OyMG is about Ellie Jane Taylor, a Jewish girl who lives with her brother Benny (Jewish), Mom (Jewish) and Dad (Lutheran). She lives down the street from her very religious Zeydeh. Ellie loves to argue about anything and everything. She is accepted to a Christian debate camp, and if she wins the oratory tournament she could get a scholarship to Benedict school. Zeydeh is not so happy that Ellie is going to a Christian camp.
At camp, Ellie falls for her competition, Devon Yetes, the grandson of Doris Yetes. Doris Yetes is the woman who started and gives out the scholarships. Ellie is asked by Doris to have an interview. Devon warns Ellie to put her Bubbe's Jewish star necklace away because Doris Yetes is kind of "weird" about Jewish people. Doris gave Ellie a scholarship form to fill out questions. Ellie wasn't sure what she should put as her religion. She put Christian, technically she was half and half so she wasn't completely lying. Of course, Zeydeh was not happy about this. Ellie explained to her parents her reasons for writing Christian.
Doris Yetes sees so much of herself in Ellie.
Throughout the story you learn about Ellie's struggles about friends, family,religion and who she really is as a person.
Does Ellie end up getting the scholarship? Does she change her religion on the form? Does Ellie learn to stand up for what is right even if she isn't sure who is standing with her? Does Ellie end up going to Benedict school?
Read OyMG to find out.
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. You learned about the struggle any Jewish person faces, no matter the age, by being proud of their religion. You also learn about how people can be antisametic because of a person's religion. This book shows how in real life you are going to be faced with many difficult decisions, struggles and choices but you will always have friends, family, and teachers guiding your way and helping you. I would recommend this book to 7th graders and up because it has a great message about friendship, family, love and about being proud of your religion.
well, I have to go read some more,
Mollie
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