Simone’s starting her junior year in high school. Her mom’s a lawyer for the ACLU, her dad’s a political cartoonist, so she’s grown up standing outside the organic food coop asking people to sign petitions for worthy causes. She’s got a terrific younger brother and amazing friends. And she’s got a secret crush on a really smart and funny guy–who spends all of his time with another girl. Then her birth mother contacts her. Simone’s always known she was adopted, but she never wanted to know anything about it. She’s happy with her family just as it is, thank you. She learns who her birth mother was–a 16-year-old girl named Rivka. Who is Rivka? Why has she contacted Simone? Why now? The answers lead Simone to deeper feelings of anguish and love than she has ever known, and to question everything she once took for granted about faith, life, the afterlife, and what it means to be a daughter.
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"This book was really, really good. I loved how Dana Reinhardt wrote it. I was really inside of Simone's head and some of her thoughts were really funny. Some of it was really predictable and others were like wow! Reinhardt was very discriptive. Yeah, really good!"
— ♥{Miranda!®}♥ (4 out of 5 stars)
" I liked this book because it had a good moral deep inside it, with a cute story added into it. "
— Sarah, 2/11/2014" I LOVED THIS SOO A LOT MUCH. (yes that's grammatical.) "
— Ari, 2/4/2014" Learned a lot of interesting facts about the Jewish faith when reading this book...enjoyed that aspect. Plus the story and all that jazz. "
— Cookie, 2/3/2014" I would have given this book 4 stars, but it ended too abruptly. Just when the characters and relationships started to get interesting, it was over. "
— Julz, 1/31/2014" Female teens will like this. A 16year old is contacted by birth mother (has always known she was adopted) and she has to reevaluate who she is and what is important to her. This is written well, and the characters are fully developed. "
— Kelly, 1/25/2014" If you liked "North of Beautiful"..... "
— Ms., 1/25/2014" I appreciated the quirky and positive adult role models in this book. Often books that approach serious topics like this one does paint adults as villains. Overall, a very good read! "
— Robyn, 1/22/2014" Moving tale of an adopted teen who ciscovers her birth mother and then discovers that her birth mother is dying. Interesting and gts into Jewish culture. "
— Kitty, 1/21/2014" Again, slightly cliched story (16 year old meets her biological mother), but the voice is witty, sharp, and fresh. A good book. "
— Danielle, 1/20/2014" This is an amazing book. READ IT "
— Sophie, 1/20/2014" Good story. Good voice, although the main character got a little angsty, but no more than can be expected with a teen-aged protagonist, I suppose. "
— Sharon, 1/17/2014" L found a better perspective of being adopted from this bok. My mother was adopted and she never felt deprived of anything but this book lets us know that curiosity didn't kill the cat, it mearly placed it in an uncomfortable spot and the rest was up to it. "
— Rizzo♥, 1/6/2014" Simone must come to terms with her birth mother, whom she's just met, dying. "
— Jill, 12/17/2013" This is a fantastic book, contemporary YA with a simple yet unique storyline. Thoughtful and touching, great characters. Addresses a lot of important issues without being preachy. "
— Rosanne, 12/8/2013" This book is fucking amazing "
— Sasha, 11/11/2013" Wonderfully developed character who adeptly copes with modern challenges of adolescence and gracefully handles major discoveries in her life. "
— Flora, 4/20/2013" about adoption - so I loved the topic - very well done - interesting discussion of belief and non belief of God, religion, etc "
— Jdoody, 3/8/2013" Interesting and fun book. Thoughtful. Sometimes heart wrenching. "
— Jennifer, 10/29/2012" I am constantly searching for good preteen and teen books. This one seemed to nicely sum up being an angsty teen without too much drama. "
— Tracy, 8/20/2012" I loved the book with all my heart. The CD is nearly as good. Whichever way you prefer, I recommend this one. "
— melody, 6/8/2012" Dana Reinhardt is amazing :) "
— sandra, 5/13/2012" I love reading books for younger kids...what can I say? Sometime they're more interesting than adult books! Try it sometime!! "
— Kayla, 5/3/2012" This girl is looking for the meaning of a family. She doesn't know who her birth mother is or her history,and really doesn't know what religion she is{her,not her mother}.But then two different phone calls changed it all for Simone. "
— ~Hanna, 3/30/2012" started off slow but it gets better towards the end "
— Beck, 8/13/2011" An adoption novel that revolves around identity, religion, and the meaning of family. An overall great book that is educational about the Jewish religion and has a relatable female lead. "
— Rosie, 6/26/2011" I'm a Dana Reinhardt fan, and this is a favorite. "
— Clay, 5/30/2011" If you liked "North of Beautiful"..... "
— Ms., 4/19/2011" This is a fantastic book, contemporary YA with a simple yet unique storyline. Thoughtful and touching, great characters. Addresses a lot of important issues without being preachy. "
— Rosanne, 4/10/2011" I really liked this book, probably because it mirrors some of my ambivalence about religion. There were times when the story felt a little bit didactic, but it was still very moving. "
— LauraW, 3/21/2011" made me cry... not just cry, but bawl the whole last chapter. "
— Alita, 3/14/2011" fabulous book! You must read it!!! "
— Elizabeth, 3/1/2011" Again, fantastic book. Smart, lovable teenager with loving parents and family. She is presented with a problem and the reader goes along with her as she learns how to make a choice. We watch her grow up like a healthy teenager should with love and support. "
— Sheryl, 2/9/2011" loved it. so simple and intricate in making sure every character was used and not wasted. addressed so much in one book. "
— Mahathi, 2/7/2011" Pretty good at delivering all the right messages for teens with a pretty good story line. "
— Mindy, 1/22/2011" Sweet, tame story about adopted teenager who meets her birth mom. . . would recommend to teen girls who don't want the usual drama in YA lit. "
— Katie, 1/19/2011" loved it (: its really sweet and sad, but most of all really touching <3 "
— Vivian, 12/23/2010" Learned a lot of interesting facts about the Jewish faith when reading this book...enjoyed that aspect. Plus the story and all that jazz. "
— Cookie, 11/28/2010Dana Reinhardt is the author of A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, Harmless, How to Build a House, The Things a Brother Knows, and The Summer I Learned to Fly, among others.
Mandy Siegfried has worked at theaters in New York, on and off Broadway, and around the country. Her film work includes School of Rock, Two Weeks Notice, Winter Passing, Liberty Maine, The Out-of-Towners, and St. Andrew’s Girls.