Out of Many Waters

by Jacqueline Dembar Greene

Kidnapped from her parents during the Portuguese Inquisition, 12-year old Isobel BenLazar was sent to work as a slave at a remote Brazilian monastery. In 1654, Isobel escapes and stows away on a ship bound for Amsterdam, searching for her family. But harrowing adventures lead her to the first group of Jews to settle in America. "Weaves history, drama and narrative into an arresting story." -New York Times Book Review "An uplifting story built upon twin themes long common to Jewish thought-hope and deliverance." -Kirkus Reviews Sydney Taylor Honor Book New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Geography, School

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Ms. Greene is an American author of more than 30 books and stories for young readers. In addition to her American Girl series, some of her notable books of fiction include: Out of Many Waters, a historical novel about the first Jewish settlement in America.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Picked up this Young Adult book at a Little Free Library, & the subject matter looked interesting. I won't repeat the plot as it's on the top of the page like all GoodReads books, & so I don't do that. But suffice it to say I had no idea about this aspect of Jewish, Portuguese, (& Dutch, Spanish and Inquisition) history, so it seemed it would be an easy way to learn a little about it. So, I kept it on my bookshelf for a moment when I needed something not as heavy going as much of the adult historical fiction I've been consuming. I liked it for these reasons of easy reading & historical learning via a YA novel, but it wasn't a great, piece of memorable YA fiction. But, it wasn't bad. It was interesting to learn so many things that she covered deftly in the arc of a fairly short book.

I will give the author props in that she did make the difficult things turn out mostly good, but not entirely as rainbows and lollipops as I expected...which I appreciated given all the obstacles and difficulties of that period for the Jews involved.

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my homeschool class that was 8 year olds. It was on our Build your library curriculum. It was about the way the Jewish people were taken from Amsterdam and forced to be Christian and not follow their Jewish religion. The girl in the story Isabelle is 11 years old and she escapes with her sister but they get separated. She sneaks on a refuge boat and hides. When she is eventually found she finds refuge with other Jewish families. Eventually she is forced to make a decision does she stay with her new families or does she try to make it home? This was a very powerful story that brings up the hardships of what it takes to keep your religion and what means most to you in the world.

[♍️Lady Book Fairy ♍️♍️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you want to live a life that you make one small mistake you get whipped? No, and you would not want to be treated like a slave? Because that is how it is in "Out Of Many Waters" and we still act as selfish and not caring as the book describes it is like we did not change really except with the technology.

[Safiye · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever need a historical book that cracks even the hardest heart, makes adventure turn and twist then this book is the one! If it makes you feel any better about reading it here is a short talk my mom and I had.

This the first 3 chapters.....
Me(Five cards): Why is this such a bore fest?

Mom: It is going to get better.

End of book
Five cards: Is there a next book?

Mom: No, but there is Maria's story!

Five cards: Can we get it?

Mom: Sure!

Why I liked the book:
1. The cast was good no, overly outrageous and weird things happening. Which means the book was pretty solid.

2. The character made good choices some times and when she did not there was a good reason.

3. It was just a good story!

Here is what happens: A girl named Isabel ( I can't remember the way the spelled her name) and her sister Maria got captured and sent to a monastery. Maria longs to leave and go to Amsterdam. But Isabel is scared, what will happen? After boarding a ship and hiding for some time Isabel is found. Much to her surprise Isabel is welcomed by the Jews on the ship. After lots hardships Isabel find the true meaning of family.

Hope you read the book!

----Fivecards
Also I would like to thank Arghh Schooling for making such a wonderful book pick out! You helped so much!

[Veronica Rojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this book as part of our Build Your Library homeschool curriculum. This is my 7 yr old sons review.
(It took me a few weeks to read the book.
I got into it when all the action happened.
It was challenging at the beginning because the chapters were very long.
My favorite part about the main character was when she escaped the church.
I would make the same decisions because they were very brave decisions.
She read a bible her sister Maria gave her to overcome her fears.
She changed by being more decisive; in the beginning Maria had to make her
decisions for her.)
Over all it was a good book my son enjoyed it, there was a good balance of history, drama and action.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a GREAT example of judging a book by its cover! I’m sorry to say that I am guilty of this way too often. I was not excited about this book simply because of the cover. I think it may be in the running for our top read alouds. I honestly did not know much about the Spanish or Portuguese Inquisition, but Out of Many Waters does an amazing job of bringing this time period to life in a very personal way. I didn’t *actually* cry this time 😂 but the ending was so sweet and realistic.

I found out the other day that there is a sequel. It is definitely going on our family’s TBR pile, but this volume stands alone very nicely.

[Billie Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really well written. It took 2 historic events that I knew nothing really about and seamlessly combined information about them into one story about the kidnapped children of the Portuguese Inquisition and the journey of the 1st group of Jewish people to settle in America. Had I read this story before my daughter's friends made their bat mitzvah this book would had been included in their present as a strong testament to how faith can serve one in challenging situations.

[Tamara York · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud for our history study. It is unique to find a middle grade book about the Inquisition, set in South America (and then on ships, ultimately traveling to New Amsterdam aka New York), with a Jewish protagonist. For the subject matter, it did the trick. But as a reading experience, it was just okay. We were all glad to be done.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting to read as part of our curriculum because it ties to the time period we're studying for history but I don't know if I'd recommend it otherwise. My 8 yr old daughter enjoyed it and followed along really doing a good job of understanding the motives of different characters and predicting what might happen so for that I'd say it was a good fit.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there are plenty of books taking place during the ages of exploration and early colonization, this is the first time I've come across one focusing on the Dutch and Portuguese conflict. It was an interesting and enjoyable read that kept me wondering what would happen next. It was an excellent addition to our homeschool studies.

[Megan Garbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this as part of our homeschooling studies, and it was new material to me (always a plus). I liked it, but it could have used some editing. I found myself skipping repetitive paragraphs. I did like that the ending isn't tied up neatly with a bow. Great messaging on being true to yourself in the face of adversity for my 3rd/5th graders.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really 4.5 stars. The book is much better than I thought it would be. It’s a little slow in the first chapter but the pace picks up quickly after that. This was one of the first historical fiction books my daughter read and she thoroughly enjoyed it. It was actually hard to put down.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Loved the kindness displayed by the Dutch lady towards Isobel ~ a complete surprise. The generosity of Maria (both the sister of the same name and the adult) amazing, and shows how womanhood brings us together and transcends much.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our homeschool read-alouds.

Such a good story! Out of Many Waters gives us a glimpse into how The Inquisition affected the lives of some Jewish people. The characters are compelling, and my son and I enjoyed following Isobel’s journey together.

[James Tetley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read to my 13 Yr old son. A good read with Isobel acting as a fictional character who experienced the persecution of the Catholic Church being taken from her parents and then choosing to side with her people, risking her life. A well written insight into 17th century life under religious control.

[Kimberly Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting historical fiction book that takes place during Spain’s Inquisition.

[Amy Bodkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

We LOVED this book! Great story about the first Jews in New Amsterdam!

[Micah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really fun to root for Isabel (the protagonist)!

[Hinda]

It was a very self minding book

[Inspiration · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book! I loved the ending and how the title comes about based on Psalms 18.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent children's book about antisemitism and finding one's self, perseverance and faithfulness, and the love of and for family.

[Amy Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. I really wanted to like this book. I love it’s premise.

It didn’t work for me at all, most of all because there was no honesty about slavery.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud to the kids for our literature curriculum

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th grade historical fiction literature

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars

An eye-opening book to the prejudice against Jews around the time of the Inquisition.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 5-8 196 pgs

aprox 1654, Brazil / New Amsterdam. Unlike her older sister, Isobel barely remember her life with her parents in Portugal. Kidnapped from her family as part of the Portuguese Inquisition, Isobel and Maria were sent to work at a monastery in Brazil and prevented from practicing their Jewish religion. When Maria plans their escape, Isobel is horrified to discover that they will be stowing away on separate ships bound for Amsterdam, a place that Maria is sure her parents would've gone after they were kidnapped. Isobel wonders how she will manage the long voyage on her own, but holds onto the hope of being reunited with her family.

Great story! Recommended to readers looking for a good adventure story. Also read the companion "One Foot Ashore" which tells Maria's story.

[SheWhoShallNotBeNamed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an utterly charming book, it was for school reading-that I had to read, but I ended up reading ahead and finishing in two or three days. (I.e it was datt good)

As a quick summery (Without spoilers) (If, for some weird reason, you read my review before the actual blurb...lol) ANYWAY it's of this lovely, badly treated, young girl who runs away, her sister on one ship, her on another. And, after being found, the Jews on the ship befriend her and that's where the proper adventure begins.........

Now for my ratings:
-Romance-not much (Although I ship her and Davi #Isthatjustme?)
-Plot-9/10
-Humor: Not that much....still good though!!
-Drrrraaammmmaa: 3/5

Thanks for reading ma reviewwwww!!!! Please like if you enjoyed or become friends if your interested in the same books as me-it makes me so stupidly happy. :D

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

World History! I never learned or didn't remember the Portuguese Inquisition. This is an enduring story of Isobel, an young girl taken from her parent and sent to a monastery. Her and her sister escape by way of ship in hopes to reunite with their parents and each other. Isobel is challenged by hardship after hardship.
I love this story, another Sonlight great pick. I had just two problems: 1) the author uses the same name for two different characters. This is annoying in dream sequences, as the reader has to go back and figure out which "Maria" the author is talking about. 2) Sometime the POV gets in the way of flow of story.
When time permits, we will be reading the "sister" story "One Foot Ashore"

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I had to red this for school. I liked this book quite a lot. It really showed the injustice of the inquisitions, an the characters were pretty deep. I loved the story of the mute little Jewish boy Paulo and how he wasn't really mute. The only thing I would have added to the story would be a more satisfactory ending to the pending issue of "where is Isobel's parents an sister". For all I know they might have died. But anyway, a great book.

[Todd Luallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was one of my daughter's school books for the year. We read it together and I'm glad we did. A great story of the plight of the Jews during the Spanish Inquisition, focused on those that eventually made their way to New Amsterdam (New York) in America. The entire story is told from the perspective of an 11 year old Jewish girl that has been taken from her home and separated from her parents. A quick read, and a real page turner.