Julia's Kitchen

by Brenda A. Ferber

Cara Segal is a born worrier. She figures her worrying works like a whisper in God's ear – if Cara's concerned about car crashes, kidnappings, or murders, she lets God know, and he always
spares her. But Cara never thought to worry about a fire. And one night while she's sleeping at a friend's house, her house catches fire, and her mother and younger sister are both killed.
Throughout shiva, the initial Jewish mourning period, Cara can't help wondering about God's role in the tragedy. And what is her father's role in her life now? He walks around like a ghost
and refuses to talk about the fire. Cara longs for her family and her home, where sweet smells filled the house as Cara's mom filled orders for her catering business, Julia's Kitchen. Then one
day a call comes in for a cookie order, and Cara gets a wild idea. Maybe by bringing back Julia's Kitchen, she can find a way to reconnect with everything she's lost.

Complete with a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish terms and a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, this debut novel is a joyous tribute to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Julia's Kitchen is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Genres: Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Friendship, Kids, Grief

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2006

Reviews

[Virginia Aronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brilliant book begins with a fire on the first page and does not let you turn away. Sensitive, bold, and deep, the story examines big themes including God, grief, loss, tragedy, courage, friendship, and identity. And baking! The story is hopeful despite the trials of the young protagonist. A moving, very real look at how a young girl deals with a grave and sudden loss. Pick this one up, no matter what your age. You won't be able to put it down.

[N_sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep a box of kleenex next to you as you read this book. Cara is an eleven year old girl who loses her mother and sister in a house fire in the first pages of the story. Cara was staying overnight with a friend when the fire occurred. Her father survived the fire, but won't ever talk about what happened. The story takes the reader through the initial days of shock and denial and then the next few months as Cara tries to deal with her grief. Her father is so overcome with his own grief that he is unable to be there for her. When Cara secretly takes over her mother's former business of making cookie baskets for special occasions, her journey towards healing begins.

I'm sure this author has experienced loss in her life. Her descriptions of Cara's experience as she works through her grief and struggles with questions about God feel so authentic. The way the people around Cara try to be supportive in some helpful and not so helpful ways is also very insightful. I would use this book with children in 5th grade and above. The story would provide a window into the experience of grief.

My only criticism of this book is the illustration on the cover. In my opinion it misrepresents the story. The girl on the front reminds me of a happy comic book character. A story that feels so authentic deserves a more sensitive cover.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I realized this was about Jewish grieving when I picked up this book at ALA. When Cara loses her mother and sister in a fire, she thinks that God has abandoned her but as she moves through the grieving process, she discovers that God gives us the power to get through tough times. The most realistic scenes were Cara and her best friend who eventually fight over Cara's grief. Ultimately it snaps her back into the real world and she secretly starts operating her mother's home-based baking outfit. It's a heavy subject and Ferber handles it well, but at the same time, I thought Cara got over it all a little two quickly. She was 11 but two months isn't a very long time when you lose nearly everything. I did enjoy it and it was nice to read a book that talks about Jewish rituals. I even learned a few things.

[elise]

i had fuzzy memories of checking this book out in elementary school but never finishing it, so naturally i had to find it again

[Sophia Markoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

death sucks. i miss my mom. this helped.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this book so much and i also no the author and she is so nice!

[Arielle Levitan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried for about the first 100 pages and almost missed a flight because I was so engrossed. This might be meant for kids but it covers a very difficult subject and does it so well.

[Chanelle S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Saturday night, Cara sleeps over at her friend, Marlee’s, house. They work on their scrapbooks together. Cara’s just started a new scrapbook, and she’s got a great picture of her whole family at the Cubs game that she’s just pasted in. She has Marlee do the lettering: “Go Cubs!” across the top, with the “O” like a baseball and the exclamation point like a baseball bat. It’s really cute.

While they’re eating breakfast the next morning, the phone rings. Both girls can tell something’s really wrong, because Mrs. Rosen keeps saying things like, “Oh, no . . .” and she’s letting the pancakes burn on the griddle.

When Cara hears her say, “I’m so sorry, David,” Cara feels her stomach drop: David is Cara’s father.

There’s been a terrible fire at Cara’s house—and Cara’s mother, the mom she’s baked with, loved, and shared things with her whole life, is dead. And not only that, but Cara’s sister has died, too. From the happy family of four which goofed around and ate hot dogs together last week at the Cubs game, only Cara and her Dad are left—and Dad doesn’t seem anything like himself anymore. Why did he escape when her mom and sister didn’t? Why didn’t God protect them? Cara has so many questions, and so many feelings about her faith, her father, her friends and the fire—and this is the story of her journey through grief and doubt and back to joy and faith.

(REVIEW: Wonderful book; presents an 11-year-old Jewish girl’s walk through grief and loss without being morbid or terribly sad. Nice glossary in the back makes it easy for Gentiles to get completely engrossed in the story, too, without being confused by unfamiliar terminology. Good family values and role models, but characters are not too perfect to be real.

[EllieMaeBiscuitHead · Rating 3 out of 5]

While going through my bookshelves, I found an old copy of this book I've had since elementary school. I remembered the plot of this book and how it made me feel as a kid. As I was rereading, however, I easily recognized things I related to as a child.

In this book, Julia has lost her mother and sister in a house fire, and in her grief, she questions her belief in God. On page 97, Julia says a prayer to God, "I used to think you ran the world like a great big puppet show, but I don't think that anymore""Maybe sometimes bad things just happen, and you feel as bad about them as we do." And on page 148 Julia says, "And I knew now that people prevented most tragedies-not God. It wasn't as if I was letting God off the hook, though. It's just that I realized God works his magic by giving us the strength to handle just about anything that comes our way. And for what we can't handle alone, he gives us friends and family."

Though I don't believe in God, I admire the faith people have in their gods and how easily some things come to them. Julia's path with her faith and her grief resonated with me and I'm glad that I'd picked up this book as those years ago. :)

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cara was waking up from a sleepover at her best friend Marlee's house when the phone rings and her world is torn apart. In the early morning hours, a fire tore through her family home and her mother, Julia, and 8 year-old sister, Janie, did not survive the blaze. The aftermath of the fire leaves her father utterly bereft and unable to care for Cara's emotional needs. When their phone starts ringing for "Julia's Kitchen", the small baked goods business her late mother had recently started, Cara secretly impersonates her mother and begins to bake their family recipes and fill orders again. Doing this makes her feel closer to her mother and allows her to begin to move on. A touching story; I'll admit it, I cried.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Cara’s life is changed forever when a tragic fire takes the lives of her mother and little sister. Although Cara has her beloved grandparents and best-friend Marlee for support, grief stricken father retreats into his own world, leaving Cara alone to question her faith in God and learn how to cope with her guilt and grief. It is through her eventual decision to continue her mother’s cookie business that Cara finds strength in the healing process. Cara is a well-defined character and there is an honesty to the author’s approach of dealing with grief and healing. There are moments in the story that may be too emotionally intense for younger readers (they brought tears to my eyes).

[KerryT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a good book to teach children about grief, about Jewish traditions, and how does God fit in? This is not a Christian book, as far as teaching from the Bible but I think it would make for good discussion. It has a rather abrupt ending but It is well written to the point where you might need a tissue handy. Also, if you’re a young mom this might be a hard read for you.

[Kimberly Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unforgettable book about a young girl learning how to cope with tragedy.

[Celestina Warbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fire, death, baking, and secrets. The story of a girl whose mother and sister died in a fire.

[billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOOOOO THATS MY AUNT

[Sophia Olivarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this in elementary school and absolutely loving it, so I read it again and it delivered

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Task G Alternative Assignment
Genre: Contemporary Fiction – Bibliotherapy/Multicultural - Jewish
Grades: Ages 9-12
Awards: William Allen White 2008-2009 Master List: Grades 3-5, Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award

The morning after staying the night with her best friend Marlee, eleven-year-old Cara Segal learns that there has been a fire at her family’s home, and her mother Julia and her sister Janie have died in the fire. Her father is the only survivor. Sydney is overwhelmed with grief, and she contemplates God’s role in her life. Her father is devastated and unable to tell her about the fire or give her much comfort. Sydney is primarily comforted by her grandparents and Marlee. The family goes through Shiva, a seven day Jewish mourning ritual. She learns that the family cat was also a victim of the fire. During Shiva, Cara swears off desserts because they remind her too much of her mother and her mother’s business, Julia’s Kitchen. After mourning, Cara learns through a newspaper clipping that the fire started in the kitchen toaster, but the story doesn’t answer all of her questions. She still wonders what really happened. Her father works long hours, and Cara feels orphaned and lonely in their new apartment. She misses the Jewish traditions that her mother kept alive. One day she receives a call for Julia’s Kitchen, but instead of ignoring it she impersonates her mother. The customer heard of Julia’s Kitchen and wanted a basket of her famous cookies to celebrate the birth of her new granddaughter Julia. Cara takes the name Julia as a sign. Cara and Marlee use her mother’s recipes that survived the fire for the cookies, and the baking process helps Cara heal. Her father is shocked one day after work to discover that Cara is making cookie baskets and has adopted a stray cat. Marlee is sent home and Cara and her dad have a heart to heart. Her dad is finally able to tell her about the morning of the fire.

[Sara]

Julia's Kitchen by Brenda A.Ferber is about a girl named Cara who has been going through a lot of depression and grief by losing the two most important people of her life, her mom and her sister in a fire. Although, Cara wasn't there when the fire took place, she was staying at her best friend's house, Marlee. All that Cara had left was her dad, but the thing was that her dad didn't speak a word to her. He was to busy mourning about the loss of hiss wife and daughter. He was really hurt aswell, but all Cara wanted was love from her dad because there was no one else left for her. One day Cara answered the phone and someone was asking for Julia's Kitchen, her mom's baking buisness. Cara decides she would take the order and deliever it. As she was making the order she felt close to her mom. It cheered her up a lot. She felt like her mom wants her to do this. Cara's dad decided to start all over again. Julia's Kitchen was open again. I would reccomend this book to someone who likes sad stories that involve loss and deppression. The character's emotion were shown strongly throughot the book. I really enjoyed it and I coud connect with the character easily.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I"m not sure how I missed this one when it first came out in 2006, but I'm glad that I finally found it. Cara is spending the night at her best friend's house when her own home catches on fire. Her mother and younger sister are killed. The house is destroyed, so Cara and her dad move into an apartment for the time being. Obviously Cara is distraught, and it's made worse by the fact that her father can't talk about that night. She needs to know exactly what happened, but what would help her begin to heal is the one thing that her father is trying to repress. After a month or two, her friends begin to tire of Cara's grieving. She must find a way to get through to her father and take steps to make herself feel better too - and she eventually does both by resuming her mother's cookie baking company, Julia's Kitchen.

A great story of grief and healing. I would pair this with "Mick Harte was Here". After I read that book I swore never to ride a bike without my helmet, and after reading Julia's Kitchen, I've started to unplug our small appliances every night!

[Jean Haberman · Rating 3 out of 5]

God was a talisman for 11-year-old Cara. Everytime she worried about something, God took care of it and it didn't happen. She forgot to worry about her mother and sister dying in a fire and the unthinkable happened! Did God abandon her? Where was He?

Cara and her father weren't able to communicate. Each of them was dealing with grief in their own way. Cara's best friend and her family helped Cara cope with the loss of her mother and her sister, however, Cara needed her dad. Cara found a way to hold her mother close to her by secretly continuing to bake cookies under her mother's business "Julia's Kitchen." Cara came to understand that God was still there during her loss.

The characters were Jewish and the author included a glossary of Jewish terms. It was a little unbelievable that Cara and her best friend could bake all the cookies and deliver them after school hours. When Cara's father was finally able to tell Cara the events of the fire, I had nightmares.

The cover of this book makes it look like a fun, fluffy read. Boy, was I wrong!

[Yi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I opened this book, and was pretty floored within the first few pages to realize that I was reading a book about a girl who's just lost both her mother and her sister in a horrible house fire. She "questions God, and his existence," according to the cover flap, which made me really hope that the book would rise above a discussion of faith.
At worst, it'd be a treacly read about redemption and belief. Brenda Ferber, though, handles the topic well, keeping it to a very real set of circumstances and keeping the book way out of the realm of religious discussions. Instead, she frames the question of faith in the day-to-day happenings of a girl who's trying to find a way to get through life after something horrible happens.
This is a good, fast, read. And while we all hope that nothing like this ever happens to us, we do walk away from the book thinking that we understand grief a lot more.

[Annica Azad · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's crazy about this book is that I remember reading it when I was probably 10 or 11, but it has stuck by me for the past few years. I think the best things definitely come out of tragedies sometimes, whether you want for it to happen or not. And I think this way, because as terrible as the situation may seem at the time, how you deal with the situation really allows you to become a better person and look at every day, as a new day, when you can make everything work the way you want it to work for you. Cara, the main character in this book definitely shows this through her experiences. It's a feel good book and I think if you're someone that is going through hard times in your life as of now, you should definitely take some time to read this book, even though it is indeed, a children's book.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a random grab off the new shelf at the public library and it was a treat. Cara was spending the night at a friend's house when a fire destroyed her home and took the life of her mother and sister. Now she is left wondering how her father survived and if her life will ever be the same. Through a wonderful best friend (and her friend's mother) a kind school counselor and baking cookies, she is on her way. It's sad, but the characters are real and the story compelling. It also ties in a good deal of Cara's Jewish heritage, so we learn about Shabbat, shiva and the important challah. Possible bibliotherapy uses here as well as we see Cara move through the stages of her grief. A wonderful first novel.

[Deena Krawitz]

Julias Kitchen by Brenda A. Ferber was really good but very sad at the same time. This book is about a young girl names Cara that is eleven years old and one night she sleeps out at her friends. The next morning they get a call and her dad tell her that her mom and sister died in a fire. The only one that survived the fire was her dad. They were very sad. Cara's mom use to bake all the time and Cara use to help her. When she died Cara took over her baking skills and she use to make all her goods and deliver them to people. I would recommend this book to anyone. I thought it was good, easy to understand, and emotional.

[Deanna Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is pretty sad considering her sister dies because she was want inside of a burning house to find her cat witch caused her mother to go into the house and she died too.. and julia was spending the night at her friends house when this happened. her father wont talk to her about the night either.her father is so depressed with his self because he didn't stop his wife or daughter when going into the burning house. in the end of the story julia ends up opening a little bakery for her mom using all of her cook books and recipes.you would like this book if your into sad books with a happy ending.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I'm hooked. I have definitely shed a few tears while reading this so grab your kleenex!
I finished this book and am a little surprised that this book is for young readers. The subject matter is a little intense. The main character is 11 and finds out her mother and sister die in a house fire. Her father manages to get out and she questions if God is real. Her faith and relationship with her father are tested. I loved learning all the details regarding what happens at a Jewish funeral! I would definitely recommend it to others!

[Michael Moriarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audience: 4th, 5th and 6th graders, possibly 3rd graders who are on a advanced reading level.

Appeal: A wonderful story well written and that moves at a good pace to keep interest. The stpry deal with questions of why bad thibgs happen, but that a person can bounce back with the help of God and good friends. Written in first person style so any child or parent dealing with grief issues could relate.Great glossery at the end that explains many different jewish terms used in the story.

Awards: Sydney Taylor Book Award 2007

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay children's book but very graphic and tear-jerking death by fire of her family. The really good thing about the book (for which I suspect it was nominated for a Young Hoosier award) for children is the fascinating and well-described Jewish death and funeral rituals. The mourning of wife and child is memorable and well-written for adults -- but I think too much for children...at least too much for my 8-year-old for whom the vocabulary and style is within range.

[Lauren Doyel · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST BOOK EVER!

Cara's mother has a baking buisness. Julia's Kitchen. Cara even named it. But when Cara's mother and sister die in a house fire while she was spending the night at her friend's house, all she has left is her father. He refuses to tell Cara what really happened on that night. Then, orders start pouring in. Cara decideds to secretly take over her mother's baking buisness all without letting her father know. Will Cara ever find out what really happened on the night?

[Rachel Stockton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book handles some heavy hitter situations as a young girl loses her mother, sister, and cat. The main conflict within the book is the main character's struggle to find peace with her father while trying to make sense of life and figure out how to possibly move on when her life has just been flipped upside down. The book dragged on a little and was definitely written for elementary or middle school students.