Cara Segal is a born worrier. She figures her worrying works like a whisper in God's ear - if Cara's concerned about car crashes, kidnappings, or murders, she lets God know, and he always spares her. But Cara never thought to worry about a fire. And one night while she's sleeping at a friend's house, her house catches fire, and her mother and younger sister are both killed. Throughout shiva, the initial Jewish mourning period, Cara can't help wondering about God's role in the tragedy. And what is her father's role in her life now? He walks around like a ghost and refuses to talk about the fire. Cara longs for her family and her home, where sweet smells filled the house as Cara's mom filled orders for her catering business, Julia's Kitchen. Then one day a call comes in for a cookie order, and Cara gets a wild idea. Maybe by bringing back Julia's Kitchen, she can find a way to reconnect with everything she's lost.
Complete with a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish terms and a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, this debut novel is a joyous tribute to the resiliency of the human spirit.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
The 2007 Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers:
When Cara Segal looses her mother and younger sister in a house fire, she questions her belief in God, struggles with her relationship with her father, and tries to find ways to hold onto her memories of her family before the fire. With the support of her best friend, her grandparents, and the school social worker, Cara finds fulfillment in continuing her mother's baking business and donating the profits to the local firefighters. She also finds meaning in hanging mezuzot on the doors of her new apartment... more info
Julia's Kitchen Review:
Just to let you know I am actually 14 I just don't want to put in my email address. I picked up this book at the library one day just looking at the cover thinking it would be a book about a girl that enjoys baking, but when I brougnt it home I couldn't put it down read it all in one night. It is a sad story and i was almost in tears at some parts, but I receieved a very strong theme from this story: Appreciate what you have and try to move on when you lose something important to you. I defnitely recommend... more info
You HAVE to read this book!:
Julia's Kitchen is an amazing book! It is written for middle grade readers but is just as appealing to adults. Don't let the heavy subject matter fool you. This book is beautifully written and full of hope (although I have to admit- I cried my eyes out!). I'm telling you- you won't be able to put it down! I can't recommend it more.
JULIA'S KITCHEN:
Eleven-year-old Cara Segal has a vivid imagination and is always fearful the worst will happen to her family. Just to be safe, she has an ongoing relationship with G-d where she "regularly floats prayers up" to make sure her family is always protected. When she sleeps over her friend Marlee's house, an electrical short in the toaster starts a house fire, which takes the lives of her mom and younger sister Jane. Beside herself with grief, Cara sleepwalks through the week of shiva (Jewish mourning) and the... more info
