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Intentions
Rachel thought she was grown up enough to accept that no one is perfect. Her parents argue, her grandmother has been acting strangely, and her best friend doesn't want to talk to her. But none of that could have prepared her for what she overheard in her synagogue's sanctuary.
Now Rachel's trust in the people she loves is shattered, and her newfound cynicism leads to reckless rebellion. Her friends and family hardly recognize her, and worse, she can hardly recognize herself. But how can the adults in her life lecture her about acting with kavanah, intention, when they are constantly making such horribly wrong decisions themselves? This is a witty, honest account of navigating the daunting line between losing innocence and entering adulthood—all while figuring out who you really want to be.
From the Hardcover edition.
Now Rachel's trust in the people she loves is shattered, and her newfound cynicism leads to reckless rebellion. Her friends and family hardly recognize her, and worse, she can hardly recognize herself. But how can the adults in her life lecture her about acting with kavanah, intention, when they are constantly making such horribly wrong decisions themselves? This is a witty, honest account of navigating the daunting line between losing innocence and entering adulthood—all while figuring out who you really want to be.
From the Hardcover edition.
272 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
1085 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Heiligman
41 books160 followersDeborah Heiligman has been writing for children since she worked at Scholastic News soon after college. Since then she has written more than thirty books for children and teens. Her books include picture books, both fiction and nonfiction, and young adult nonfiction and fiction. Some titles: Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith, a National Book Award finalist; The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos, a Cook Prize Winner and Orbis Pictus honor; Intentions, a Sydney Taylor Award winner, and a picture book series about Tinka the dog. Her latest book is Vincent and Theo: The van Gogh Brothers. For more information please visit www.DeborahHeiligman.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 10, 2012
The key positive statement I can make in the aftermath of reading Deborah Heiligman's "Intentions" is that it's a very compulsive, quick read. I stayed up in the wee hours of the morning finishing it. It's very easy to get through if you're engaged in the storyline for what it offers. The story centers around a trainwreck of events in the life of a Jewish teen named Rachel, who ends up questioning everything around her. She falls into her own missteps after several hard hits that change her perspective on more than just the people in her faith circles, but also her family, friends, and peers.
The problem that I saw in retrospect isn't so much that the collective cast has their fair share of flaws, but rather the whole narrative seems to be rather streamlined for drama, not giving much time for development or identification. Rachel herself is an insufferable protagonist, particularly in the beginning when she's self-absorbed and has a flighty attention span to things, it seems. The problems in her life, however, are rather numerous and grow as the story moves forward (sometimes self-inflicted). Her parents are constantly fighting and she fears they may end up divorcing. Her former best friend is no longer speaking to her, and even actively shunning Rachel every chance she gets. Rachel learns that her Rabbi has affairs with many women, including one that strikes close to home. Rachel finds herself falling in love with a childhood best friend, but then has a momentary fling with another boy. Her grandmother is sick and making her whole family's nerves stand on end.
So, admittedly, Rachel has a lot on her plate. On one hand, it's hard not to feel for her when some of the events take their toll and overwhelm her. But I can't help but notice just how disconnected it feels in the overall narrative. The characters aren't all that particularly dimensional. I felt like I could see glimpses into each of the surrounding characters (aside from Rachel), and while one can tell there are some heavy issues in the matter of things, there's not a lot of whys to the hows. I couldn't just take it on the matter of what the overarching novel is trying to say - that no one is as perfect as they seem and at some point, people have to move on and find their own path to life. I got the idea, but I don't think it really hit me as hard because there wasn't a lot of showing of the "whys," coping, and consequence. I wish I could've connected better with Rachel and the characters in the overarching novel. The only one I was able to connect to in some way was Jake, but even the focus on him was spotty and underdeveloped.
Overall, I think it's an okay story, quick read and it will engage with the way that its written as well as the successive turns of conflict that the character faces, but I don't know if it's the kind of novel that grips you and doesn't let go. For me, if it had just a bit more heart - even with its flawed characters, I probably would've liked it more.
Overall score: 2/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Random House/Knopf BFYR.
The problem that I saw in retrospect isn't so much that the collective cast has their fair share of flaws, but rather the whole narrative seems to be rather streamlined for drama, not giving much time for development or identification. Rachel herself is an insufferable protagonist, particularly in the beginning when she's self-absorbed and has a flighty attention span to things, it seems. The problems in her life, however, are rather numerous and grow as the story moves forward (sometimes self-inflicted). Her parents are constantly fighting and she fears they may end up divorcing. Her former best friend is no longer speaking to her, and even actively shunning Rachel every chance she gets. Rachel learns that her Rabbi has affairs with many women, including one that strikes close to home. Rachel finds herself falling in love with a childhood best friend, but then has a momentary fling with another boy. Her grandmother is sick and making her whole family's nerves stand on end.
So, admittedly, Rachel has a lot on her plate. On one hand, it's hard not to feel for her when some of the events take their toll and overwhelm her. But I can't help but notice just how disconnected it feels in the overall narrative. The characters aren't all that particularly dimensional. I felt like I could see glimpses into each of the surrounding characters (aside from Rachel), and while one can tell there are some heavy issues in the matter of things, there's not a lot of whys to the hows. I couldn't just take it on the matter of what the overarching novel is trying to say - that no one is as perfect as they seem and at some point, people have to move on and find their own path to life. I got the idea, but I don't think it really hit me as hard because there wasn't a lot of showing of the "whys," coping, and consequence. I wish I could've connected better with Rachel and the characters in the overarching novel. The only one I was able to connect to in some way was Jake, but even the focus on him was spotty and underdeveloped.
Overall, I think it's an okay story, quick read and it will engage with the way that its written as well as the successive turns of conflict that the character faces, but I don't know if it's the kind of novel that grips you and doesn't let go. For me, if it had just a bit more heart - even with its flawed characters, I probably would've liked it more.
Overall score: 2/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Random House/Knopf BFYR.
September 20, 2012
Ah…the world of role models for young adults. (LOL)
In this tale our main character, Rachel, has had just about enough of her parents constantly fighting. Not only is that bugging her, but her best friend, Alexis, seems to have transformed from the normal, fun-loving girl that Rachel always cared about to a mopey Goth who talks about sex, drugs, etc., ever since her parents divorced.
One day, after overhearing yet another household battle, Rachel runs into the sanctuary. This is the peace where she can be calm, talk to her ‘creator,’ and basically chill out. In fact, she believes that now is the time to talk to Rabbi Cohn about her issues. After all, he should be able to help her out with all the problems that are going on in her life. Of course, the last thing she expects to hear inside her sanctuary is the rabbi having more than a little ‘fun’ with a woman who came to the town to marry one of the locals. It’s amazing to Rachel that the rabbi preaches about ‘intentions’ when he certainly has some of his own that don’t exactly fit in with his station.
Rachel runs out of the sanctuary, no longer believing that it can possibly be the place where one seeks solace, and tries to figure out what to do next. Do you tell someone?
Shaking her head, laughing in class, and grinning and bearing it - readers follow Rachel as she longs for her ‘almost’ boyfriend, Jake, and has to deal with Alexis and the rabbi’s handsome son, Adam, who not only dislikes his father but also has the flirty ability his father has in spades.
Rachel finds herself in one mess after the other with the one bright spot being a young kid named, Randy, who she reads to and who has a far worse home than she does. What’s worse is the fact that one day she watches her own mother flirt with the rabbi who has already proven himself to be a lover of female attention. What is this story about? Growing up!
The author has done a magnificent job of intermingling humor with fear, aggression, depression, obsession - a whole punch of ‘ions’ - and written a novel that will truly add color and spark to the YA world.
Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy
In this tale our main character, Rachel, has had just about enough of her parents constantly fighting. Not only is that bugging her, but her best friend, Alexis, seems to have transformed from the normal, fun-loving girl that Rachel always cared about to a mopey Goth who talks about sex, drugs, etc., ever since her parents divorced.
One day, after overhearing yet another household battle, Rachel runs into the sanctuary. This is the peace where she can be calm, talk to her ‘creator,’ and basically chill out. In fact, she believes that now is the time to talk to Rabbi Cohn about her issues. After all, he should be able to help her out with all the problems that are going on in her life. Of course, the last thing she expects to hear inside her sanctuary is the rabbi having more than a little ‘fun’ with a woman who came to the town to marry one of the locals. It’s amazing to Rachel that the rabbi preaches about ‘intentions’ when he certainly has some of his own that don’t exactly fit in with his station.
Rachel runs out of the sanctuary, no longer believing that it can possibly be the place where one seeks solace, and tries to figure out what to do next. Do you tell someone?
Shaking her head, laughing in class, and grinning and bearing it - readers follow Rachel as she longs for her ‘almost’ boyfriend, Jake, and has to deal with Alexis and the rabbi’s handsome son, Adam, who not only dislikes his father but also has the flirty ability his father has in spades.
Rachel finds herself in one mess after the other with the one bright spot being a young kid named, Randy, who she reads to and who has a far worse home than she does. What’s worse is the fact that one day she watches her own mother flirt with the rabbi who has already proven himself to be a lover of female attention. What is this story about? Growing up!
The author has done a magnificent job of intermingling humor with fear, aggression, depression, obsession - a whole punch of ‘ions’ - and written a novel that will truly add color and spark to the YA world.
Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy
January 5, 2019
Two stars (**) for good intentions (!!) and for the superb jacket design (credit to C. Fuenfhausen). Unfortunately, the book itself comes up woefully short, although I admit that I'm judging it on overall merits, and not specifically in the Youth Romance category. Here's why:
First, the characters were supremely flat. Even the lead character, Rachel Greenberg, despite her stated "smarts" in school, has no serious insights into anything. I was a young adult once and my children were in that category more recently. Young adults have interesting quirks and unique understanding of the world, even if they choose not to share everything with parents and teachers. Figuring out that people are having illicit sex does not qualify as an insight for a 21st century teen.
Second, the story line was full of standard teen emotional turmoil ("oh no, I almost had sex with the wrong guy!!!!! And my grandmother who I love beyond all is dying!!!") but again, nothing interesting or unique about the trajectory of the story or the way in which any of the characters handle adversity.
Finally, there is absolutely nothing really "Jewish" about this story. It's almost as though it was added as an afterthought or overlay. The Jewish part adds no real significance or meaning to the story, which could have been about anyone, anywhere, with just a few details changed. Why not a minister instead of the rabbi? Jewish families, even those that are not particularly religious, have a defined ethnicity and distinctive and recognizable ethos.
Overall, the entire tale feels as though someone went over it with beige paint, neutralizing it to the point where there was nothing distinctive and no sharp edges left.
First, the characters were supremely flat. Even the lead character, Rachel Greenberg, despite her stated "smarts" in school, has no serious insights into anything. I was a young adult once and my children were in that category more recently. Young adults have interesting quirks and unique understanding of the world, even if they choose not to share everything with parents and teachers. Figuring out that people are having illicit sex does not qualify as an insight for a 21st century teen.
Second, the story line was full of standard teen emotional turmoil ("oh no, I almost had sex with the wrong guy!!!!! And my grandmother who I love beyond all is dying!!!") but again, nothing interesting or unique about the trajectory of the story or the way in which any of the characters handle adversity.
Finally, there is absolutely nothing really "Jewish" about this story. It's almost as though it was added as an afterthought or overlay. The Jewish part adds no real significance or meaning to the story, which could have been about anyone, anywhere, with just a few details changed. Why not a minister instead of the rabbi? Jewish families, even those that are not particularly religious, have a defined ethnicity and distinctive and recognizable ethos.
Overall, the entire tale feels as though someone went over it with beige paint, neutralizing it to the point where there was nothing distinctive and no sharp edges left.
July 11, 2012
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog:
Rachel's world is shaken to its core when she overhears her rabbi getting down in the synagouge. I mean, who can blame her? A man she has known forever, seen her through bad times, listened carefully when she had questions about her religion, and has been a person of superior authority in her life has just shocked the crap out of her. So not only are her parents constantly fighting and her favorite relative in the world a shell of her former self, but now she holds the heavy burden of keeping this secret.
It's not even so much about who the rabbi was with... but the aftermath of Rachel's discovery.
Basically, Rachel -- a perfect student, devout to her religion, a goodie-two shoes of sorts -- is a complete and utter mess. And I couldn't have loved that more about her. She's just clumsy with life in general and I could relate. The way she talks to boys, the way she tries to balance her school work or keep her room clean... it's just never perfect, a tiny tiny thing always goes wrong. And sadly, she has no one to turn to. Her best friend is MIA (for reasons she doesn't know) and she still hasn't found the perfect avenue when it comes to talking to Jake, the boy she loves. Heiligman has really succeeded in creating a flawed character who despite her experiences with a traumatic situation is still spunky, funny, and sensitive without being a drama queen. Watching her rabbi teach about goodness and God after finding out his secret is confusing and causes her to have a healthy internal deliberation about her role within her religion and also who she wants to be on an everyday basis.
I loved the idea of adults who preach and then act in the opposite fashion. How exactly do you deal with this when adults RULE THE WORLD and you are supposed to follow their example? It's a frustrating paradox but one that is a part of our reality, unfortunately. The other one being the need to be comforted by the very person who may be making your life a stressful wreck. How many of us can relate to those feelings?
One intriguing supporting character was Adam, the rabbi's son, who has a tempting bad boy streak but also these quiet moments of understanding and sweetness. Even though we know Rachel has her sights set on Jake, I was very curious about what would happen with Adam, and if he was in the know about his father's side activities. Was this why he was always acting out? I really enjoyed the arc of his character and the temptation he brought into the story. Jake, on the other hand, had his own secrets and was strangely distant with Rachel. Though, for once, it was nice to see a shyer relationship that wasn't based on some wild chemistry. It was quiet and private, and Rachel expressed many relatable fears when it came to coming to terms with how she felt about him.
I love the technique of framing in a novel and Heiligman uses it here, beginning the books with an older Rachel, recounting the events of this particular year, and ending it the way it started -- back to adult Rachel, who has returned to town for the first time since everything with the rabbi went down. I thought it was a great touch, but my only complaint is that Rachel's younger years wrapped up a bit too quickly and we didn't get a better glimpse at the supporting characters. The ending, however, is extremely extremely surprising, folks, in a way that made me really think about Rachel far long after I finished the book.
Intentions is a great representation of the time in your teenage years when everything just comes at you from all angles, and you are forced to see and learn things you never wanted to. For such a jaw-dropping premise, Heiligman has created a well-written world of people in various degrees of imperfection, while still weaving in the lighter moments in life. I was hooked from the very first page.
Rachel's world is shaken to its core when she overhears her rabbi getting down in the synagouge. I mean, who can blame her? A man she has known forever, seen her through bad times, listened carefully when she had questions about her religion, and has been a person of superior authority in her life has just shocked the crap out of her. So not only are her parents constantly fighting and her favorite relative in the world a shell of her former self, but now she holds the heavy burden of keeping this secret.
It's not even so much about who the rabbi was with... but the aftermath of Rachel's discovery.
Basically, Rachel -- a perfect student, devout to her religion, a goodie-two shoes of sorts -- is a complete and utter mess. And I couldn't have loved that more about her. She's just clumsy with life in general and I could relate. The way she talks to boys, the way she tries to balance her school work or keep her room clean... it's just never perfect, a tiny tiny thing always goes wrong. And sadly, she has no one to turn to. Her best friend is MIA (for reasons she doesn't know) and she still hasn't found the perfect avenue when it comes to talking to Jake, the boy she loves. Heiligman has really succeeded in creating a flawed character who despite her experiences with a traumatic situation is still spunky, funny, and sensitive without being a drama queen. Watching her rabbi teach about goodness and God after finding out his secret is confusing and causes her to have a healthy internal deliberation about her role within her religion and also who she wants to be on an everyday basis.
I loved the idea of adults who preach and then act in the opposite fashion. How exactly do you deal with this when adults RULE THE WORLD and you are supposed to follow their example? It's a frustrating paradox but one that is a part of our reality, unfortunately. The other one being the need to be comforted by the very person who may be making your life a stressful wreck. How many of us can relate to those feelings?
One intriguing supporting character was Adam, the rabbi's son, who has a tempting bad boy streak but also these quiet moments of understanding and sweetness. Even though we know Rachel has her sights set on Jake, I was very curious about what would happen with Adam, and if he was in the know about his father's side activities. Was this why he was always acting out? I really enjoyed the arc of his character and the temptation he brought into the story. Jake, on the other hand, had his own secrets and was strangely distant with Rachel. Though, for once, it was nice to see a shyer relationship that wasn't based on some wild chemistry. It was quiet and private, and Rachel expressed many relatable fears when it came to coming to terms with how she felt about him.
I love the technique of framing in a novel and Heiligman uses it here, beginning the books with an older Rachel, recounting the events of this particular year, and ending it the way it started -- back to adult Rachel, who has returned to town for the first time since everything with the rabbi went down. I thought it was a great touch, but my only complaint is that Rachel's younger years wrapped up a bit too quickly and we didn't get a better glimpse at the supporting characters. The ending, however, is extremely extremely surprising, folks, in a way that made me really think about Rachel far long after I finished the book.
Intentions is a great representation of the time in your teenage years when everything just comes at you from all angles, and you are forced to see and learn things you never wanted to. For such a jaw-dropping premise, Heiligman has created a well-written world of people in various degrees of imperfection, while still weaving in the lighter moments in life. I was hooked from the very first page.
September 7, 2012
Okay I’ll admit it I was only interested because of its cover! The cover is so freakish and mysterious that it had caught my eye but after having read the book I could not find any relation to the cover and the story. *scratches head*
Anyway, the book started out strong. I mean what with hearing the Rabbi doing “things” and all, it makes you keep reading but further in the book I felt that the author was just twisted. Like knowing that the Rabbi is a big hypocrite, your parents fighting and your bestfriend not talking to you is clearly NOT enough let’s give another shock to the child’s soul by killing her grandmother, seriously?! Last few chapters she really lost me. The sparkle and the “want” to read the book is faltered but still I held on and… sad to say I was extremely disappointed. I don’t really know what I was expecting for the ending but the way it ended was just… blah so much so I blurted out loud “Yeah Right!” before closing the book.
Anyway, the book started out strong. I mean what with hearing the Rabbi doing “things” and all, it makes you keep reading but further in the book I felt that the author was just twisted. Like knowing that the Rabbi is a big hypocrite, your parents fighting and your bestfriend not talking to you is clearly NOT enough let’s give another shock to the child’s soul by killing her grandmother, seriously?! Last few chapters she really lost me. The sparkle and the “want” to read the book is faltered but still I held on and… sad to say I was extremely disappointed. I don’t really know what I was expecting for the ending but the way it ended was just… blah so much so I blurted out loud “Yeah Right!” before closing the book.
March 30, 2012
Holy crap! Please excuse my French, but this book was so EFFED UP! From the first two chapters in the sanctuary to the messed up relationships between parents, boys and best friends to the heavier tragedies like Randy and Grandma. Wow!
I think a LOT of people are going to be either pissed off and annoyed like hell. The characters in the book were crazy, and the story development was chaotic. But for some crazy reason - I know, maybe I'm messed up too - I liked this freakin' train wreck.
The book made me laugh out loud - the being stoned part was HILARIOUS. And it made me sad - the tragedies mentioned above. It's like going to the movies to watch one of the stupidest movies ever made but you laughed and cry anyway.
Don't ask me why because I can't explain, but I have no problems giving this book four stars.
I think a LOT of people are going to be either pissed off and annoyed like hell. The characters in the book were crazy, and the story development was chaotic. But for some crazy reason - I know, maybe I'm messed up too - I liked this freakin' train wreck.
The book made me laugh out loud - the being stoned part was HILARIOUS. And it made me sad - the tragedies mentioned above. It's like going to the movies to watch one of the stupidest movies ever made but you laughed and cry anyway.
Don't ask me why because I can't explain, but I have no problems giving this book four stars.
February 8, 2014
This book was either poorly written or the story was badly constructed, I can't decide which...
Rachel was an overreactive, impulsive, manipulative brat and I honestly got that what she was going through affected her, but I still didn't like her. The book was packed with sub-plots and extra-characters that had no value whatsoever and it took away from Rachel's story...
Rachel's family was broken and twisted and I just wish it hadn't just been solved like 'oopsie, everoyone makes mistakes, let's forget everything and move on', they all need a butt-load of sessions of family therapy.
All in all, the book was not that bad, I just would've changed a bunch of stuff.
Rachel was an overreactive, impulsive, manipulative brat and I honestly got that what she was going through affected her, but I still didn't like her. The book was packed with sub-plots and extra-characters that had no value whatsoever and it took away from Rachel's story...
Rachel's family was broken and twisted and I just wish it hadn't just been solved like 'oopsie, everoyone makes mistakes, let's forget everything and move on', they all need a butt-load of sessions of family therapy.
All in all, the book was not that bad, I just would've changed a bunch of stuff.
Read
August 17, 2013One-sitting page-turner.
December 13, 2012
An excellent YA read - highly recommend it!
February 10, 2017
Review also available on dudettereads.com.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Rachel, as with everyone else in the community, adored Rabbi Cohn. He was her role model and a seemingly charming man. Whenever he led services, she would lap up every single word he said. In her eyes, he was perfect and he could do no wrong. That is, until the day she reached the temple early for service and realized that she had overheard the rabbi committing adultery, on the bima, no less! Knowing his sin, and knowing that he did this in a holy place causes Rachel to spiral out of control. It doesn’t help when she notices her mother and the rabbi flirting very soon after.
Given the premise, it is not wonder that this books is one chaotic train wreck. Rachel’s parents are constantly fighting. Her best friend, Alexi, has completely turned on her, declaring not everything is about “perfect Raebee”. As much as she likes Jake, she is very distracted by Adam’s presence. Jake turning hot and cold confuses her feelings, whereas Adam’s moves are just so messed up, yet feel so inviting. Maybe it’s because he’s the rabbi’s son. Besides these worries, there also is her grandmother. Throughout the book, Rachel comes to learn what it means to miss someone you love. After the passing of her grandfather, her grandmother is far from herself anymore. There are only occasional shadows of glimpses of the person that she used to be.
Right from the very start, readers are thrown into Rachel’s world. She’s yelling to her fighting parents that she’s leaving the house and slams the door. Soon after her already fragile world comes crashing down on her. Almost throughout, she is bombarded with problems. Some of these are clearly the result of her own doing, while others are rather circumstantial to her. Still, she has to deal with everything, so there is no lull at all for readers. There is always something to keep readers’ attention.
The characters are all but predictable. That should be a good thing. Yet at some points, I don’t think that is necessarily the case. Most of the characters lack consistency. That makes sense for Rachel’s grandmother, who clearly suffers from dementia, or maybe then when pot comes into the picture. Otherwise, there is a lack of more stable persons who anchor the rest of the characters. Instead, most were entirely unpredictable to the point that sometimes I wasn’t sure if I was still reading about the same characters or different ones entirely.
Inconsistent characters also translate into inconsistent relationships. Most of the time they are like time bombs, just waiting to explode. On the flipside, this does contribute to the high intensity plot of this book. Those looking for almost constant highs and very few lows might actually be very well served with Intentions.
Writing style-wise, I was a little agitated at the beginning. A couple of times there’s this description of a scenario of what Rachel does next, only for her to retract that and say she did not that but did this instead. It’s fine if she states that she wishes she could bring herself to do something. It’s another when several times I read something only to find out that nope, that was just in her mind. It’s not even that she wishes she was more sensible or anything. It’s just senseless alternatives that are completely ludicrous. Thankfully that aspect subsides after the first couple of chapters, so that the writing itself no longer is in the way. After that, the writing is fairly standard, in that it conveys the story and Rachel’s voice. It does get funny when Rachel tries to figure out if she’s stoned or not. When that happens, I think Rachel’s voice is captured very well.
Questioning faith is probably one of the main themes. I think that is reflected well in Rachel’s internal struggles, as she considers what it means to be Jewish and lead a Jewish life versus the institutions and people that convey Jewish messages. Despite all that potential, I felt that the execution was lacking. Considering that Rachel is looking back on her life, ten years after all these things happen, there is no apparent development from when she is 15 versus when she is 25. It doesn’t’ even seem necessary to know that she is looking back because how she thinks about her struggles or changes she has undergone aren’t even conveyed in the first place.
Despite the confusion and occasional agitation, I found myself very drawn into the book. I guess seeing how twisted everything was just made me want to know how much worse it could get. Towards the end I also realized that I was very emotionally invested when it came to Randy, the boy Rachel helps in a reading programme, and also when it came to Rachel’s grandmother. Their plights are very real ones that many face, so it is hard to write of the attachment I felt, even if Alexi, for instance, completely turned me off.
Even though I don’t think of Intentions as exceptionally well written, I think it does have a lot to offer in terms of evoking a great range of emotions in readers. Disgust, confusion, sadness, annoyance, excitement, sympathy, hope and what have you are all packed away between those pages.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Rachel, as with everyone else in the community, adored Rabbi Cohn. He was her role model and a seemingly charming man. Whenever he led services, she would lap up every single word he said. In her eyes, he was perfect and he could do no wrong. That is, until the day she reached the temple early for service and realized that she had overheard the rabbi committing adultery, on the bima, no less! Knowing his sin, and knowing that he did this in a holy place causes Rachel to spiral out of control. It doesn’t help when she notices her mother and the rabbi flirting very soon after.
Given the premise, it is not wonder that this books is one chaotic train wreck. Rachel’s parents are constantly fighting. Her best friend, Alexi, has completely turned on her, declaring not everything is about “perfect Raebee”. As much as she likes Jake, she is very distracted by Adam’s presence. Jake turning hot and cold confuses her feelings, whereas Adam’s moves are just so messed up, yet feel so inviting. Maybe it’s because he’s the rabbi’s son. Besides these worries, there also is her grandmother. Throughout the book, Rachel comes to learn what it means to miss someone you love. After the passing of her grandfather, her grandmother is far from herself anymore. There are only occasional shadows of glimpses of the person that she used to be.
Right from the very start, readers are thrown into Rachel’s world. She’s yelling to her fighting parents that she’s leaving the house and slams the door. Soon after her already fragile world comes crashing down on her. Almost throughout, she is bombarded with problems. Some of these are clearly the result of her own doing, while others are rather circumstantial to her. Still, she has to deal with everything, so there is no lull at all for readers. There is always something to keep readers’ attention.
The characters are all but predictable. That should be a good thing. Yet at some points, I don’t think that is necessarily the case. Most of the characters lack consistency. That makes sense for Rachel’s grandmother, who clearly suffers from dementia, or maybe then when pot comes into the picture. Otherwise, there is a lack of more stable persons who anchor the rest of the characters. Instead, most were entirely unpredictable to the point that sometimes I wasn’t sure if I was still reading about the same characters or different ones entirely.
Inconsistent characters also translate into inconsistent relationships. Most of the time they are like time bombs, just waiting to explode. On the flipside, this does contribute to the high intensity plot of this book. Those looking for almost constant highs and very few lows might actually be very well served with Intentions.
Writing style-wise, I was a little agitated at the beginning. A couple of times there’s this description of a scenario of what Rachel does next, only for her to retract that and say she did not that but did this instead. It’s fine if she states that she wishes she could bring herself to do something. It’s another when several times I read something only to find out that nope, that was just in her mind. It’s not even that she wishes she was more sensible or anything. It’s just senseless alternatives that are completely ludicrous. Thankfully that aspect subsides after the first couple of chapters, so that the writing itself no longer is in the way. After that, the writing is fairly standard, in that it conveys the story and Rachel’s voice. It does get funny when Rachel tries to figure out if she’s stoned or not. When that happens, I think Rachel’s voice is captured very well.
Questioning faith is probably one of the main themes. I think that is reflected well in Rachel’s internal struggles, as she considers what it means to be Jewish and lead a Jewish life versus the institutions and people that convey Jewish messages. Despite all that potential, I felt that the execution was lacking. Considering that Rachel is looking back on her life, ten years after all these things happen, there is no apparent development from when she is 15 versus when she is 25. It doesn’t’ even seem necessary to know that she is looking back because how she thinks about her struggles or changes she has undergone aren’t even conveyed in the first place.
Despite the confusion and occasional agitation, I found myself very drawn into the book. I guess seeing how twisted everything was just made me want to know how much worse it could get. Towards the end I also realized that I was very emotionally invested when it came to Randy, the boy Rachel helps in a reading programme, and also when it came to Rachel’s grandmother. Their plights are very real ones that many face, so it is hard to write of the attachment I felt, even if Alexi, for instance, completely turned me off.
Even though I don’t think of Intentions as exceptionally well written, I think it does have a lot to offer in terms of evoking a great range of emotions in readers. Disgust, confusion, sadness, annoyance, excitement, sympathy, hope and what have you are all packed away between those pages.
October 19, 2017
This book was the right length for all the content, in it. It was hard to follow who was who at times. Alexis was the typical "bad girl" that people try to be today. Jake was a good boy, that believed in the truth, and tried to be the best he could be at all times, in school and out.
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June 20, 2019This books was honestly a great read. I love fiction books, especially about life and the issues we can come across.
February 29, 2024
Young Adult. Cute read about a teenager girl dealing with changes in life and consequencesof her mistakes. Realizing people are human and they mess up sometimes.
August 22, 2015
This book first came to my attention around a year ago when it won a Sydney Taylor Award at the Association of Jewish Libraries. It intrigued me, because it's rare to come across young adult fiction with such a direct, progressive Jewish flair. This is the community that I may have grown up in, if my suburb were a bit more jewish, I stayed in public school, and temple and community played a more central role with my family. Or maybe if I had just joined a youth group after my bat mitzvah. :p. I guess I'm saying, and this has little to do with the story, it's easier for this Rachel to take her Jewish community for granted.
What I really wish is that the story had a little more build up. We pretty much started immediately at the fall, and then I had to just go with the fact that Rachel's life was shattered, even though we only saw the good times, like with her grandmother, her friend Alexis and the rabbi, in minor flashbacks. I also don't really buy that the rabbi was her God figure; maybe her parents, who then were in the middle of a marriage crisis. Either way, it would have helped to get more of an establishing shot.
There are a lot of subplots in the air here, which adds to the usual teen angst to not confront problems, but let them get worse first. (To be fair, I don't think that just applies to teens). I enjoyed the interlude where Rachel volunteered at a school in a lower class neighborhood, which put her thoughts on her comparative wealth and privilege into perspective in a way that I thought rang true to her character. I'm also amused hoe much she repeated the concept of tikkun olam, repairing the world, and linked it very specifically to community service projects, because that's what I grew up with in my Reconstructionist synagogue. :p. Her focus on kavanah, or intention, aka the title of the book, reminds me of how I obsess over those concepts in the here and now, applying Hebrew phrases to my modern day issues.
I thought the two boys, Adam and Jake, were drawn with layers of complexity, but I was a little less impressed with the girls. Even Rachel kind of did the pendulum swing from being all good to all bad for a little bit. Alexis really frustrated me. I really think we needed more of the good side of their friendship, a more complicated picture of who they used to be before life tore them apart. Again, it's likely my own bias, to a degree, my own issues with former friends. And I get that we really couldn't get too deep into Alexis's head while being stuck in Rachel's first person. I appreciate that some people develop cold and bitchy personalities, particularly after a familial schism. But I think it would have added more to the story to have that relationship be more explored.
I do like how there were no happy endings, just living with the damage. I feel like the messages of the story, about personal accountability and not putting others on pedestals, were achieved with minimal moralizing. It feels like something that could have come out of my Judaism--flawed rabbis and all--and with the spirit that prides wisdom and empathy over absolutes.
What I really wish is that the story had a little more build up. We pretty much started immediately at the fall, and then I had to just go with the fact that Rachel's life was shattered, even though we only saw the good times, like with her grandmother, her friend Alexis and the rabbi, in minor flashbacks. I also don't really buy that the rabbi was her God figure; maybe her parents, who then were in the middle of a marriage crisis. Either way, it would have helped to get more of an establishing shot.
There are a lot of subplots in the air here, which adds to the usual teen angst to not confront problems, but let them get worse first. (To be fair, I don't think that just applies to teens). I enjoyed the interlude where Rachel volunteered at a school in a lower class neighborhood, which put her thoughts on her comparative wealth and privilege into perspective in a way that I thought rang true to her character. I'm also amused hoe much she repeated the concept of tikkun olam, repairing the world, and linked it very specifically to community service projects, because that's what I grew up with in my Reconstructionist synagogue. :p. Her focus on kavanah, or intention, aka the title of the book, reminds me of how I obsess over those concepts in the here and now, applying Hebrew phrases to my modern day issues.
I thought the two boys, Adam and Jake, were drawn with layers of complexity, but I was a little less impressed with the girls. Even Rachel kind of did the pendulum swing from being all good to all bad for a little bit. Alexis really frustrated me. I really think we needed more of the good side of their friendship, a more complicated picture of who they used to be before life tore them apart. Again, it's likely my own bias, to a degree, my own issues with former friends. And I get that we really couldn't get too deep into Alexis's head while being stuck in Rachel's first person. I appreciate that some people develop cold and bitchy personalities, particularly after a familial schism. But I think it would have added more to the story to have that relationship be more explored.
I do like how there were no happy endings, just living with the damage. I feel like the messages of the story, about personal accountability and not putting others on pedestals, were achieved with minimal moralizing. It feels like something that could have come out of my Judaism--flawed rabbis and all--and with the spirit that prides wisdom and empathy over absolutes.
January 7, 2013
Tired of listening to her parents fighting, Rachel leaves early to go to Temple one Saturday afternoon. She goes into the sanctuary hoping to find some peace and to talk to Rabbi Cohn about her problems. Her parents are fighting constantly, her former best friend is treating her badly for no apparent reason, and she isn’t sure where she stands with kind-of boyfriend Jake. When she finds the sanctuary empty, she lays down on one of the pews and drifts off to sleep waking a little while later to the sound of a man and woman having sex. Not knowing what else to do, Rachel quietly heads for the door, but before she leaves she hears the woman say, “Oh, Rabbi.” At that moment, Rachel’s world changes forever as she realizes that the man who she had trusted and respected is having an affair. Though she doesn’t tell anyone about what she witnessed that day, this discovery causes Rachel to start questioning her faith and sets her on a path of rebellions and bad decisions.
Though Rachel happens to be Jewish, teens who have been brought up to follow any religion will probably identify with Rachel’s crisis of faith. Though the incident that brought it about for Rachel was extreme, the teen years are a time of questioning rules and traditions as well as the adults who model them. I liked that the author addressed this issue in a bold way.
At times it is difficult to like Rachel and hard to understand some of the decisions that she makes; however, Rachel is a realistic character. Like many teens, there are instances when she knows she is doing something wrong, but does it anyway. The conflicts that she has with her parents and friends are also realistic and relatable. As an adult reader, there were many times when I wanted to grab Rachel by the shoulders and give her a good shake, but that probably speaks to the realism of the character more than anything else.
There were a few aspects of this book that I had issues with. The chapter titles seemed unnecessary and interrupted the flow of the narrative. There are brief chapters at the beginning and the end of the novel that are from the perspective of adult Rachel. They seem at odds with the immediacy of the present tense (and at times stream of consciousness) narration in the rest of the novel. There is no sense from the rest of the novel that the story is being told by an older person looking back at previous events in her life. The resolution of the book came quickly and tied things up a little too neatly. Though the book was well intentioned (pun), for me it was just ok.
Though Rachel happens to be Jewish, teens who have been brought up to follow any religion will probably identify with Rachel’s crisis of faith. Though the incident that brought it about for Rachel was extreme, the teen years are a time of questioning rules and traditions as well as the adults who model them. I liked that the author addressed this issue in a bold way.
At times it is difficult to like Rachel and hard to understand some of the decisions that she makes; however, Rachel is a realistic character. Like many teens, there are instances when she knows she is doing something wrong, but does it anyway. The conflicts that she has with her parents and friends are also realistic and relatable. As an adult reader, there were many times when I wanted to grab Rachel by the shoulders and give her a good shake, but that probably speaks to the realism of the character more than anything else.
There were a few aspects of this book that I had issues with. The chapter titles seemed unnecessary and interrupted the flow of the narrative. There are brief chapters at the beginning and the end of the novel that are from the perspective of adult Rachel. They seem at odds with the immediacy of the present tense (and at times stream of consciousness) narration in the rest of the novel. There is no sense from the rest of the novel that the story is being told by an older person looking back at previous events in her life. The resolution of the book came quickly and tied things up a little too neatly. Though the book was well intentioned (pun), for me it was just ok.
July 29, 2012
Rachel's parents are fighting more and more. Her best friend Alexis is acting like a different person, and the person she admires most, her temple's rabbi, has just let her down in a monumental way. Rachel struggles to make sense of it all, but before she can make it through she has a long way to fall.
I didn't love it. There wasn't anything in particular that turned me off. It was a good story. The characters were fine. It moved along. It was just fine all around I guess. Nothing jumped out at me or pulled me in, but then nothing was a turn off.
Intentions explored how it can be dangerous and destructive to view other people as perfect. It looked at what happens when someone you looked up to lets you down. This was happening in two different ways, which Rachel doesn't realize at first. First is the realization that the rabbi, who Rachel has always greatly admired, cheats on his wife. Rachel is horrified and doesn't know who to talk to about this. She doesn't feel like she can tell her parents, and her Alexis, her one close friend, is acting so strangely. We realize that just as the rabbi let Rachel down, Rachel unknowingly let Alexis down. Alexis always saw Rachel as perfect, but Rachel wasn't there for her when Alexis' parents were going through a divorce. Now, Alexis gets back at Rachel is a series of really awful ways, and Rachel tags along after her like a puppy for far too long, but I understand what was being done.
Rachel's life falls apart, and she blames it all on the rabbi, which is of course not the root of the problem. Rachel is in love with Jake, but ends up cheating on him with someone else, despite her disgust at the rabbi's cheating. She blames it all on the rabbi and what he's done to her, but she eventually realizes she has no one to blame for the way she acts but herself.
I appreciated that not everything got fixed for Rachel. She and Alexis didn't have a big love-fest at the end when all is forgiven (although everything does work out with Jake and her parents).
Intentions comes out August 14, 2012.
I didn't love it. There wasn't anything in particular that turned me off. It was a good story. The characters were fine. It moved along. It was just fine all around I guess. Nothing jumped out at me or pulled me in, but then nothing was a turn off.
Intentions explored how it can be dangerous and destructive to view other people as perfect. It looked at what happens when someone you looked up to lets you down. This was happening in two different ways, which Rachel doesn't realize at first. First is the realization that the rabbi, who Rachel has always greatly admired, cheats on his wife. Rachel is horrified and doesn't know who to talk to about this. She doesn't feel like she can tell her parents, and her Alexis, her one close friend, is acting so strangely. We realize that just as the rabbi let Rachel down, Rachel unknowingly let Alexis down. Alexis always saw Rachel as perfect, but Rachel wasn't there for her when Alexis' parents were going through a divorce. Now, Alexis gets back at Rachel is a series of really awful ways, and Rachel tags along after her like a puppy for far too long, but I understand what was being done.
Rachel's life falls apart, and she blames it all on the rabbi, which is of course not the root of the problem. Rachel is in love with Jake, but ends up cheating on him with someone else, despite her disgust at the rabbi's cheating. She blames it all on the rabbi and what he's done to her, but she eventually realizes she has no one to blame for the way she acts but herself.
I appreciated that not everything got fixed for Rachel. She and Alexis didn't have a big love-fest at the end when all is forgiven (although everything does work out with Jake and her parents).
Intentions comes out August 14, 2012.
August 17, 2012
Intentions begins with 15 year old Rachel escaping to the synagogue to avoid her fighting parents and subsequently witnessing something that sets her world at a tilt. As we meet the people in Rachel's world, you soon realize that her old friendships are changing. She hardly knows her best friends anymore, and her attempts to repair that relationship made me cringe more than once. Even without witnessing what she did Rachel is in a major state of transition in her life. Deborah Heiligman paints a very realistic portrait of what many teens go through. Life seems to be a serious of decisions and you could argue that Rachel has made good ones, thus far, but as the little cracks in the structure of her life start to show, the line between right and wrong gets a little blurry. The way that the characters are written, particularly the dialogue, made the story feel very real to me.
While Rachel's religion is obviously a big part of her life, this is not a book that is preachy or judgmental. Rachel is flawed. She lets someone else's poor choices cloud her own judgement. What I loved was her journey toward the realization that her sense of self will guide her inner moral compass, not the actions of the adults in her life. Becoming disillusioned with the grown-ups can be very painful, as it was in this story, but Rachel was able to decide what kind of person she wanted to be and accept the consequences of her actions. Most importantly, she began to really understand her parents, and other adults, as flawed human beings and the world did not end. The story itself was full of drama, romance and the intricacies of the high school social scene and that painted a very engaging and realistic portrait of Rachel's life, both before and after her disturbing discovery. The ending of these types of books can be tricky, but I absolutely loved the ending of this one. It made me smile and get a little teary at the same time.
While Rachel's religion is obviously a big part of her life, this is not a book that is preachy or judgmental. Rachel is flawed. She lets someone else's poor choices cloud her own judgement. What I loved was her journey toward the realization that her sense of self will guide her inner moral compass, not the actions of the adults in her life. Becoming disillusioned with the grown-ups can be very painful, as it was in this story, but Rachel was able to decide what kind of person she wanted to be and accept the consequences of her actions. Most importantly, she began to really understand her parents, and other adults, as flawed human beings and the world did not end. The story itself was full of drama, romance and the intricacies of the high school social scene and that painted a very engaging and realistic portrait of Rachel's life, both before and after her disturbing discovery. The ending of these types of books can be tricky, but I absolutely loved the ending of this one. It made me smile and get a little teary at the same time.
August 14, 2012
Intentions was such a messy read!
I spent the first five minutes trying to figure out what on earth was going on and the next ten minutes wondering why the protagonist just wouldn't stop talking about the Rabbi. The first 20 pages of this book had me thinking that the whole book was about the Rabbi, which, it's not.
Okay, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Let me explain, Intentions does not feel like you're starting at the beginning of the story; it makes you like you were thrown right in the middle of a crazy carnival and you're just trying to figure out what the heck is happening around you. You'd think that feeling would go away after some time but nope, it lasts you through the entire novel.
To begin with, I couldn't stand the protagonist, Rachel. I'm going to blame the writing because I don't think I've met such a random (not in a good way) character. There were times when I felt likethe author Rachel was going for funny by trying to write, what she assumed, was the way teenage girls think but really, it just didn't work for me. The girl's thoughts and the story jumps from one random event to another and it's all so abrupt that a lot of times, nothing really makes sense.
But.
(Yeah, there's a but).
I get the idea for the story. Normally, despite the messiness, this book would've made an entertaining read as the plot doesn't completely suck. It's about a teenage girl trying to deal with what's happening around her and obviously, things don't go well. I just wish it was written better. Maybe if the author traded the protagonist for asane better one, added more pages in between chapters to fill the gaps (so it doesn't feel so abrupt and random), Intentions would've got a higher rating from me.
I spent the first five minutes trying to figure out what on earth was going on and the next ten minutes wondering why the protagonist just wouldn't stop talking about the Rabbi. The first 20 pages of this book had me thinking that the whole book was about the Rabbi, which, it's not.
Okay, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Let me explain, Intentions does not feel like you're starting at the beginning of the story; it makes you like you were thrown right in the middle of a crazy carnival and you're just trying to figure out what the heck is happening around you. You'd think that feeling would go away after some time but nope, it lasts you through the entire novel.
To begin with, I couldn't stand the protagonist, Rachel. I'm going to blame the writing because I don't think I've met such a random (not in a good way) character. There were times when I felt like
But.
(Yeah, there's a but).
I get the idea for the story. Normally, despite the messiness, this book would've made an entertaining read as the plot doesn't completely suck. It's about a teenage girl trying to deal with what's happening around her and obviously, things don't go well. I just wish it was written better. Maybe if the author traded the protagonist for a
August 3, 2012
Intentions started off really strong and I thought the initial conflict Rachel had was an interesting way for her to start questioning her faith not just in her religion, but also her faith in the people around her. That said I think it was a bit of a stretch to think that this one incident that she observes serves as the catalyst for every choice she makes throughout the book. Yes, aspects of her life do start to break down and she does some stupid things, but even when she realizes she's done something stupid, she doesn't stop.
Rachel comes across as a typical high school girl. She's worried about her friends and her family. She thinks she may finally get a date with the good neighbor boy. Very quickly she starts to rebel first out of anger at the adults in her life, and then also from anger at her former best friend. She risks the good things in her life, only to do self-destructive things. What keeps her relateable is that she feels anger and guilt over what she does and confusion on how to fix things, and best of all there is a sense that she's grown by the end of the story, regardless of the outcome.
There is a heavy focus on Rachel's Jewish faith, but is done in a way that is more informative than preachy. Heiligman manages to incorporate aspects of the Jewish faith into the story naturally and it was interesting to see how Rachel's religion impacts her expectations and choices.
Overall, Intentions was a nice read, engaging enough that I finished in one sitting, and fast paced enough that I never had a chance to get bored. But sometimes it felt like the fast pace was due more to the constant adding of drama, as opposed to the natural flow. It's just not a book that's going to stick with me.
Check out more of my reviews on my blog Turning the Pages
Rachel comes across as a typical high school girl. She's worried about her friends and her family. She thinks she may finally get a date with the good neighbor boy. Very quickly she starts to rebel first out of anger at the adults in her life, and then also from anger at her former best friend. She risks the good things in her life, only to do self-destructive things. What keeps her relateable is that she feels anger and guilt over what she does and confusion on how to fix things, and best of all there is a sense that she's grown by the end of the story, regardless of the outcome.
There is a heavy focus on Rachel's Jewish faith, but is done in a way that is more informative than preachy. Heiligman manages to incorporate aspects of the Jewish faith into the story naturally and it was interesting to see how Rachel's religion impacts her expectations and choices.
Overall, Intentions was a nice read, engaging enough that I finished in one sitting, and fast paced enough that I never had a chance to get bored. But sometimes it felt like the fast pace was due more to the constant adding of drama, as opposed to the natural flow. It's just not a book that's going to stick with me.
Check out more of my reviews on my blog Turning the Pages
February 4, 2013
Read more reviews at my blog, Words and Tea Bottles.
It took me a while to start on this review after I finished reading. Not because it was bad; in fact, it was the opposite! Intentions is one of the few books I’ve thoroughly enjoyed in a while. I suppose it’s easier to complain than compliment, though.
I seem to be on a bit of a Judaism kick for YA lately; just a few weeks ago I read one called If I Should Die Before I Wake, about a neo-Nazi girl who kept flashing back to the life of a Jewish girl during the holocaust. Perhaps I should actively seek them out? They’re quite interesting.
Anyway, this book is contemporary instead of historical, so it’s different. The thing I loved most about this was Rachel’s voice. There are times when I was quite annoyed with her; not as a character, but just as a human being, making stupid choices and saying stupid things, but I always loved her voice.
The story itself was a bit chaotic. So much came tumbling down in Rachel’s life one after another, but that’s how it happens sometimes. Often it only takes one thing to put someone over the tipping point. Of course, in the end, it seemed Rachel overreacted for at least one of the things- but that is something you’ll have to find out for yourself.
My favorite aspect of the actual story was probably Rachel’s visits to the reading lab. They didn’t happen too much in the story, and they did seem like an aside without much effect on the story. But it’s something I wish I could’ve done in high school, so I suppose the missed opportunity makes me live vicariously through her.
Besides the minor things mentioned, I really don’t have a problem with this book. It felt good to read a book that I truly, thoroughly enjoyed. Hope you will, too!
It took me a while to start on this review after I finished reading. Not because it was bad; in fact, it was the opposite! Intentions is one of the few books I’ve thoroughly enjoyed in a while. I suppose it’s easier to complain than compliment, though.
I seem to be on a bit of a Judaism kick for YA lately; just a few weeks ago I read one called If I Should Die Before I Wake, about a neo-Nazi girl who kept flashing back to the life of a Jewish girl during the holocaust. Perhaps I should actively seek them out? They’re quite interesting.
Anyway, this book is contemporary instead of historical, so it’s different. The thing I loved most about this was Rachel’s voice. There are times when I was quite annoyed with her; not as a character, but just as a human being, making stupid choices and saying stupid things, but I always loved her voice.
The story itself was a bit chaotic. So much came tumbling down in Rachel’s life one after another, but that’s how it happens sometimes. Often it only takes one thing to put someone over the tipping point. Of course, in the end, it seemed Rachel overreacted for at least one of the things- but that is something you’ll have to find out for yourself.
My favorite aspect of the actual story was probably Rachel’s visits to the reading lab. They didn’t happen too much in the story, and they did seem like an aside without much effect on the story. But it’s something I wish I could’ve done in high school, so I suppose the missed opportunity makes me live vicariously through her.
Besides the minor things mentioned, I really don’t have a problem with this book. It felt good to read a book that I truly, thoroughly enjoyed. Hope you will, too!
October 27, 2012
Wow! This book brought back so many memories of my youth, when the rabbi was "friendly" with many women at the temple and was later named a correspondent in a divorce case. The rabbi in my town also had sons who were "rebellious" (one ended up in rehab). So I related incredibly well to Rachel with her quick downhill spiral when so many of her illusions were shattered.
Sometimes I get frustrated with YA novels because the characters are very cliched, but Rachel was developed well. I could see how she wanted to stay friends with Alexis, even putting up with her friend's nasty behavior. At first I thought the story with her grandmother's failing health and tutoring a boy after school were a little too much in the mix. But, at the end of the book, when Rachel becomes a rabbi, it is obvious that all these life experiences made her a better person, one who could relate well to others' challenges.
I really liked how the Jewish aspects were fused in the book. The interplay of action and intention made Rachel examine what she was doing and why she was doing it.
Sometimes I get frustrated with YA novels because the characters are very cliched, but Rachel was developed well. I could see how she wanted to stay friends with Alexis, even putting up with her friend's nasty behavior. At first I thought the story with her grandmother's failing health and tutoring a boy after school were a little too much in the mix. But, at the end of the book, when Rachel becomes a rabbi, it is obvious that all these life experiences made her a better person, one who could relate well to others' challenges.
I really liked how the Jewish aspects were fused in the book. The interplay of action and intention made Rachel examine what she was doing and why she was doing it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2012
A story about having your faith shaken, and how that can affect you. Sixteen year old Rachel Greenberg, a devoted Jew, overhears her beloved Rabbi having, um, inappropriate relations with a woman he's supposed to be counseling. But she can't tell her mom this earthshattering news when she sees how her mother acts around the Rabbi--she even sees them kiss! Is her mother also having an affair with him? Is this why her parents have been fighting so much lately? Where is God to help her decide what to do? How can she act with "kavalah" or good intentions? Add to this that her relationship with her best friend is crumbling, and she may be getting serious with a nice boy she really likes, and it's getting to be too much for Rachel to handle. A good look at Judaism, faith in general, and friendship, honesty, family and teen relationships. Plus, Rachel is a funny character! I laughed out loud several times at her comments and actions. Note to self, has some use of the "f bomb" but in very deserving situations.
April 13, 2012
I finished this one yesterday and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it. Rachel has so much on her plate--her rabbi has been knocked off the pedestal she's had him on since childhood, her parents are fighting like cats and dogs, her best friend doesn't seem to want to be friends anymore, she has boy trouble, a young poverty-stricken boy in her community has come to mean a lot to her, and her grandmother isn't doing so well. This book is an examination of how a young Jewish girl handles all of these situations. This is a book about growing up and about faith, and the abrupt end of childhood that comes when one's idols fall. Rachel handles things terribly, but then, teenagers tend to do that. My only complaint is that there seemed to be so much going on in Rachel's life that wrapped up rather too neatly. However, this is a lovely portrayal of contemporary Jewish life, warts and all.
January 9, 2013
Rachel's world is falling apart. Her parents fight all the time and her best friend hardly ever speaks to her. But when she discovers the truth about the rabbi she has always revered and trusted, everything is shattered. She tries to cling to the good in her life, especially Jake, but there is so much going wrong that she sometimes feels as though she's spiraling out of control. It is going to take a great deal of determination - and intention - to set things right.
When I first started this book, I thought I wasn't very into it. But then I couldn't get it out of my mind. Rachel is a fascinating character to follow - she does plenty of stupid things that I wanted to slap her for, but she's also a teenager who has witnessed something traumatizing, so I kept rooting for her to find the help that she so desperately needed.
Perhaps not the best book I've ever read, but a good and worthwhile read. I'll definitely keep an eye out for other books by Heiligman in the future.
When I first started this book, I thought I wasn't very into it. But then I couldn't get it out of my mind. Rachel is a fascinating character to follow - she does plenty of stupid things that I wanted to slap her for, but she's also a teenager who has witnessed something traumatizing, so I kept rooting for her to find the help that she so desperately needed.
Perhaps not the best book I've ever read, but a good and worthwhile read. I'll definitely keep an eye out for other books by Heiligman in the future.
March 16, 2013
This has the best first chapter I've read in a long, long time. Rachel can feel her world coming apart, and seeks solace in her synagogue. She falls asleep, and upon awakening, makes an awful discovery that sets her on a downward spiral of doubt. The hook of the first chapter is irresistible, and pulls the novel through one or two subplots too many before reaching resolution. Along the way, Rachel's descent into existential doubt is painful, yet honest, in fact, one of the most honest depictions of a faith journey in YA since Marcelo in the Real World. Rachel struggles with so many big questions - how/why does God use flawed people as vessels for divine purposes? where does an individual's responsibility for his/her behaviors begin (and end)? why do good people do bad things (and vice versa)? - that the novel is an ideal vehicle for sparking the moral imagination, and not just of teen readers.
August 6, 2013
At 15, Rachel’s life has been a tightly woven tapestry of friends, parents who get long well and a rabbi whom she adores and admires as her spiritual advisor. Then everything Rachel knows to be good and true begins to unravel starting with an incident where she overhears her beloved rabbi--er, uh--*doing it* in the temple--and not with his wife. Distraught, suddenly, Rachel is forced to confront the reality that good people can make some really horrible decisions--including herself.
In this coming-of-age story, Rachel’s spot on teen voice establishes the quick pace that kept me turning the pages. Her loss of innocence was not only poignant but even as she addresses a failing relationship with her best friend, Alexis, a confusing attraction to bad boy, Adam (who happens to be the rabbi’s son), and a tentative romance with super cute Jake, Rachel was so damn funny, too!
Oh, Deborah Heiligman! Thank you for not leaving this book in a box!
In this coming-of-age story, Rachel’s spot on teen voice establishes the quick pace that kept me turning the pages. Her loss of innocence was not only poignant but even as she addresses a failing relationship with her best friend, Alexis, a confusing attraction to bad boy, Adam (who happens to be the rabbi’s son), and a tentative romance with super cute Jake, Rachel was so damn funny, too!
Oh, Deborah Heiligman! Thank you for not leaving this book in a box!
October 31, 2012
Phenomenal! Obviously a good read as I read it so quickly. It is short but truly a book that makes you want to keep turning pages. Rachel is funny and normal. Her internal monologue is witty and quirky. Honestly, her inner thoughts and inner jokes reminded me of myself and the thoughts I have that sometimes are definitely better left unsaid considering the moments I have them in. Rachel becomes conflicted due to the confusing and upsetting things happening to her externally. She makes some unwise decisions, she acts with emotion, she is confused. Great book for any teenager but also one I think adults can relate to as we all face situations that knock us out of the comfortable cocoon that becomes our daily lives and makes us see that not everyone is what we thought they were, even ourselves.
February 23, 2016
Juvenile and YA novels that have a religious theme are always of interest to me, so I placed this book on hold after reading a favorable review.
Fifteen-year-old Rachel, already luckwarm in Judaism, loses her faith in God and takes a dive into promiscuous and risky behaviors after witnessing her beloved rabbi engaging in sex in the synagogue's sanctuary with a young woman who's come to him for counseling. Contributing to her confusion, anger and loss of trust are her parents' strained marriage and Rachel's suspicion that her mom is having an affair with the rabbi, her best friend distancing herself, and the temptation raised by the rabbi's bad boy son constantly coming on to her even as she tries to build a relationship with good boy Jake.
Lots of bad language and description of sexual encounters, up to the brink of but not engaging in intercourse.
Fifteen-year-old Rachel, already luckwarm in Judaism, loses her faith in God and takes a dive into promiscuous and risky behaviors after witnessing her beloved rabbi engaging in sex in the synagogue's sanctuary with a young woman who's come to him for counseling. Contributing to her confusion, anger and loss of trust are her parents' strained marriage and Rachel's suspicion that her mom is having an affair with the rabbi, her best friend distancing herself, and the temptation raised by the rabbi's bad boy son constantly coming on to her even as she tries to build a relationship with good boy Jake.
Lots of bad language and description of sexual encounters, up to the brink of but not engaging in intercourse.
August 4, 2012
So, what happens to you when you lose all faith in humanity? Evidently, its' a mix of promiscuity, experimentation, and trouble with school. Now, to be fair, Intentions did a great job of finding a series of events that are *almost* believable. Almost. Meaning not. Not believable. What are the odds, really, of one spunky, happy-go-lucky teen falling down the slippery slope of substance abuse, crime, and pathetic woe-is-me depression and then be reborn from the ashes of understanding in under 300 pages? Any math majors out there want to tackle that one? This book was a means of passing time, but that time has passed, and so has my patience for this book. Read it if you want, but don't hold out for any warm fuzzies or personal epiphanies.
October 24, 2024
Rachel’s life is falling apart. Her parents are fighting all the time, her beloved grandmother’s mind is going, and she’s just witnessed her rabbi, a man she reveres almost more than God him/herself, having sex in the synagogue with someone who is not his wife! And her best friend barely acknowledges her. These events send Rachel spiraling into some dark moments, until finally the rabbi’s teachings resurface and remind her to live and act with intention and to make things right. Though this reads like a typical YA coming-of-age/romance novel, the Jewish emphasis gives it a different feel. A couple of threads in the book are not fully explored (why is her friend behaving like this?), but a satisfactory read.
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