Yasha's Amazin' Bar Mitzvah

Margaret Gurevich (she/her) is a middle-school teacher and the author of Ain't It Funny, multiple Who Was? books, and the award-winning Chloe by Design series. When not writing or teaching, Margaret enjoys hiking, bingeing too many shows, and spending time with her family. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, son, and their wise cat, Goosie.

"A loving, carefully delineated portrayal of growth."—Kirkus"The intersection of religion, immigration, sports fandom, and middle-school woes makes Yasha’s experiences relatable for a large audience."—Booklist"Skillful pacing and memorably developed character interactions—distinguished by socioeconomic stresses and the loneliness that can come with being different—pair with organically incorporated details of Jewish and Russian traditions, language, and foods to satisfyingly set all the strands of Yasha’s life on a championship track."—Publishers Weekly"…this is ultimately a feel-good story about a kid growing into a new community while still tending to his core sense of self. Yasha is a fully developed character negotiating real hurt, both at school with mean kids and at home with parents who don’t seem to realize how hard the move has been… Bernie is a true delight, grumpy but—like just about everyone here—entirely lovable."—BCCB"Yasha is a likable protagonist who’s easy to empathize with.… The story is evocative and well-paced; the descriptions of Mets games, including their World Series run, are particularly thrilling."—School Library Journal“Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah is a tender, humorous, and heartfelt story about navigating the ups and downs of middle school friendship and learning how to be yourself. Readers will want to stay with Yasha long after the last page. A must-read for baseball fans and non-athletes alike.”—Anne Blankman, National Jewish Book Award winner“Heartfelt and true to the challenges of being the new kid in town, Yasha’s Amazin’ Bar Mitzvah serves as a reminder that you don’t have to abandon your old roots to grow new ones. Readers will root as hard for Yasha as he roots for the Mets.”—Joshua S. Levy, National Jewish Book Award–winning author of Finn and Ezra’s Bar Mitzvah Time Loop