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The Punk-Rock Queen of the Jews: A Memoir
This is Rossi’s wild, queer coming-of-age story. Rossi was taught only to aspire to marry a nice Jewish boy and to be a good kosher Jewish girl. At sixteen she flowers into a rebellious punk-rock rule-breaker who runs away to seek adventure. Her freedom is cut short when her parents kidnap her and dump her with a Chasidic rabbi—a “cult buster” known for “reforming” wayward Jewish girls—in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Rossi spends the next couple of years in a repressive, misogynistic culture straight out of the nineteenth century, forced to trade in her pink hair and Sex Pistols T-shirt for maxi skirts and long-sleeved blouses and endure not only bone-crunching boredom but also outright abuse and violence.
The Punk-Rock Queen of the Jews is filled with wonderfully rich characters, hilarious dialogue, and keen portraits of the secretive hothouse Orthodox world and the struggling New York City of the 1980 dirty, on the edge, but fully vital and embracing.
Rossi spends the next couple of years in a repressive, misogynistic culture straight out of the nineteenth century, forced to trade in her pink hair and Sex Pistols T-shirt for maxi skirts and long-sleeved blouses and endure not only bone-crunching boredom but also outright abuse and violence.
The Punk-Rock Queen of the Jews is filled with wonderfully rich characters, hilarious dialogue, and keen portraits of the secretive hothouse Orthodox world and the struggling New York City of the 1980 dirty, on the edge, but fully vital and embracing.
336 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2024
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2068 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 31, 2025
(3.5)
I liked this! A very interesting person telling a story from a very interesting time. Bonus points for the queer punk rock-ness of it all.
I liked this! A very interesting person telling a story from a very interesting time. Bonus points for the queer punk rock-ness of it all.
August 19, 2024
I am not sure how to convey just how much I enjoyed this book. I picked it up a few days before attending a reading by the author, and it was everything I had hoped it would be, and so much more.
I read this memoir over a two-day period, and I could not get enough of it. The writing is superb and drew me in immediately, and I mean right from the first page. I would have devoured it in a single sitting, had I had the time to do so.
Rossi is instantly lovable, as are many of the characters who played a role in her life. I felt a myriad of emotions while reading; I was crushed, thrilled, surprised, excited, and at times, on the edge of my seat, hungry for what was going to happen next. Some of the characters wanted to make me scream at them, while others reminded me that there is good in this world. Rossi's family may be described as a dysfunctional one by many, but what other types of families are there??? Though I am not Jewish, I completely related to her family and its dynamics; I am Italian, and I have often thought that there is not much of a difference between the two cultures. We are often disappointed by our parents, but I, like Rossi, have to believe that they did the best they could with what they had.
I also related to Rossi's experiences of discovering her sexuality and her arduous journey of coming of age. I love New York with a passion, and in my youth spent many days and nights roaming around lower Manhattan and meeting the characters who made up its fabric. I am also an ardent fan of punk rock, and I enjoyed being taken along on Rossi's adventures with the "misfits" and outliers of what it was to be considered an acceptable member of society; I was also one of those misfits. These sections of the book evoked emotions in me that have not been awakened in many years.
Religion reveals itself almost as its own character in this book, and I have to agree with Rossi that just because someone defines themselves as religious, it does not - by any means - mean that they are a trustworthy or decent human being. Rossi's experiences within her culture and religion helped to shape her into the wonderful person that she grew to become, and there is great value in those experiences.
Finally, there is a message of forgiveness and compassion that weaves through this memoir, and there is a lot to be learned from this. When we hold our anger, disappointments, and grudges, and allow ourselves to be broken by these emotions, we become entrapped in the endless cycle that prevents us from living peacefully. People are not perfect, and though we may not forget the hurt they have caused, we owe it to ourselves to forgive them and move on. I believe that it takes a highly evolved person to reach this realization, and it made me love Rossi even more. Her wisdom is infinite.
Rossi manages to entertain with her sense of humor while also revealing a tenderness and vulnerability that makes her so relatable and likable. I laughed out loud countless times while reading this memoir, but that is not to say that I was not also brought to tears at others. It is difficult to balance pain and trauma with humor, but Rossi does it, and she does it superbly.
Read this book; I promise you that you will not read another memoir quite like it.
I read this memoir over a two-day period, and I could not get enough of it. The writing is superb and drew me in immediately, and I mean right from the first page. I would have devoured it in a single sitting, had I had the time to do so.
Rossi is instantly lovable, as are many of the characters who played a role in her life. I felt a myriad of emotions while reading; I was crushed, thrilled, surprised, excited, and at times, on the edge of my seat, hungry for what was going to happen next. Some of the characters wanted to make me scream at them, while others reminded me that there is good in this world. Rossi's family may be described as a dysfunctional one by many, but what other types of families are there??? Though I am not Jewish, I completely related to her family and its dynamics; I am Italian, and I have often thought that there is not much of a difference between the two cultures. We are often disappointed by our parents, but I, like Rossi, have to believe that they did the best they could with what they had.
I also related to Rossi's experiences of discovering her sexuality and her arduous journey of coming of age. I love New York with a passion, and in my youth spent many days and nights roaming around lower Manhattan and meeting the characters who made up its fabric. I am also an ardent fan of punk rock, and I enjoyed being taken along on Rossi's adventures with the "misfits" and outliers of what it was to be considered an acceptable member of society; I was also one of those misfits. These sections of the book evoked emotions in me that have not been awakened in many years.
Religion reveals itself almost as its own character in this book, and I have to agree with Rossi that just because someone defines themselves as religious, it does not - by any means - mean that they are a trustworthy or decent human being. Rossi's experiences within her culture and religion helped to shape her into the wonderful person that she grew to become, and there is great value in those experiences.
Finally, there is a message of forgiveness and compassion that weaves through this memoir, and there is a lot to be learned from this. When we hold our anger, disappointments, and grudges, and allow ourselves to be broken by these emotions, we become entrapped in the endless cycle that prevents us from living peacefully. People are not perfect, and though we may not forget the hurt they have caused, we owe it to ourselves to forgive them and move on. I believe that it takes a highly evolved person to reach this realization, and it made me love Rossi even more. Her wisdom is infinite.
Rossi manages to entertain with her sense of humor while also revealing a tenderness and vulnerability that makes her so relatable and likable. I laughed out loud countless times while reading this memoir, but that is not to say that I was not also brought to tears at others. It is difficult to balance pain and trauma with humor, but Rossi does it, and she does it superbly.
Read this book; I promise you that you will not read another memoir quite like it.
March 29, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF AT 50%
I hate to say it, but this is my first DNF of the year—and one of the only DNFs I’ve ever had, at that. Maybe this book just isn’t for me, but there were too many glaring problems for me to ignore.
So, being a gay Orthodox Jew, the title of this book immediately stood out to me. The cover looked interesting, the description sounded intriguing (I’m always interested in a good deep-dive into how misogynistic and oppressive Chasidic communities can be)…and the book itself was just…okay, with a side of Very Not Good.
There’s an underlying current of fatphobia written into the narrative that made me uncomfortable; I’m a skinny guy, so I could be reading too far into it, but the fatphobia definitely felt present throughout the book. I was able to look past this somewhat until I came to the racial slurs and…again, I don’t know if I’m reading too far into it, but racist undertones. There was a lot going on there. I was hoping it wasn’t remarked upon because Rossi was sixteen at the time and meant to come off as immature as to how the world drills racism into us on a societal level, but the further in I got the more I realized that there wasn’t going to be any discussion about the racial implications. Maybe this changes as the book continues; I don’t know! I only made it 50% in before I had to give up. And the reason for that, was the pedophilia.
I’m not fazed by much, having worked at a content moderation job where I saw everything from graphic rape, sexual extortion, child exploitation, and murder. But there is a scene around 45% in where a thirteen-year-old boy is turning tricks out on the streets of Manhattan, and although Rossi professes that she was flabbergasted to see the child selling himself to a group of men, that’s all. It goes no further than that, and the boy (as far as I know) is never mentioned again. On the next page, the AIDs epidemic begins, and I feel as though we’re meant to assume the child died shortly after. It felt like it was supposed to shock or even titillate the reader. I don’t expect anyone to hold a reader’s hand and guide them towards specific morals in a book written by adults, for adults, but this scene was so blatantly meant to be read as shock value over 1981’s liberated gay crowd that I can’t abide by it. It was at this point that I realized I couldn’t read any further. I’m a firm believer in a person’s right to write about dark topics and dark fiction, and will never harass anyone over the fiction they read, but I think this goes further in that we’re meant to disregard the fact that a child was selling his body on the streets, calling men “honey” and “sweetie” while a gang of Latino boys runs back and forth to do his bidding (yes, the child was white), and simply…move on without a second thought. I can’t do that. If that child was real, and assuming he did become sick and die of AIDs, may his memory be a blessing. If he is somewhere out there in the world today, I wish him well.
Edit: It might not be entirely clear from my review, but the anti-Mexican racial slurs are written out completely, unremarked upon in their entirety, and disregarded right afterwards. As far as I know, Rossi is not Latina or Hispanic. There is also an uncomfortable amount of over-sexualization of Latino people in that every time a Latino person shows up on page, they lick their lips at people, call everyone “Mamíta,” imply that they hope to rape women, and more. None of this is commented on in any way. The lack of care towards victims of child sexual exploitation is accompanied by a gang of young Latino boys doing the bidding of a white child sex worker. Every Black man she comes across is violent, whether in the name of justice or just plain negatively. Again, this is not discussed in any way whatsoever. The more I think about it, the more apparent the racist undertones become.
On the topic of the writing itself:
The punctuation is a little juvenile at times. That sounds petty, but I have examples lol. “Slovah!!!” with three exclamation points and “DO YOU REALLY THINK I’D FUCKING BE HERE IF I HAD ANY MONEY!?” in all capital letters with !? at the end. This book desperately needs a second (or third) run-through by an editor, because these are novice mistakes normally seen on websites like Wattpad and ffnet. Again, maybe this is petty, but this sort of punctuation usage is normally phased out once a writer reaches their 20’s. I expect better from the books I read.
Overall, this is not a memoir I could stomach. I wish Rossi well and I hope she’s taken the time she needs to process the trauma of her upbringing, but I will continue no further. Thank you again to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you would like to read this book, I have made a list of content warnings for your perusal.
Graphic: Antisemitism, drug use, alcohol use, misogyny, domestic/child abuse, adult/minor relationship, racial slurs, racism, sexual harassment, homophobic slurs
Moderate: Fatphobia, sexual content, pedophilia
Minor: Rape, transphobia, dysphoria, lesbophobia
DNF AT 50%
I hate to say it, but this is my first DNF of the year—and one of the only DNFs I’ve ever had, at that. Maybe this book just isn’t for me, but there were too many glaring problems for me to ignore.
So, being a gay Orthodox Jew, the title of this book immediately stood out to me. The cover looked interesting, the description sounded intriguing (I’m always interested in a good deep-dive into how misogynistic and oppressive Chasidic communities can be)…and the book itself was just…okay, with a side of Very Not Good.
There’s an underlying current of fatphobia written into the narrative that made me uncomfortable; I’m a skinny guy, so I could be reading too far into it, but the fatphobia definitely felt present throughout the book. I was able to look past this somewhat until I came to the racial slurs and…again, I don’t know if I’m reading too far into it, but racist undertones. There was a lot going on there. I was hoping it wasn’t remarked upon because Rossi was sixteen at the time and meant to come off as immature as to how the world drills racism into us on a societal level, but the further in I got the more I realized that there wasn’t going to be any discussion about the racial implications. Maybe this changes as the book continues; I don’t know! I only made it 50% in before I had to give up. And the reason for that, was the pedophilia.
I’m not fazed by much, having worked at a content moderation job where I saw everything from graphic rape, sexual extortion, child exploitation, and murder. But there is a scene around 45% in where a thirteen-year-old boy is turning tricks out on the streets of Manhattan, and although Rossi professes that she was flabbergasted to see the child selling himself to a group of men, that’s all. It goes no further than that, and the boy (as far as I know) is never mentioned again. On the next page, the AIDs epidemic begins, and I feel as though we’re meant to assume the child died shortly after. It felt like it was supposed to shock or even titillate the reader. I don’t expect anyone to hold a reader’s hand and guide them towards specific morals in a book written by adults, for adults, but this scene was so blatantly meant to be read as shock value over 1981’s liberated gay crowd that I can’t abide by it. It was at this point that I realized I couldn’t read any further. I’m a firm believer in a person’s right to write about dark topics and dark fiction, and will never harass anyone over the fiction they read, but I think this goes further in that we’re meant to disregard the fact that a child was selling his body on the streets, calling men “honey” and “sweetie” while a gang of Latino boys runs back and forth to do his bidding (yes, the child was white), and simply…move on without a second thought. I can’t do that. If that child was real, and assuming he did become sick and die of AIDs, may his memory be a blessing. If he is somewhere out there in the world today, I wish him well.
Edit: It might not be entirely clear from my review, but the anti-Mexican racial slurs are written out completely, unremarked upon in their entirety, and disregarded right afterwards. As far as I know, Rossi is not Latina or Hispanic. There is also an uncomfortable amount of over-sexualization of Latino people in that every time a Latino person shows up on page, they lick their lips at people, call everyone “Mamíta,” imply that they hope to rape women, and more. None of this is commented on in any way. The lack of care towards victims of child sexual exploitation is accompanied by a gang of young Latino boys doing the bidding of a white child sex worker. Every Black man she comes across is violent, whether in the name of justice or just plain negatively. Again, this is not discussed in any way whatsoever. The more I think about it, the more apparent the racist undertones become.
On the topic of the writing itself:
The punctuation is a little juvenile at times. That sounds petty, but I have examples lol. “Slovah!!!” with three exclamation points and “DO YOU REALLY THINK I’D FUCKING BE HERE IF I HAD ANY MONEY!?” in all capital letters with !? at the end. This book desperately needs a second (or third) run-through by an editor, because these are novice mistakes normally seen on websites like Wattpad and ffnet. Again, maybe this is petty, but this sort of punctuation usage is normally phased out once a writer reaches their 20’s. I expect better from the books I read.
Overall, this is not a memoir I could stomach. I wish Rossi well and I hope she’s taken the time she needs to process the trauma of her upbringing, but I will continue no further. Thank you again to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you would like to read this book, I have made a list of content warnings for your perusal.
Graphic: Antisemitism, drug use, alcohol use, misogyny, domestic/child abuse, adult/minor relationship, racial slurs, racism, sexual harassment, homophobic slurs
Moderate: Fatphobia, sexual content, pedophilia
Minor: Rape, transphobia, dysphoria, lesbophobia
August 10, 2024
I read biographies to catch a glimpse of lives that are different from mine. This coming of age story did just that.
Read
May 27, 2024I love memoirs and Rossi’s is a prime example of why. I’m of the same generation as her (8 years difference) so I related to much of the background content. But nothing in my 80s upbringing could compare to Rossi’s. The strength of character, determination, and resilience that she has is astonishing. She’s the GenX standard.
I don’t rate memoirs, but I cannot recommend Rossi’s memoir enough.
Thanks to Books Forward for both the digital and print copies.
I don’t rate memoirs, but I cannot recommend Rossi’s memoir enough.
Thanks to Books Forward for both the digital and print copies.
April 3, 2024
Went into this book very blind, but the title intrigued and I knew I was in for a ride. Rossi's voice is very fun and engaging throughout the book, I had just a good time reading it. Though I'm not Jewish, I can 100% relate to her queer expierence and also just being an edgy teen living life like there's no tomorrow. As a coming of age story, I think there's something many different people can get out of- the religious expierence, the Jewish expierence, the queer expierence, or just being a teen in any point in time. Additionally, there's not a lot of mainstream discussion of the intersectionalies and Judaism, so hearing Rossi's first hand expierence was very eye-opening in a sense, though I know Rossi's expierences are not universal. Still, it's an important addition to the Queer Memoir Canon.
However, I do have complicated feelings with some of the issues/situations Rossi discussed in the book. As another reviewer mentioned, there are interesting portrayls of the Hispanic and Black people Rossi met during her time in Crown Heights. As a memoir, I think so introspection have these pretty steorytpical portrayls would be nessaricy on her part. I'm sure these people acted the way they did, I don't think Rossi is lying just to be racist or anything. But New York in the 80s is such a different landscape than now, and I think it would have been very important during her final "looking back on New York" chapter to discuss these points.
Thank to Netgalley and She Writes Press for an Advanced Reader Copy.
However, I do have complicated feelings with some of the issues/situations Rossi discussed in the book. As another reviewer mentioned, there are interesting portrayls of the Hispanic and Black people Rossi met during her time in Crown Heights. As a memoir, I think so introspection have these pretty steorytpical portrayls would be nessaricy on her part. I'm sure these people acted the way they did, I don't think Rossi is lying just to be racist or anything. But New York in the 80s is such a different landscape than now, and I think it would have been very important during her final "looking back on New York" chapter to discuss these points.
Thank to Netgalley and She Writes Press for an Advanced Reader Copy.
April 27, 2024
This was an interesting memoir from start to finish. Chef Rossi, who is known for being a food writer and podcaster, tells her wild, queer coming of age story of how she was brought up to be a good kosher Jewish girl until she rebelled at 16. Rossi's parents kidnap her and dump her with a Chasidic rabbi known to be a “cult buster” who reformed wayward Jewish girls in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. From there she deals with being in a very controlling environment for awhile. This is her second book. It is quirky, has a lot of heart and delves into some horrible times she had been through growing up through the 1980's in New Jersey and Brooklyn. There were times where the story seemed a bit all over the place but I did think it was a pretty authentic memoir which was nice to read.
Thank you to Booksforward for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Booksforward for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 8, 2024
The only bad thing about this book is you will not be able to put it down !
I became so engrossed in Rossi’s story, I literally did nothing all day but read until the end .
You don’t have to be Jewish , or have been sent to live with a Chasidic family in Crown Heights as a teen, to relate and care about Rossi . It is about this wild period in her life ,but also about friendships ,betrayals, family , learning , becoming yourself and forgiveness.
This is the kind of book I treasure, where you get lost in the story and really care about the main characters. A rarity .
I became so engrossed in Rossi’s story, I literally did nothing all day but read until the end .
You don’t have to be Jewish , or have been sent to live with a Chasidic family in Crown Heights as a teen, to relate and care about Rossi . It is about this wild period in her life ,but also about friendships ,betrayals, family , learning , becoming yourself and forgiveness.
This is the kind of book I treasure, where you get lost in the story and really care about the main characters. A rarity .
September 8, 2024
Book Review
"Punk Rock Queen of the Jews"
3/5 stars
"Low value added bildungsroman; sociological cliché of a Jewish child with problems from neurotic family."
*******
This book was mentioned in another book that I read by an author Sarah Glass. ("Kissing Girls on Shabbat")
The book is about a 4-hour read. (321 very easy pages.)
It's moderately interesting as a characterization of New York and the crime rate in 1980s. Also, as an outside description of Lubavitch during the time that MM Schneerson was alive, in the events surrounding his death. (She makes the Mesichists appear larger than life.)
This author was not from a religious family, but there is still a lot of overlap between her and religious people who broke away and tried to find their own way.
1. In other books like this, none of the cases seemed that serious because these people's parents financed them the entire time. (Sarah Glass received $100,000 a year from her father.)
2. This was okay for a first read, but I would not recommend paying more than $5 for it for other people who purchase it. (I paid $14.64, and that was probably too much.) And it's not a book that I'm going to return to.
3. It has been said before that "if a man is meant to drown, he will drown in a spoonful of water." Not for no reason has that expression been around for such a long time: People like this author gravitate toward scummy, loser people (drug addicts, rapists, newly religious) and difficult situations It could have been completely avoided.
4. There were some continuity issues. We know that the father died, but she didn't say when. She implies that the sister Yaya died, but I don't think brought a proper resolution to her, either. The brother Mendel died as the book was going to press, but was he sick? Or did he just have a heart attack and that was it?
5. How long can one coming-out-story go on?
6. We knew that the family had mental problems. That's ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. But, the mother was supremely inconsistent: eating at Wendy's, and never going to services. And after all this, she disowned her child after she married an Irish Catholic?
NONE of it needed to be this way.
That said, I will just give some of the most interesting quotes from the book.
1. The only mom I ever knew was a 5-ft tall 300 lb stay-at-home mom.
2. We want Moshiach now. We don't want to wait!
3. There, behind boxes of soda, flower, and plastic cups, sitting on the floor on cushions around a large bong, with three pious looking old men.
4. Periodically, Lubavitch man would walk in and slide a 5 or $10 bill into the turnaround in the bulletproof glass. Hector would take the money and spend out a small manila envelope in return.
5. 8 years of Hebrew school and I get a slut! No decent man will ever want you! You're soiled goods!
6. "When I was in Yeshiva, the older boys were always trying to get into my ass." (This was a guy friend that she had, not the author herself.)
7. Lubavitchers are not allowed to trim their beards, they are allowed to burn them off..... Burnt Beard put his hand on the door "at least a blowjob or something? We spent a lot of money on you ladies!"
8. " Honey," he complained to me one day, "those old rabbis won't leave me alone! They want a piece of this!" He slapped his own ass.
9. Mom's hoarding had gotten so bad that the dining room now housed a mountain of flashlights with bank logos, mismatched plastic placemats, coffee mugs with real estate agency logos, hundreds of bags of stale pretzels, packs of granola bars so old they were covered in dust, old magazines, newspapers, and Sabbath candlesticks. A narrow pathway through it all provided access to the kitchen.
10. Soon, Dad moved to San Diego with his new girlfriend Natalie, and none of his children were allowed in their home.
Verdict: Recommended only at the price of $5
"Punk Rock Queen of the Jews"
3/5 stars
"Low value added bildungsroman; sociological cliché of a Jewish child with problems from neurotic family."
*******
This book was mentioned in another book that I read by an author Sarah Glass. ("Kissing Girls on Shabbat")
The book is about a 4-hour read. (321 very easy pages.)
It's moderately interesting as a characterization of New York and the crime rate in 1980s. Also, as an outside description of Lubavitch during the time that MM Schneerson was alive, in the events surrounding his death. (She makes the Mesichists appear larger than life.)
This author was not from a religious family, but there is still a lot of overlap between her and religious people who broke away and tried to find their own way.
1. In other books like this, none of the cases seemed that serious because these people's parents financed them the entire time. (Sarah Glass received $100,000 a year from her father.)
2. This was okay for a first read, but I would not recommend paying more than $5 for it for other people who purchase it. (I paid $14.64, and that was probably too much.) And it's not a book that I'm going to return to.
3. It has been said before that "if a man is meant to drown, he will drown in a spoonful of water." Not for no reason has that expression been around for such a long time: People like this author gravitate toward scummy, loser people (drug addicts, rapists, newly religious) and difficult situations It could have been completely avoided.
4. There were some continuity issues. We know that the father died, but she didn't say when. She implies that the sister Yaya died, but I don't think brought a proper resolution to her, either. The brother Mendel died as the book was going to press, but was he sick? Or did he just have a heart attack and that was it?
5. How long can one coming-out-story go on?
6. We knew that the family had mental problems. That's ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. But, the mother was supremely inconsistent: eating at Wendy's, and never going to services. And after all this, she disowned her child after she married an Irish Catholic?
NONE of it needed to be this way.
That said, I will just give some of the most interesting quotes from the book.
1. The only mom I ever knew was a 5-ft tall 300 lb stay-at-home mom.
2. We want Moshiach now. We don't want to wait!
3. There, behind boxes of soda, flower, and plastic cups, sitting on the floor on cushions around a large bong, with three pious looking old men.
4. Periodically, Lubavitch man would walk in and slide a 5 or $10 bill into the turnaround in the bulletproof glass. Hector would take the money and spend out a small manila envelope in return.
5. 8 years of Hebrew school and I get a slut! No decent man will ever want you! You're soiled goods!
6. "When I was in Yeshiva, the older boys were always trying to get into my ass." (This was a guy friend that she had, not the author herself.)
7. Lubavitchers are not allowed to trim their beards, they are allowed to burn them off..... Burnt Beard put his hand on the door "at least a blowjob or something? We spent a lot of money on you ladies!"
8. " Honey," he complained to me one day, "those old rabbis won't leave me alone! They want a piece of this!" He slapped his own ass.
9. Mom's hoarding had gotten so bad that the dining room now housed a mountain of flashlights with bank logos, mismatched plastic placemats, coffee mugs with real estate agency logos, hundreds of bags of stale pretzels, packs of granola bars so old they were covered in dust, old magazines, newspapers, and Sabbath candlesticks. A narrow pathway through it all provided access to the kitchen.
10. Soon, Dad moved to San Diego with his new girlfriend Natalie, and none of his children were allowed in their home.
Verdict: Recommended only at the price of $5
January 6, 2025
A good friend urged me to read this book. It’s not typical for me to read memoirs. I start many and finish few. I learn a lot about life and culture by reading fiction, but it also offers me some small comfort knowing that what I’m reading may be some very imaginative lie.
While reading this memoir by Rossi (notably not Ms. Rossi -- just one name, thank you very much) it often put me in mind of the first memoir I ever read. The one that may have unconsciously sealed my narrow viewpoint and expectations of this genre. It too, was a harrowing coming of age story about a young Jewish girl dealing with extraordinary circumstances. There were many differences of course, not least of which is that Rossi is alive and intentionally sharing her story with the world.
This autobiographical narrative is about a young teenage girl from the Jersey Shore who, through a typically rebellious phase sealed her fate with her strict and unrelentingly 1950’s style parents by running away from home. Once caught, her semi-orthodox and despairing parents shipped their spawn into the clutches of a highly religious Jewish community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn where the bulk of this memoir takes place.
Rossi gives readers a glimpse of the Hasidim world that is rarely seen by anyone who is not part of this insular Jewish fraternity. For me this part of the book was the most riveting. It’s time travel into New York City in the early 80’s; a thrilling, vibrant, and dangerous place, especially for a 16 year old girl who knew less than she thought about what it means to be on your own in an urban environment. Filled with colorful characters and witty prose, Rossi navigates her new circumstances with a keen observance of life and people that suggests early on she might be a budding writer.
The book is a smart, occasionally gnarly, and interesting read. Some of the author’s experiences of misogyny and ostracization in a community that could and should have welcomed her, are hard to take, especially when they lead her into more than one nearly calamitous situation. What always seems to save her is not only her courage, but her fearless indignation in the face of the inherently unjust treatment of herself or others.
Throughout her story Rossi consistently stands out and stands up on her own terms, even when by all accounts it was not the easiest thing to do. Sometimes she did this with the help and guidance from the many odd friends she picked up along her unusual journey into adulting. And perhaps, Hashem is there as well, quietly in her corner just like the Rebbe. More often, it seems she did it on her own through humor, fortitude, and of course, her mother’s bizarre care packages. In the burgeoning awareness of her sexuality, Rossi also gives the reader a taste of the recognizable joy at finally figuring out who she truly is.
The last third of the book focuses on later years where the whispers of what she experienced in her youth both haunt and strengthen Rossi. It’s a jumble of time travel again through many loves, losses, and world events that most of us can identify with. While a less compelling part of the overall story, it does offer satisfying closure for Rossi, and the reader, on several fronts. Braiding together the loose strands of damaged relationships that we have in our past, into something stronger and healing, we all can relate to and hope for. These bonds even set the stage for her familial legacy into the future.
Ultimately, this memoir is a veritable homage to the strength of womanhood, and the spirit of every hearty sabra everywhere, yet the Punk Rock Queen of the Jews remains a very singular story, and a worthy read that will stay with you.
While reading this memoir by Rossi (notably not Ms. Rossi -- just one name, thank you very much) it often put me in mind of the first memoir I ever read. The one that may have unconsciously sealed my narrow viewpoint and expectations of this genre. It too, was a harrowing coming of age story about a young Jewish girl dealing with extraordinary circumstances. There were many differences of course, not least of which is that Rossi is alive and intentionally sharing her story with the world.
This autobiographical narrative is about a young teenage girl from the Jersey Shore who, through a typically rebellious phase sealed her fate with her strict and unrelentingly 1950’s style parents by running away from home. Once caught, her semi-orthodox and despairing parents shipped their spawn into the clutches of a highly religious Jewish community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn where the bulk of this memoir takes place.
Rossi gives readers a glimpse of the Hasidim world that is rarely seen by anyone who is not part of this insular Jewish fraternity. For me this part of the book was the most riveting. It’s time travel into New York City in the early 80’s; a thrilling, vibrant, and dangerous place, especially for a 16 year old girl who knew less than she thought about what it means to be on your own in an urban environment. Filled with colorful characters and witty prose, Rossi navigates her new circumstances with a keen observance of life and people that suggests early on she might be a budding writer.
The book is a smart, occasionally gnarly, and interesting read. Some of the author’s experiences of misogyny and ostracization in a community that could and should have welcomed her, are hard to take, especially when they lead her into more than one nearly calamitous situation. What always seems to save her is not only her courage, but her fearless indignation in the face of the inherently unjust treatment of herself or others.
Throughout her story Rossi consistently stands out and stands up on her own terms, even when by all accounts it was not the easiest thing to do. Sometimes she did this with the help and guidance from the many odd friends she picked up along her unusual journey into adulting. And perhaps, Hashem is there as well, quietly in her corner just like the Rebbe. More often, it seems she did it on her own through humor, fortitude, and of course, her mother’s bizarre care packages. In the burgeoning awareness of her sexuality, Rossi also gives the reader a taste of the recognizable joy at finally figuring out who she truly is.
The last third of the book focuses on later years where the whispers of what she experienced in her youth both haunt and strengthen Rossi. It’s a jumble of time travel again through many loves, losses, and world events that most of us can identify with. While a less compelling part of the overall story, it does offer satisfying closure for Rossi, and the reader, on several fronts. Braiding together the loose strands of damaged relationships that we have in our past, into something stronger and healing, we all can relate to and hope for. These bonds even set the stage for her familial legacy into the future.
Ultimately, this memoir is a veritable homage to the strength of womanhood, and the spirit of every hearty sabra everywhere, yet the Punk Rock Queen of the Jews remains a very singular story, and a worthy read that will stay with you.
October 16, 2024
This was a wild, heartbreaking memoir. I was completely drawn in by Rossi’s dazzling, hilarious voice and spirited character.
I was not raised religiously. Despite living in Brooklyn my entire life, know very little about the everyday life of the Brooklyn Chasidim community living two blocks from me, let alone the Lubvabitch community of 1980s Crown Heights. Rossi holds nothing back about the experience of a punk rock lesbian trying to survive in this conformist, sexist, and lesbophobic environment. 17-year-old Rossi, having been dumped there by her religious parents, knew as little as I did about what she was getting into. Despite what her mother told her, had to learn the unfortunate truth that, as she put it, “men in yarmulkes can do terrible things”. The situations that Rossi encounters in this world (within the broader chaos of 1980s New York) range from abrasive (but funny) to scary and violent.
I did not expect to be so moved by the characters Rossi meets in Crown Heights - vagabond Jewish women who become her confidants, outcast queers, Chasid stoners, religious authority figures who, despite not understanding her, managed to extend her kindness. Rossi’s mystical encounter with the late Rebbe Schneerson is one of the book’s most surprising, moving parts. She is candid and raw, but never disparaging of Chasids, her parents, or anyone, for that matter. This, I think, is what makes this story so special. Rossi is reflective and resilient, and never self-pitying. She extends compassion to every character in this story - from her trusted friends to the most cruel actors in this chapter in her life. I don’t want to end this review on that note making everyone think it’s a Kumbaya, love everyone type of book- a true New Yorker would never write such a text! Rossi is a completely authentic, hilarious voice, and it’s a pleasure to be along for the ride with her in this transformative chapter in her life - in the end, you’ll leave wishing you had her balls, but also wanting to hug her.
I was not raised religiously. Despite living in Brooklyn my entire life, know very little about the everyday life of the Brooklyn Chasidim community living two blocks from me, let alone the Lubvabitch community of 1980s Crown Heights. Rossi holds nothing back about the experience of a punk rock lesbian trying to survive in this conformist, sexist, and lesbophobic environment. 17-year-old Rossi, having been dumped there by her religious parents, knew as little as I did about what she was getting into. Despite what her mother told her, had to learn the unfortunate truth that, as she put it, “men in yarmulkes can do terrible things”. The situations that Rossi encounters in this world (within the broader chaos of 1980s New York) range from abrasive (but funny) to scary and violent.
I did not expect to be so moved by the characters Rossi meets in Crown Heights - vagabond Jewish women who become her confidants, outcast queers, Chasid stoners, religious authority figures who, despite not understanding her, managed to extend her kindness. Rossi’s mystical encounter with the late Rebbe Schneerson is one of the book’s most surprising, moving parts. She is candid and raw, but never disparaging of Chasids, her parents, or anyone, for that matter. This, I think, is what makes this story so special. Rossi is reflective and resilient, and never self-pitying. She extends compassion to every character in this story - from her trusted friends to the most cruel actors in this chapter in her life. I don’t want to end this review on that note making everyone think it’s a Kumbaya, love everyone type of book- a true New Yorker would never write such a text! Rossi is a completely authentic, hilarious voice, and it’s a pleasure to be along for the ride with her in this transformative chapter in her life - in the end, you’ll leave wishing you had her balls, but also wanting to hug her.
April 29, 2024
Rossi offers up a reflective, heartfelt and comedic coming-of-age memoir in The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews. Through the writing, Rossi processes the trauma from her childhood and how she came to be her true self. From the beginning, I knew I would relate well to Rossi as she stated " Jews have a fear of showing too much joy, lest we jinx ourselves." Rossi begins her story in her childhood trying to fit in with her Jewish family where there is a clear expectation that she will act like a good Jewish girl in order to attract and marry a good Jewish boy. Rossi realized she didn't fit in with this ideal early on and acted out, eventually resulting in her running away and her parents forcibly kidnapping her and bringing her to a Chasidic rabbi known for reforming Jewish girls. Rossi was essentially a prisoner in the small neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn until she became 18. While in Crown Heights, Rossi endured the repressive culture of the Chasids while dealing with outright violence and persecution. Rossi also learned more about her faith, found friends that shared her sexuality and found things she was passionate about. Rossi's story is one of perseverance, showing that sometimes the worst experiences make you who you were meant to be. As Rossi becomes an adult, she reflects on her experiences and how they affected her relationships, especially with her parents. Rossi demonstrated the power of forgiveness and states that "Our broken hearts are part of who we are now." Rossi's memoir is written with raw emotion and is very real, nothing is contrived or strives to be more than the truth.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
April 7, 2024
I picked up this book because as a Jewish woman myself, it sounded intriguing! I had never heard of Rossi, the author, before. This is Rossi's second memoir and it's her coming of age story.
Rossi is raised in a quirky, Orthodox Jewish family in wealthy Rumson, NJ (home of Bruce Springsteen). She grows up feeling out of place both in her family and in the town where she's raised. Rossi's parents expect her grow up to be a nice Jewish girl and marry a Jewish boy. By the time Rossi is 16, she's rebelled into a punk-rock queer leaning teenager who has run away from home. She's found by her parents and brought to Chasidic Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY to be "reformed" by an ultra-Orthodox rabbi.
Most of the rest of this story takes place over the next two years. The New York of the early 1980s is a gritty, edgy one—not the NY of today. Rossi is thrown into a pretty terrifying situation and deals with food insecurity, sexual violence/trauma, homophobia and religious trauma. So keep this in mind if any of these are triggers for you. But it’s also a story of neshama, the Hebrew word for soul. Rossi makes connections with her Jewish “sisters” in Crown Heights which helps her get through these couple years. Rossi’s story touches on events like the AIDs epidemic and experiencing 911 as a New Yorker. All in all, I would recommend this memoir if you’re Jewish, queer-identifying, a New Yorker, a feminist, enjoy punk rock, and/or just enjoy reading memoirs of strong women!
Thank you to the publisher for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
March 26, 2024
It took me a minute to figure out why the author’s name was familiar. When I saw that she’s also known as Chef Rossi, I remembered her old columns in BUST magazine, where she published informal recipes designed to encourage playfulness and experimentation in the kitchen, and I immediately wanted to read her memoir. The title was pretty attention-getting, too.
I really enjoyed reading this. It reads like a novel, which I mean as a compliment — I’m not saying it doesn’t read as real! I’m the same age as Rossi and many of her adolescent preoccupations and interactions with popular culture of the 1970s and 1980s resonated with me, although we’re from different parts of the country and have very different backgrounds. That’s one of the things I liked about this memoir; I learned a lot about contemporaries Judaism.
I enjoyed this story so much that I looked up Rossi’s other projects, and I discovered she has a regularly updated podcast. I may like it even more than this book. I’m looking forward to reading her previous book.
I recommend The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews. It felt like catching up with an old friend.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #SheWritesPress, and #Rossi for the ARC of #ThePunkRockQueenoftheJews.
I really enjoyed reading this. It reads like a novel, which I mean as a compliment — I’m not saying it doesn’t read as real! I’m the same age as Rossi and many of her adolescent preoccupations and interactions with popular culture of the 1970s and 1980s resonated with me, although we’re from different parts of the country and have very different backgrounds. That’s one of the things I liked about this memoir; I learned a lot about contemporaries Judaism.
I enjoyed this story so much that I looked up Rossi’s other projects, and I discovered she has a regularly updated podcast. I may like it even more than this book. I’m looking forward to reading her previous book.
I recommend The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews. It felt like catching up with an old friend.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #SheWritesPress, and #Rossi for the ARC of #ThePunkRockQueenoftheJews.
April 1, 2024
This was a really interesting read for me. I am not Jewish or from New York, but I loved the title and that's what made me want to read this book. I love learning about and exposing myself to experiences different from my own, and The Punk-Rock Queen of the Jews CERTAINLY had that effect. It was a combination comedy, drama, LBGTQ+ collection of stories. At times, the stories felt disconnected or hard to follow throughout the Chapters. LOTS of people are named in the book, so it was hard to keep them all stored in my head as I read.
By the end, this book gets quite heavy. I appreciate how honest and open Rossi is with the story of her life in this memoir, because she lays everything on the table with this title. Readers should be aware of content warnings including: troubled family relationships, religious trauma, sexual assault, rape, homophobia, homelessness, food insecurity, and death of family.
It can be so hard to assign a star rating to a memoir, as this is someone's real-life story. I'm teetering between a 3.5 - 4 stars, but I want to round up to elevate narratives which do not align with mainstream demographics.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
By the end, this book gets quite heavy. I appreciate how honest and open Rossi is with the story of her life in this memoir, because she lays everything on the table with this title. Readers should be aware of content warnings including: troubled family relationships, religious trauma, sexual assault, rape, homophobia, homelessness, food insecurity, and death of family.
It can be so hard to assign a star rating to a memoir, as this is someone's real-life story. I'm teetering between a 3.5 - 4 stars, but I want to round up to elevate narratives which do not align with mainstream demographics.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 13, 2024
So.
Not gonna lie, I’ve known Rossi for 38 years.
And I was literally sitting next to her as we both journaled, in Spring Hill NJ.
Her journals became books… mine haven’t… yet.
This is what I can tell you: the stories she’s published are the stories we told each other, about her life, her journey through Orthodox Judaism, her relationship with her mother, coming out, making a life cooking and finding herself. Her wit is both self-deprecating and sharp… about herself, and about her family and the world around her. Perhaps? No definitely… it is a coping mechanism, like so many others… Robin Williams comes to mind.
And yet… she’s the kindest person I know.
Her books are genuine and heartfelt and a true reflection of who she is.
So to whoever said she’s fat shaming and creating trauma and all of that bs… perhaps that is your own trauma presenting.
Even though I know her quite well, I also am an avid reader, as you can see by my earlier reviews.
And I gotta tell you… she’s had a fascinating life (thus far,) writes from the heart and her books are an easy read. Her style is funny and illuminating and sad and honest.
You should read her books…but please have a can of Chef Boyardee and a few ketchup packets within reach.
Not gonna lie, I’ve known Rossi for 38 years.
And I was literally sitting next to her as we both journaled, in Spring Hill NJ.
Her journals became books… mine haven’t… yet.
This is what I can tell you: the stories she’s published are the stories we told each other, about her life, her journey through Orthodox Judaism, her relationship with her mother, coming out, making a life cooking and finding herself. Her wit is both self-deprecating and sharp… about herself, and about her family and the world around her. Perhaps? No definitely… it is a coping mechanism, like so many others… Robin Williams comes to mind.
And yet… she’s the kindest person I know.
Her books are genuine and heartfelt and a true reflection of who she is.
So to whoever said she’s fat shaming and creating trauma and all of that bs… perhaps that is your own trauma presenting.
Even though I know her quite well, I also am an avid reader, as you can see by my earlier reviews.
And I gotta tell you… she’s had a fascinating life (thus far,) writes from the heart and her books are an easy read. Her style is funny and illuminating and sad and honest.
You should read her books…but please have a can of Chef Boyardee and a few ketchup packets within reach.
April 24, 2024
Every once in a while, I enjoy a good memoir. I define a good memoir as one that makes me desperately want to sit down and have a cup of coffee with the writer. This was that kind of memoir. Rossi was so interesting, so familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Having grown up in a very Jewish neighborhood and having spent some time with religious Jews and living close to Crown Heights, the Chasidim are familiar to me, though I certainly learned more about their way of life from Rossi who was shipped off there by her parents because they could not handle her because she rebelled by being into punk rock music (that is the unfamiliar part, since it is not my kind of music) and by being gay. Rossi's sassy voice throughout as well as her growing up to accept some things about Judaism and making them her own but keeping true to herself made this a very compelling read for anyone, especially those who have struggled with family and religion. This definitely makes me want to find more out about Rossi's life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Books Forward for allowing me to read and review this fascinating memoir.
Thanks to NetGalley and Books Forward for allowing me to read and review this fascinating memoir.
December 16, 2024
Near the beginning of this fabulous memoir, Rossi, who goes by just the one name, tells an audience, “If you grew up lowly Orthodox and highly white trash, were kidnapped and sent to live with the Chasids at sixteen, escaped two years later, became a bartender, and then a chef, and then New York city’s wildest caterer, you’d write a memoir, too." There’s the story in a nutshell, except it leaves out being raped, having a major spiritual experience, and discovering that she was gay. This memoir, which focuses mostly on her years living in New York’s Crown Heights Chasidic community, one of the most intense Jewish sects, reads like fiction and deserves to be a movie someday. Not that any movie could capture the author’s engaging voice. Rossi’s blend of humor, heart, and intense observation is hard to beat. She is a master of the perfect detail in every instance and shows us a world most readers know nothing about. Treat yourself and read The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews.
March 21, 2024
I got this book from Netgalley so I could read and review it before it’s published. I will admit and tell you the only reason I was interested in this book was because of the title. So, basically, I went in blind and I came out in color and already have another book of hers about being a chef in my wishlist.
Her parents told her to be a nice Jewish girl and marry a nice Jewish boy. Chef Rossi wanted no part of that, and at the age of 16, her parents sent her to live with other girls under the tutelage of a Chasidic Rabbi. She reluctantly does do the things she is expected to do; even though she would much rather be doing something else.
I enjoyed meeting her parents, the fellow ladies at the Jewish house, her girlfriends, and her friends. At age 18, when she is of the age where she can do what she wants, she leaves and starts over.
I really enjoyed this book.
Her parents told her to be a nice Jewish girl and marry a nice Jewish boy. Chef Rossi wanted no part of that, and at the age of 16, her parents sent her to live with other girls under the tutelage of a Chasidic Rabbi. She reluctantly does do the things she is expected to do; even though she would much rather be doing something else.
I enjoyed meeting her parents, the fellow ladies at the Jewish house, her girlfriends, and her friends. At age 18, when she is of the age where she can do what she wants, she leaves and starts over.
I really enjoyed this book.
June 27, 2024
It was the title that caught my eye: “The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews: A Memoir” (She Writes Press). The author’s name, Rossi (just Rossi), didn’t seem familiar. However, when looking at her short biography, the title of her previous memoir. “The Raging Skillet,” did. It took me several steps to discover that, yes, I’d reviewed her first book, which discusses her family and career as a caterer. The focus of her current book is not food, though. Instead, she tells of how, after being a rebellious teenager and running away from home, her parents took her to Crown Heights and left her in the hands of a Chasidic rabbi who was said to rehabilitate problem children. It doesn’t spoil the memoir to say he was not successful.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...
March 11, 2024
This was such an interesting memoir! Being Jewish myself, I really enjoyed reading about the life of Rossi who never quite fit in with her family nor with the Chasidic Jews who she was sent to live with when she was a child. Honestly, some parts of the book seemed like I was reading a fiction book - not because it sounded fake, but because I was in awe over the unbelievable things that happened to her over the course of her life. Not fitting in with her family or with the Chasidic Jews was just the tip of the iceberg. I don't want to give out spoilers, but I'm amazed at how her life turned around after such struggles when she was younger. This was a great read especially if you're Jewish or from NY - lots of references to both! 5 stars!
March 22, 2024
What a book! Chef Rossi has had quite a life, a very challenging life, which she has written about with incredible description. I was fully involved with this book! To have parents that send you off to Crown Heights?? Horrible! and then she has to grow up on her own??. This both hysterically and heartbreaking written memoir had me on the first page! Her writing is totally reader involving and the stories...good grief!
I could NOT put it down..in fact I didn't want the book to end. I hope there will be a sequel! Bravo, to you, Rossi!!! and Bravo to your strength!
I could NOT put it down..in fact I didn't want the book to end. I hope there will be a sequel! Bravo, to you, Rossi!!! and Bravo to your strength!
May 14, 2024
One young gay Jewish woman's compelling and often dangerous journey out from under ignorant parental, social, and religious expectations, to find love and acceptance and something worth living for!
Following on from her previous and lighter toned memoir/cookbook "The Raging Skillet," Chef Rossi here dives deeper into her early years as a runaway from misunderstanding, lunatic parents and subsequent reprogramming captive of a heavily male-dominated and claustrophobic Jewish school for wayward girls!
An insightful, warm and hilarious read, with moments of gripping crime drama!
Following on from her previous and lighter toned memoir/cookbook "The Raging Skillet," Chef Rossi here dives deeper into her early years as a runaway from misunderstanding, lunatic parents and subsequent reprogramming captive of a heavily male-dominated and claustrophobic Jewish school for wayward girls!
An insightful, warm and hilarious read, with moments of gripping crime drama!
May 21, 2024
I picked this because it was an autobiographical story from the 1970’s and beyond. Punk rock subculture is always a world away from my world so will be interesting.
The Jewish theme, again I don’t know much at all and so that caught my eye .
The book kept my interest and Rossi seemed like someone I’d of had as a wild friend. She is a strong individual to survive the history she came from. It was definitely a different era.
Seemed like a well written book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my honest review.
The Jewish theme, again I don’t know much at all and so that caught my eye .
The book kept my interest and Rossi seemed like someone I’d of had as a wild friend. She is a strong individual to survive the history she came from. It was definitely a different era.
Seemed like a well written book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and share my honest review.
February 7, 2024
When you pick up Chef Rossi's new memoir, brace yourself for stories that defy convention and spark a wild ride through rebellion, self-discovery, and a whole lot of New York drama. "The Punk Rock Queen of the Jews" is truly an adventure brimming with vibrant characters, uproarious dialogue, snapshots of the Orthodox community and the gritty, pulsating 1980s New York City scene -- raw, unfiltered, and gloriously alive!
March 11, 2024
I loved this book. It grasped me right away and has not yet let go. The storytelling and character development are excellent and the descriptions of the setting are wonderful. I found the book very emotive - some parts left me laughing, others left me crying. The discussions of Chassidism are fascinating. Overall this book is a great read. Thank you to Netgalley and She Writes Press for the advance reader copy.
September 18, 2024
It is a compulsively readable memoir about a rebellious teenage girl sent away to live amongst the Chasids in an attempt to "scare her straight". Now a successful NYC-based chef, author Rossi has some great insights about Jewish culture as she shares her story of coming out as gay in 1980s NYC. Written from her enthusiastic, vivid perspective, she describes a community full of people who supported her and those who singled her out and tried to punish her for her individuality. It's a wild ride.
December 30, 2024
When Rossi was a typical disobedient, rebellious teenage girl in New Jersey, her family decided they had had enough of her and sent her to live with an Orthodox rabbi in Brooklyn.
And she survived, and, eventually, found a life where she could thrive. Her spirit and intelligence shine through; her ability to make connection and meaning despite her challenging circumstances made this a triumphant read. What a story.
And she survived, and, eventually, found a life where she could thrive. Her spirit and intelligence shine through; her ability to make connection and meaning despite her challenging circumstances made this a triumphant read. What a story.
March 3, 2025
4.0 A coming of age memoir. Rossi was raised as an Orthodox Jew who rebelled against everything that was expected of her. Eventually she was sent to live with the Chasidim but that didn’t work out very well either. Rossi’s life was complicated and rebellious. I thought this was an interesting story and one I didn’t know much about,particularly the way an Orthodox Jewish family deals with a rebellious child.
September 22, 2023
It’s hard to be frum in a Sex Pistols T-shirt. This book is a bold, honest journey from rebellious teen to successful author and chef. It was a hard road, and despite religious oppression, Rossi remained open to the spiritual. Her humor, resourcefulness and strength are a testament to the light within her.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews