Once More with Chutzpah
Book: Once More with Chutzpah by Haley Neil
Synopsis:
When high school senior Tally and her twin brother Max head off on an exchange trip to Israel over their winter break, Tally thinks it will be a good distraction for Max; he might be trying to hide it, but she knows he’s still struggling in the wake of a car crash that injured him and killed the driver. Maybe this will help him get back on track and apply to college the way he and Tally always planned.
But as the group travels across the country, Tally realizes her plan might not be working, and that her brother might not be the only one with a lot on his mind. When a new relationship gets complicated in the face of her own anxiety-about her future, her sexual and romantic identity, and her place within the Jewish diaspora-Tally must grapple not only with the past, but also with what life will be like when they get back home.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
My Thoughts: This book completely and entirely stole my heart. A Jewish girl obsessed with musical theatre (the chapters are all titles of show tunes) who’s months away from starting college at Boston University? You could write a story about this character picking out cereal at the grocery store and I’d be hooked. But this book really nails older teen angst in a special way. Tally was so perfectly put together on the surface but an absolute disaster inside and I know 17-year-old me could’ve used a character like her. Not only is Tally exploring her sexuality and figuring out if there’s even a label she feels comfortable using, she’s also discovering how important Judaism is to her.
I really want to emphasize how much I appreciate the Jewish representation in this book. During this time when people are either loudly and proudly antisemitic or they hide their antisemitism under the guise of “anti-Zionism,” this books is a refuge for Jewish readers. It’s crazy that it needs to be bluntly stated that the Jewish people are a tribe who originated in, and have always been present in and connected to, Eretz Israel and we deserve self-determination in our homeland the way any other indigenous people do but being antisemitic is trendy right now. I’ve been thrilled with the breadth of Jewish rep I’ve found the past couple years and adding an unapologetically Zionist perspective to the pile feels right. Watching Tally, a gen z character, grow to truly and deeply appreciate her Judaism felt huge. This whole book feels huge during the age in which we’re living.
I’m endlessly grateful for this book and recommend it more than any other book I’ve reviewed on this silly little blog.
You too can go on Tally’s journey of self-discovery by getting your own copy of Once More with Chutzpah here or borrowing it from your local library.
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