Neshama by Marcella Pixley

What worked:

The idea of religion is one facet of the story that creates a conflict. Anna’s father says they are secular, which means they don’t pay attention to what it means to be Jewish. Her mother grew up Lutheran and doesn’t know enough about Judaism to teach Anna. However, Anna’s grandmother, Bubbe, is still a practicing Jew and invites Anna to her home to celebrate Shabbat. They sing prayers together in Hebrew, and the author includes the lyrics with English translations. However, visiting Bubbe opens the door for a larger conflict.

Anna can see ghosts, and she lets them control her hands to write messages in a journal. Other people, including her teacher and parents, think she has an active imagination, but Anna doesn’t try to hide the truth. Talking about ghosts scares some students, but it also makes her a target for ridicule and teasing. Bubbe believes Anna is a shayna neshama, a Yiddish-Hebrew term for a beautiful soul, but even Bubbe doesn’t think Anna can see ghosts. Bubbe doesn’t know that the ghost of Ruthie, sister of Anna’s father, hangs around her home, and Ruthie misses dancing with her mother and holding her hands. Anna and Ruthie communicate through the journal, but Anna decides to make a fateful decision.

The entire book is in verse, with each page sharing something different. Some pages narrate the story, and others present the thoughts from ghosts. Readers will know what Anna is thinking and feeling as she deals with school, her father, and Ruthie. Eden is the main tormentor at school, and she goes out of her way to make Anna’s life horrible. Anna’s father isn’t an understanding character, and he does something terrible to her that is unforgivable. The verses use short lines to quickly communicate feelings and ideas, so the plot actually moves fairly quickly.

What didn’t work as well:

It’s sometimes challenging to differentiate Anna’s thoughts from Ruthie’s. The story in verse shares thoughts and feelings, but readers may not fully connect with Anna. There are scenes where readers might not grasp exactly what she’s experiencing without more description.

The final verdict:

This story in verse offers a touching tale of family and faith. The lyrical style allows readers to capture the intense emotions and thoughts of the characters, as Anna tries to restore peace to troubled souls. If you’re okay with books in verse, I recommend you give this one a shot.