Strange Relations. By Sonia Levitin. Random House, 2009. 304 pages. PB $6.50 ISBN 978-0440239635
Summary: Marne’s parents can’t don’t have enough time to spend the summer with their daughter. Her mother will be launching a new line of designer clothes in Paris, and her pharmacist father will be busy working at a local L.A. hospital. Life with her parents has been incredibly different since the loss of her little sister, who never returned home from summer camp. Marne’s Aunt Carole, now Aunt Chaya, agrees that she will be more than happy to have her as a guest for the summer in Hawaii. Aunt Chaya has embraced the most orthodox form of Judaism, Hasidism, and Marne is introduced to her lifestyle. The summer spent with Aunt Chaya, Uncle Yitz (an Hassidic rabbi), and her cousins forces Marne to reconsider what’s important in life.
Critical Review: Initially Marne rebels against Hasidic philosophy, believing that these rules do not apply to her. However, as time with her relatives grows, she begins to appreciate her Jewish faith more. This awareness forces her to confront previous beliefs. She understands that her best friend, Kim, does not have her best interests at heart. Aunt Chaya becomes a role model to Marne, teaching her the joy that comes from religion. Time spent with her cousins pushes Marne to confront the trauma she’s been holding in about her kidnapped sister. The summer is also therapeutic for her relationship with her parents.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reading/Interest Level: 12-14 years
Awards: Sydney Taylor Award, 2008
Reviews: Publisher’s Weekly (2007, June 25); Booklist (2007, June 1); School Library Journal (2007, May 1)
Similar Materials: Valerie Zenatti’s A Bottle in the Gaza Sea; and Sonia Levitin’s The Singing Mountain
Subjects/Themes: families; divorce; Judaism; Hasidism; Hawaii; friendship; death; tragedy
Character Names: Marne; Aunt Carole/Chaya; Yitz; Kim
Author Website: http://www.sonialevitin.com/slides/slides.html
Brief Annotation: An adolescent girl spends the summer in Hawaii with her Hasidic relatives, growing in her appreciation for her Jewish faith.
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