What Happened to Heather Hopkowitz?

by Charlotte Herman

Ages 8 and up. Fourteen-year-old Heather Hopkowitz can’t imagine life without bacon, cheeseburgers, or bowling on Friday nights. But she gives them all up when she spends an entire month as the guest of an Orthodox Jewish family while her parents are away on vacation. As Heather begins to appreciate the traditional rituals, she considers becoming observant. What will her friends think? What will her parents think?

Genres: Young Adult, Judaism, Jewish, Fiction

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Charlotte Herman is the author of many beloved books for children, including the acclaimed Millie Cooper series and The House on Walenska Street. Like Dorrie, Charlotte possesses a lifelong love of family, chocolate malteds, and hot fudge sundaes. She makes her home outside of Chicago.

Reviews

[Kressel Housman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always dreamed of writing a BT/return to Judaism novel for teenage girls, but someone beat me to it. Protagonist Heather Hopkowitz becomes frum through an NCSY-type group, which means she is decidedly Modern Orthodox, socializes with boys, and is even attracted to one in particular. Keeping Shabbos and kosher in spite of her mother's objections are the main issues of the book, but not the boy-girl issue. I gave it a 3 for "good but not great," but in all fairness, I must say that the teenage girl who loaned it to me absolutely loved it.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though it initially comes off as being maybe fourth-grade level, I was impressed. I can sort of realate to it, and it was an original subject.

[Delia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it in middleschool. It was a cozy book, encouraging curiosity and open-mindedness about religion.