March 1, 2017
In three brief episodes, Julie is convinced that class bully Danny has kidnapped her puppy; her athletic cousin, Effie, thinks Julie wants her to lose an important race; and Effie befriends her gregarious rival, Donna.With Mom busy caring for Julie's twin baby brothers and Dad nearly always on business trips, she's left on her own to figure out what might have become of Shakshuka. Since, in a fit of angry frustration, she accused Danny of throwing a potted plant at her (which she actually threw at him), he has every reason to want revenge. Surely that's the reason the puppy is missing and not that, with her neglect contributing, Shakshuka just wandered away. When that puzzle is solved with some help from a friend, Julie next has to deal with her strong-minded school principal, who isn't happy that someone is giving quiet Effie encouraging but flashy gifts. When everyone blames Julie, she must figure out who's really behind the scheme. Finally, Effie befriends her popular rival, leaving Julie quite jealous. Related in Julie's often funny, frequently self-centered first person, this Israeli import (originally published as three separate titles) depicts seemingly white grade schoolers in more-or-less familiar situations, navigating the complex waters of early childhood. That reforming bully Danny is fully dimensional is both unusual and welcome. A funny exploration of schoolyard controversy and resolution. (Fiction. 7-10)
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March 1, 2017
Gr 2-5-This breezy read details the escapades of Julie and her dog, Shakshuka, in three separate but connected stories. In the first, Shakshuka is missing and Julie suspects that the class bully and his sidekick are to blame. In the second, Julie's classmate and cousin Effie, the school's fastest runner, is set to compete against the rival school in a race. She receives several good luck gifts but doesn't know who is sending them. In the third, Effie becomes best friends with the new girl at school, Donna Silver, and Julie struggles with feeling left out. Julie, the protagonist of all three entries, has twin baby brothers and an overwhelmed mother, whose bark is worse than her bite. Assisting Julie are Brody, whose grandmother helps crack the case of the missing puppy; Adam, a stutterer whose tall tales hold important clues; spacey Effie, the runner; and Danny, the class bully, who may be changing his ways. This is the first in a series of adventures for Julie and Shakshuka, although at times it feels like the author is catching readers up with something that happened in a previous book. The title was originally published in Hebrew, but aside from the name Shakshuka (an egg and tomato sauce dish popular in the Middle East), the translation of the character names and the unnamed setting seem to place the book in the United States. Julie and her friends are relatable, and their antics will appeal to elementary school readers. VERDICT A solid choice for readers ready for easy middle grade titles with light themes.-Kefira Phillipe, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, IL
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 15, 2017
Grades 3-5 Friendship and self-identity drama await readers at every page turn in this account of Julie and her roller-coaster life. In the first of three distinct episodes, Julie's new puppy, Shakshuka, goes missing. Julie enlists the help of her friends to find her dog, and she also stands up to a school bully. In the second episode, Julie's cousin Effie trains for an important race against Donna Silver, who is from a rival middle school. Quiet Effie often seems out of touch with reality, but can she run! When it looks like someone is trying to sabotage Effie's chances of competing, suspicions cause a (temporary) rift between Julie and her cousin. In episode three, Shakshuka brings a mean cat home, and the classmates see through insincerity and find true friendship. Oz's novel portrays everyday kids with relatable experiences and relationships. It includes bullies, a stutterer with an imagination and great storytelling ability, and loving families. While characterization is predominant, the ordinary experiences of these kids will resonate with readers and have them waiting for more installments.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2018
Three short episodes (originally published in Israel as separate books) detail Julie's adventures with her new puppy, her family, and classmates. American readers may be slightly discomfited by Julie's mother's brusque humor and the incessant, low-key bullying that Julie and her classmates endure; but Julie is a realistic kid, accepting of the idiosyncratic behavior of the people and animals in her life.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)