Aviva vs. the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe
Three out of Five Magical Coffee Cups
I thought this book was going to be about the spooky things the Dybbuk does. There are a lot of things the Dybbuk does, but they are more mischief than horror.
Aviva is dealing with a lot at the moment. After her father died in an ‘accident’, her mother took it hard and struggled with just about everything. They had to move into a smaller apartment above a mikvah. Her friends no longer hang out with her, and she has become very isolated. The main thing she loves is the game machanayim. After a rather intense game, she and her ex-best friend are banned from playing and tasked with planning the Bas Mitzvah Bash. Both girls are miserable, but they have to work together. Will this bring them back together or push them even further apart?
There was a lot less spooky ghost stuff than I expected, but it was still a very interesting read. There are all sorts of mysteries throughout: the mystery of the Dybbuk, the mystery of vandalism around the mikvah, and the mystery of what happened to her father.
I also learned a great deal about the Jewish faith. I like seeing books out there teaching about different cultures and religions. I always tell my students about books being mirrors and windows. This was a window for me to look in and learn more about Jewish life.
Literary Coffee 