate.
The story is supported by well developed characters so raw and so real, that it feels like you are there in Ariel’s world living and learning about life, and love.
Overall, How to Find What You’re Not Looking For is a brilliant novel and a perfect Own Voices book well suited for the Young Adult and Adult readers. Five amazing stars.
I received a finished hardcover book from Kokila through the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.