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Dreidels on the Brain
At last a great American Hanukkah story! This very funny, very touching novel of growing up Jewish has the makings of a holiday classic.
One lousy miracle. Is that too much to ask?
Evidently so for Joel, as he tries to survive Hannukah, 1971 in the suburbs of the suburbs of Los Angeles (or, as he calls it, “The Land of Shriveled Dreams”). That’s no small task when you’re a “seriously funny-looking” twelve-year-old magician who dreams of being his own Normalman. And Joel’s a long way from that as the only Jew at Bixby School, where his attempts to make himself disappear fail spectacularly. Home is no better, with a family that’s not just mortifyingly embarrassing but flat-out broke.
That’s why Joel’s betting everything on these eight nights, to see whether it’s worth believing in God or miracles or anything at all. Armed with his favorite jokes, some choice Yiddish words, and a suitcase full of magic tricks, he’s scrambling to come to terms with the world he lives in—from hospitals to Houdini to the Holocaust—before the last of the candles burns out.
No wonder his head is He’s got dreidels on the brain. And little does he know that what’s actually about to happen to him and his family this Hanukkah will be worse than he’d feared . . . And better than he could have imagined.
One lousy miracle. Is that too much to ask?
Evidently so for Joel, as he tries to survive Hannukah, 1971 in the suburbs of the suburbs of Los Angeles (or, as he calls it, “The Land of Shriveled Dreams”). That’s no small task when you’re a “seriously funny-looking” twelve-year-old magician who dreams of being his own Normalman. And Joel’s a long way from that as the only Jew at Bixby School, where his attempts to make himself disappear fail spectacularly. Home is no better, with a family that’s not just mortifyingly embarrassing but flat-out broke.
That’s why Joel’s betting everything on these eight nights, to see whether it’s worth believing in God or miracles or anything at all. Armed with his favorite jokes, some choice Yiddish words, and a suitcase full of magic tricks, he’s scrambling to come to terms with the world he lives in—from hospitals to Houdini to the Holocaust—before the last of the candles burns out.
No wonder his head is He’s got dreidels on the brain. And little does he know that what’s actually about to happen to him and his family this Hanukkah will be worse than he’d feared . . . And better than he could have imagined.
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First published October 4, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 17, 2017
The story: It's 1971, and Joel is looking for a Hanukkah miracle. Is that so much to ask? He just doesn't want to end up the loser in his own story. Too bad it seems like God isn't paying attention right this minute--cuz Joel isn't picky. The miracle could be a snow day in California, or a chance to get out of looking like a dork in the school assembly. Or maybe...that his dad will wake up from the coma and not die. See? How hard could it be?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (questioning the existence of God; parental illness) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: I loved this story! Joel is a laugh-out-loud narrator, and his near-escapes with girls, goyim, and God keep him in perpetual hot water. Great for anyone who doesn't mind learning a little more about Jewish culture without coming away feeling depressed, and worthy of hand-selling to kids who are looking for a funny story. The cover is fitting, but weird--don't let kids walk because of that.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (questioning the existence of God; parental illness) PG; overall rating PG.
Liz's comments: I loved this story! Joel is a laugh-out-loud narrator, and his near-escapes with girls, goyim, and God keep him in perpetual hot water. Great for anyone who doesn't mind learning a little more about Jewish culture without coming away feeling depressed, and worthy of hand-selling to kids who are looking for a funny story. The cover is fitting, but weird--don't let kids walk because of that.
January 20, 2017
Such a fun book. Sweet, and so evocative of that awkward middle school feeling. AND the universal feeling that your family is weird and everybody else is normal. But very funny, and really especially for those who aren't quite so familiar with Hanukkah. And the Jewish folks will laugh even louder. Our whole family has read it. I also love all the stuff about being a pre-teen magician. At that age, that was me too!
August 20, 2020
Joel Ben Izzy just became my favorite author after reading this book. As I imagine many others do, I first read The Beggar King and the Secret of happiness. Which I loved. As I read Dreidels on the Brain I could not stop thinking about how beautifully writing the stories were. I went through all the emotions reading this book. But mostly, I smiled throughout. Especially, as I got to see it all come together by the end. Truly amazing!
February 10, 2017
Really fun! Reasons I figured it was pretty safe bet I would enjoy this novel: I am fascinated by Judaism. This book takes place in 1971; the '70's are one of my favorite time periods to examine (being a product of the '70's myself) It is set in a suburb of Los Angeles. Because I am a relatively new transplant to the LA scene it was interesting for me to hear what it was like here more than 40 years ago.
My hunch was correct, this book is a winner. Our delightful protagonist, Joel, is praying, quite literally, that this Chanukah will bring about a miracle. Dealing with his father's ill health has created quite a lot of anxiety and his entire family is hoping for a miraculous resolution. Add to that the typical concerns of a young boy preparing for his approaching Bar Mitzvah; pleasing his stern rabbi, surviving middle school as the lone Jew, his height, or lack there of, and wishing for a white Chanukah. Filled with the always witty Jewish sense of humor, frequent references to his hero, Houdini, Joel testing out multiple spellings of the word Chanukah (Chanayhayah, Kchanakkah, Hanaka, and on and on...) and intriguing Jewish history to boot.
Joel is an amateur magician, frequently entertaining at parties and celebrations. Like his star character, author Joel Ben Izzy is a magician himself, he'll cast on a spell on his readers.
My hunch was correct, this book is a winner. Our delightful protagonist, Joel, is praying, quite literally, that this Chanukah will bring about a miracle. Dealing with his father's ill health has created quite a lot of anxiety and his entire family is hoping for a miraculous resolution. Add to that the typical concerns of a young boy preparing for his approaching Bar Mitzvah; pleasing his stern rabbi, surviving middle school as the lone Jew, his height, or lack there of, and wishing for a white Chanukah. Filled with the always witty Jewish sense of humor, frequent references to his hero, Houdini, Joel testing out multiple spellings of the word Chanukah (Chanayhayah, Kchanakkah, Hanaka, and on and on...) and intriguing Jewish history to boot.
Joel is an amateur magician, frequently entertaining at parties and celebrations. Like his star character, author Joel Ben Izzy is a magician himself, he'll cast on a spell on his readers.
September 23, 2017
Book covers fascinate me, and this one goes in the category of makes-no-sense-until-you've-finished-the-book. Still, it's intriguing, and much better (fortunately) than the book's rather unfortunate title, which I don't think is all that enticing (for kids, or anyone). I realize the author wants to highlight the book's Jewish content, but . . . dreidels? The main character himself points out that dreidels bring to mind an infamous song that should really be called "The Horrible Song." Despite the title miss, the book is mostly hilarious as you are reading it, and yet serious at its core--a good trick for an author to pull off. Realistic novels seem to be having a moment, and I think this book, which is realistic but quirky, might have more appeal now than it would have a few years ago. I could have done without the super-nerd-boy-attracts-gorgeous-smart-most-popular-girl-in-the-class cliche, too. Sigh. Yet, overall, the book is well written, entertaining, and at times heart-wrenching, with memorable characters.
January 13, 2021
A delightful book. Sort of a stream-of-consciousness of non-stop humor, but with incredible poignancy in just the right places.
It's generally an autobiographical story covering eight days of the author's life--the 8 days of Hannakuh in 1971--when he was twelve. At the outset, he makes a deal with God over a game of dreidels, and the story then unfolds (or rather bursts) through the Hannukah season. We're taken on a riotous romp through the author's adolescent angst on, among other things, his doubts about God, his comically dysfunctional but lovable family, and his Jewish identity. Then, bam, he hits you with some of the most heart-rending scenes you can imagine.
There are endless asides and flashbacks but they're kept in check just enough to keep the flow from unraveling. And the final climax? I can't give it away, but I'll say it alone was worth the price of admission.
It's generally an autobiographical story covering eight days of the author's life--the 8 days of Hannakuh in 1971--when he was twelve. At the outset, he makes a deal with God over a game of dreidels, and the story then unfolds (or rather bursts) through the Hannukah season. We're taken on a riotous romp through the author's adolescent angst on, among other things, his doubts about God, his comically dysfunctional but lovable family, and his Jewish identity. Then, bam, he hits you with some of the most heart-rending scenes you can imagine.
There are endless asides and flashbacks but they're kept in check just enough to keep the flow from unraveling. And the final climax? I can't give it away, but I'll say it alone was worth the price of admission.
December 29, 2024
Oh my gosh this is a book I found at the grocery store. Cheep book and I thought it was a cute title and being Jewish I thought it was a cute looking book. I read this book in no time at all. It was crazy Jewish ride.... it was funny and sweet, I laughed and cried. This book has so much heart !!!! What a precious gift this story is!!!! I can see this becoming a new tradition to read before Hanukkah
July 30, 2017
Oh my, did this take me by surprise. I had not heard of it. I picked up the audiobook as a freebie at the BOT booth at ALA Annual. I wasn't that eager to plug in. But once I did, I was utterly entranced. It's poignant and humorous and just sweetly lovely. A terrific slice-of-life story from the 1970s.
July 28, 2017
I loved this funny, heart-warming story. Joel is a lovable, nerdy, funny and talented boy who is praying for a Hannukah miracle, although he's not sure he even believes in God. A great book about family and growing up Jewish in the 1970's America.
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January 7, 2025This book was amazing!!
I loved following the story of Joel and his family!!
An amazing book!
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good Hanukkah book!!
I loved following the story of Joel and his family!!
An amazing book!
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good Hanukkah book!!
April 13, 2025
4.5 stars
This was a book that could be described as “ one that will make you laugh, tear up, and overall just feel good”.
The setting is California, in the 1970’s. Here young Joel is growing up with his parents and two older brothers. His mom is so nice that it’s impossible to get mad at her. His dad has a penchant for “inventing” gadgets to change the world, all called The -Amatic something or another. The three brothers all have very different personalities, which at times creates friction. When push comes to shove, however, this family can pull together. Whether it’s making sure family traditions are followed during Jewish holidays, or taking over at home when Dad is hospitalized…
This novel had a “ Wonder Years” feeling to it, as in that the author seems to be reflecting on his childhood from the viewpoint of a grown man. The 1st-person narrative style allows the reader to see and hear the world through Joel’s eyes and ears. As the only Jewish student in his school, and the youngest in his family, his perspective is often hilarious, such as the times when Joel mentally transforms into “Normalman”. (This is a superpower he wishes to possess that makes him and his life, well…normal.) “Normal” to Joel would be having an employed, healthy father, a grandmother who is not experiencing drastic personality changes, and not feeling so different during “Christian” holidays.
I was particularly impressed with the way the author included Joel’s family history. Less than thirty years after WW2 ended, the adults, especially his paternal grandmother, are still dealing with the aftermath of the Holocaust. And the three brothers are beginning to really learn about and feel its impact for the first time…
This was a book that could be described as “ one that will make you laugh, tear up, and overall just feel good”.
The setting is California, in the 1970’s. Here young Joel is growing up with his parents and two older brothers. His mom is so nice that it’s impossible to get mad at her. His dad has a penchant for “inventing” gadgets to change the world, all called The -Amatic something or another. The three brothers all have very different personalities, which at times creates friction. When push comes to shove, however, this family can pull together. Whether it’s making sure family traditions are followed during Jewish holidays, or taking over at home when Dad is hospitalized…
This novel had a “ Wonder Years” feeling to it, as in that the author seems to be reflecting on his childhood from the viewpoint of a grown man. The 1st-person narrative style allows the reader to see and hear the world through Joel’s eyes and ears. As the only Jewish student in his school, and the youngest in his family, his perspective is often hilarious, such as the times when Joel mentally transforms into “Normalman”. (This is a superpower he wishes to possess that makes him and his life, well…normal.) “Normal” to Joel would be having an employed, healthy father, a grandmother who is not experiencing drastic personality changes, and not feeling so different during “Christian” holidays.
I was particularly impressed with the way the author included Joel’s family history. Less than thirty years after WW2 ended, the adults, especially his paternal grandmother, are still dealing with the aftermath of the Holocaust. And the three brothers are beginning to really learn about and feel its impact for the first time…
July 6, 2019
You know that book in your ‘TO READ’ pile that keeps getting passed over for other books and when you finally get around to reading it you’re like “Holy cow! That was good!” That’s Dreidels on the Brain. I’m not Jewish, but this book totally stole my heart. Joel lampoons his religion in a playful way. It’s downright cute. He explains all kinds of Jewish things in the most nonchalant way. The dreidel game. The term chopped liver. Hanukkah. Bar mitzvahs. The Holocaust. He moves seamlessly from one topic to another like a comedian. Some people are going to interpret that as rambling. For me, it's master storytelling.
Joel is one of three boys in December 1971. His family is Jewish, which is a bit of an anomaly at his school. Unlike his brothers, he gets in front of the issue with his gift of storytelling and soon he has everyone wishing they were Jewish. The story is set over a period of about 2 weeks during the Hanukkah/Christmas season. He's got several things going on. He's very good at magic tricks and has a part-time gig performing at birthday parties. The very popular Amy O'Shea has become his assistant. The principal wants his family to do a Hanukkah presentation at the Winter Assembly, which Joel is dreading because his dad's body is mangled from arthritis. It's a refreshing read and you'll learn a lot about the Jewish religion.
I have to mention the orange on the cover. Totally ruins it. Not the best title either. Don't let either of those things deter you from reading this cute book.
Joel is one of three boys in December 1971. His family is Jewish, which is a bit of an anomaly at his school. Unlike his brothers, he gets in front of the issue with his gift of storytelling and soon he has everyone wishing they were Jewish. The story is set over a period of about 2 weeks during the Hanukkah/Christmas season. He's got several things going on. He's very good at magic tricks and has a part-time gig performing at birthday parties. The very popular Amy O'Shea has become his assistant. The principal wants his family to do a Hanukkah presentation at the Winter Assembly, which Joel is dreading because his dad's body is mangled from arthritis. It's a refreshing read and you'll learn a lot about the Jewish religion.
I have to mention the orange on the cover. Totally ruins it. Not the best title either. Don't let either of those things deter you from reading this cute book.
March 7, 2021
This novel is Joel ben Izzy's story of growing up Jewish in a mostly Gentile environment, dealing with embarrassment and misunderstanding, learning to succeed in unexpected ways, and discovering many alternative spellings for Hanukkah. It's set in the L.A. area, in the mind of a Bar Mitzvah boy who is still figuring out the meaning of life and Judaism. Funny, poignant, puzzling at times, and enlightening in its exploration of fitting in, learning your strengths, the importance of family, and transliterated spelling of Hebrew words (Hannukkahhhh, for example). A great read!
November 29, 2017
It's been a while since I have enjoyed a book as much as did "Driedels on the Brain"! It is a laugh-out-loud, relatable and heartwarming story about miracles that come in the most unexpected form. My ten year old son enjoyed it as much as I did and finished it in two days before me. We keep on going back to the book and laugh as we discuss it. His words: " Wait till Joel gets back on the bus. The most amazing thing happens".
January 14, 2021
I just finished this book and while it was a little slow getting into the book at first, I came to really enjoy it. It is a journey of a seventh grade Jewish boy as he grapples with his relationships, his faith, his family, his place in the world and ultimately himself.
I originally picked it up to hopefully learn a bit more about Channakah; the more current traditions and origins. Through the voice of a middle schooler I was not disappointed.
I originally picked it up to hopefully learn a bit more about Channakah; the more current traditions and origins. Through the voice of a middle schooler I was not disappointed.
January 2, 2024
The teenage Joel has a great voice in this story. He is witty and endearing in that lost teenage way as he tries to navigate growing up. I enjoyed learning more about Hanukah and the Jewish faith from an insider with dry wit, and liked seeing Joel grow through wanting a rather superficial miracle to come true to being able to appreciate the things that are truly important to him. It was a fun read.
December 19, 2022
Enjoyed the humor in this book and read it at the perfect time, right before Hanukkah. A very touching story of the author's childhood and the struggled he experienced. Chuckled at all the ways to spell Hanukkah. Had heard the orange story before but appreciated the reminder of the details. A good way to end the book, on a more serious note.
December 6, 2023
A solidly entertaining and relatable middle grade novel of friendship, family, and miracles. The characters were quirky and lovable and real. I highly recommend this book to any fans of middle grade literature, or anyone that wants to learn a little more about Hanukkah or Judaism in an entertaining format.
September 2, 2022
What a sweet story. If there were half stars this would be a 31/2. It gives you a glimpse of the awkward middle school years and the feeling that you’re weird and everyone else is ‘normal’. And being the only Jewish kid in school doesn’t help.
March 4, 2024
Another one of those books that one just sort of picks at random---so enjoyable--it is suppose to be a young adult book---even so it kept my interest--enjoyed will look and see if he has other books--I guess he has tapes of his stories
May 26, 2017
Such a fun, educational and touching story. You get to learn about the Jewish faith and the 70s. You will laugh and might even shed a few tears.
June 26, 2017
If you can get past the first chapter, which takes some getting used to, then this turns out to be a humorous and heartfelt story for anyone.
August 13, 2017
This book was hilarious. Lots of cultural details a great family story. Some great 70s nostalgia.
September 28, 2017
Read my review at Bookish Adventures.
June 16, 2019
A delightful eight days of looking for miracles
My Full Review
My Full Review
November 19, 2019
channukah... qkkhaaannnukah... qanaka... that made me laugh every time. And a very touching ending. this is a good book!
January 2, 2020
This was an amusing story of a Jewish kid in the 1970s who is hoping for a Hanukkah miracle. It was cute and a little heartbreaking, but happy in the end.
January 11, 2023
great read!
April 24, 2024
Delightful.
Another great book club book.
Best for the older middle grade book.
10/10 recommend.
Another great book club book.
Best for the older middle grade book.
10/10 recommend.
February 22, 2017
Lots of frustration comedy in this entertaining novel. Also, many nuggets of wisdom, including:
"Remember the sweet things in life." p. 287
"We have something inside that keeps us going no matter how dark it gets. Something to hold onto--something that glows in the dark." p. 305
"Remember the sweet things in life." p. 287
"We have something inside that keeps us going no matter how dark it gets. Something to hold onto--something that glows in the dark." p. 305
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews