The Judgment of Yoyo Gold

by Isaac Blum

A smart and powerful story set in the Orthodox Jewish community about what it means to fit in, break out, and find your own way, by the award-winning author of The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen. This book is Gossip Girl + My Name Is Asher Lev + I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

Yoyo Gold has always played the role of the perfect Jewish daughter. She keeps kosher, looks after her siblings, and volunteers at the local food bank. She respects the decisions of her rabbi father and encourages her friends to observe the rules of their Orthodox faith. But when she sees her best friend cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors’ hypocrisies for the first time. And what she sees leaves her shocked and unmoored.

As Yoyo’s frustration builds, so does the pressure to speak out, even if she can only do so anonymously on TikTok, an app that’s always been forbidden to her. But when one of her videos goes viral—and her decisions wind up impacting not only her own life but also her relationship with the boy she’s falling for—Yoyo’s world is thrown into chaos. She is forced to choose which path to take, for her community, for her family, and most importantly, for herself.

Award-winning author Isaac Blum returns with a new novel that asks what it really means to be part of a community—and what it means to break free.

Genres: Young Adult, Jewish, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Isaac Blum (he/him) is a writer and educator. He’s taught English at several colleges and universities, and at Orthodox Jewish and public schools. He lives with his wife in Philadelphia where he watches sports and reads books that make him laugh while showing him something true about the world. The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen is his debut novel. You can visit Isaac online at isaacblumauthor.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @isaacblum_

Reviews

[Sherwood Smith]

Yoyo Gold is a rabbi's daughter, living in a tight-knit Orthodox community. Blum presents the Orthodox lifestyle with sympathy and clarity, at least for this gentile. The many terms in Hebrew that do not have easy equivalents in American English are still clear enough to follow.

The focus is on Yoyo, who as the rabbi's daughter not only has responsibilities as an Orthodox daughter, but who must be a living example to the community.

At the same time, she's a teenager on the verge of adulthood, with all the feelings that teens on the verge of adulthood feel. And the curiosity. Just as her bestie is sent away to a boarding school, and it seems as if the world has closed up, shutting her off as if forgotten, with no acknowledgment of Yoyo's grief at the separation.

Yoyo meets Mickey, the daughter of a reform rabbi, and the girls embark on a rocky relationship as Mickey introduces the world outside the Orthodox community to Yoyo.

One of the things I really like about Blum's books is the humor that laces his sharp observations about teens navigating in today's world, which includes the Internet. And how the teens in this community navigate the shoals of modern life, with four thousand year old rules and laws as their guide. These can be pretty obscure, maybe outright outmoded, but Blum shows the reader that the basic human striving for civilization, for respect for self and one's fellow human, have not changed.

Yoyo's quest to find her own truth, and define who she is, happens very fast, but that reads true to my remembered experience--and to the experience of the teens I know now. I love how Yoyo comes to see adulthood through new eyes, the beginnings of maturity--glimmerings of wisdom--and redefines herself with respect to her faith.

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. Yoyo Gold was an incredible protagonist and I loved the lens into Orthodox Judaism. I thought Isaac did an amazing job of showcasing different ways to be Jewish and I really liked that aspect. This was heartfelt and emotional and captured the questioning aspect of Judaism. The coming of age part was done well too, and I related to Yoyo as the older sibling. I loved her journey of self-exploration and I thought this book was just so well done. I'll happily read anything from Isaac, that's for sure! Thank you to Philomel Books for the ARC to read and review!

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yoyo Gold has done a great job of being a reliable daughter to her large family. She’s also done her best to learn and follow the tenets of the Jewish faith. Her father is an important rabbi in their community, and she’s learned much from him and her teachers. Up until she turned seventeen, Yoyo has never really questioned the Orthodox rules she and her friends are expected to follow. But those rules are beginning to feel rather restrictive, especially the ones about interacting with young men…
Interesting, relatable Y.A. fiction. I do wish there had been a glossary at the end for the Jewish terms; there were many I wasn’t familiar with, and would have liked having definitions.

[bibliophile [semi ia][no longer accepting frqs] · Rating 1 out of 5]

G-d gave me eyes and I have let Him down.

I would give this book negative stars if I could. But alas, I cannot.

As an orthodox Jewish girl, this book is extremely unfortunate. WE ARE NOT LIKE THAT. seriously
My full review will come as soon as i can and get pumped for the (second) most scathing review.
Grrrrrr

[Samantha H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isaac Blum has become an auto-buy author for me in two books. Bravo!

I loved this. I listened to it on a road trip and was so compelled I didn't even realize 5 hours had passed. The audio narration fit the tone SO well. The writing is fresh and funny. Many of the little quips had me audibly laughing.

I always get nervous when men write women protagonists, especially in the YA genre. Blum did an excellent job. Yoyo was such a well-rounded, 3-dimensional character. She was vulnerable and real. I think a lot of teens will be able to relate to her.

I really enjoyed getting to peek into the Orthodox community. I lived and worked in Philadelphia so long and got to interact with many members, but since they are so private, I always wanted to know more. This felt like the perfect "window" to get to peek inside. I also got to debrief with one of my favorite Jewish human beings, so that's always a cool experience. Highly recommend buddy reading, especially with someone who has more knowledge than you about a community.

There were definitely a few things that could've been explained better. I didn't understand why Yoyo and Shua (I listened to the audio, so if I'm spelling his name wrong, oops) couldn't date (had to have my buddy fill me in) and some of the terms could've been better presented. I think I got by because I had a lot of working background knowledge, but for young people picking this up, more explanation would've been helpful, especially in the beginning chapters.

I 100% believe this will be in my top YA books of the year. It's excellent and I highly recommend it. Grades 7 and up.

[Pinkish Perla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the best novels I’ve read this year. It is a perfect coming-of-age story that beautifully straddles the line between the struggle for independence, self-discovery, without completely disregarding one’s roots. Yoyo embarks on this journey, makes mistakes, and learns from them. She learns that she can become her own person and still honors the traditions and relationships she values so deeply. It’s also wonderful to read a book that tackles Orthodox Judaism with depth and love, not just disdain and distance. It is just a perfect, multi-layered, novel about self-determination.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about orthodox Judaism and also feel so seen as an eldest daughter. Highly recommend.

[Laura Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Philomel Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on October 15th, 2024.

A surprisingly engaging coming-of-age story about Yoyo Gold — a young Orthodox Jewish girl who has always been a model for the community. She kind of has to be as she is the daughter of the rabbi and held to higher standards than most. As she explores and experiments with her place in the world — the one she has been raised to inhabit and other enticing options — she gets closer to understanding what is actually important to her.

I’ve always respected the questioning aspect of the Jewish religion, but I’ve never cared for the more conservative sects of any religion. Those are the groups where so much of daily life is proscribed that it feels too controlling — at least to me as a complete outsider. However, in this book I was able to see both sides of the religion — the questioning and the proscription — through the eyes of someone growing up in that culture. I was better able to see how the required conformity gave rise to a true sense of a close knit community that can be a strong attractor to a person contemplating the life they want to live. People seemed to have purpose and be apparently more free to experience the joys of life without the anxieties and neuroses that seem to plague so many people today.

I learned a lot about the orthodox culture — much of which was new to me, even though I’ve read about that world in the past. The characters were vibrant and had more depth of thought, responsibility, and inquisitiveness than most coming-of-age books I’ve read. I enjoyed seeing the interfaces between her community and people outside — reform Jews and non-Jews alike — through her eyes. Her thoughts, feelings, and experiences were quite real and her reactions easy to understand and to identify with. I also learned quite a bit about the practices of Orthodox Jews which were new and interesting to me — much more depth than the typical story covers.

[Zehava (Joyce) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really like Yoyo Gold and I enjoyed this story but something about her experiences doesn’t ring true to me. I appreciate the somewhat accurate, but not whitewashed, depiction of Orthodox Jewry but Yoyo’s particular brand of teenage rebellion did not seem true to life. I know there are Orthodox teens who do all of the things that are depicted in this book but not teens like Yoyo Gold. It just literally would never happen. She would never break Shabbos or eat non-kosher or make out with a non-Jewish boy. I know this might seem tame for many and I don’t know Isaac Blum’s background or first hand knowledge of this community but there was just something not right about the details of this book. If this book was about Esti I would believe it, but it isn’t. A girl like Esti would NEVER beg her best friend to meet her at a non-kosher restaurant on a Friday night. Her parents world NEVER book her a plane ride on Shabbos. I know these might seem like small details but they aren’t. The intense meanness and bullying of YoYo’s friends also did not seem real. I enjoyed many aspects of this book and the relationship between YoYo and Shua was very sweet and I enjoyed a lot of the smaller family details (though I’ve never in my entire life heard someone say Friday Night Supper, never not even once) but I would expect more accuracy from a “insidery” book about the Orthodox Jewish community.
Thank you to Philomel Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sasha Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really enjoyed this. Once again I learned so much about this community from Blum, and I love how he deals with thorny issues with humor and compassion. I was so invested in Yoyo’s relationships and how she was navigating her current stage of life, alongside her questions about her place in her family and religion. So much going on here, but this was solidly written and I can see Blum’s growth between Hoodie and this one.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is STUNNING

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Blum's debut novel, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, so when I saw that the ARC for The Judgement of Yoyo Gold was available, I requested it immediately. This book is a bit different than his debut, but it still combines the charm of a coming-of-age YA novel with deeper themes revolving around religious identity.

In The Judgement of Yoyo Gold, the titular character is a 16-year-old rabbi's daughter whom the whole community looks to as a shining example of Orthodox Judaism. But when her best friend gets sent to a boarding school for breaking rules, she doesn't know where to turn. This leads to both an examination of why she lives the way she does and a realization that many in her insular community aren't practicing what they preach.

I love the way Blum comments on religion in this book. As a religious person myself, it made me think about the way I practice my faith and how to do so more intentionally. I think non-religious readers would also find the narrative fascinating, even if it isn't as relatable.

I am also a sucker for romance, and this book had a sweet subplot that I looked forward to reading throughout the book.

5 stars, because I know I will be thinking about this story and the characters for a very long time.

[Lilli (LitbyLilli) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Judgement of Yoyo Gold is @isaacblum_ recent release, and I highly recommend!

Thank you @philomelbooks for my #gifted arc and @prhaudio for the audiobook!

Yoyo Gold is the perfect daughter. As the daughter of her community’s Orthodox rabbi, she doesn’t have a choice. She goes to school, takes care of her family, and volunteers at the food bank. Then, Mickey starts volunteering at the food bank as well. Mickey is different; her mother is the rabbi at the reform synagogue. Soon Mickey has introduced Yoyo to a whole world beyond her community, leaving Yoyo to question what she knows.

I loved how Blum portrays Yoyo and her questioning. Plus, I loved how he represented multiple Jewish communities. His ability to weave together a coming-of-age story is truly special.

TJOYG has a little bit of everything: friendship drama, teenage angst, romance, and exploration. This is one to add to your tbr!

Plus, the audio was great!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#litbylillireviews

[Barb reads......it ALL! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Yoyo's story. I learned alot of the Orthodox Jewish teen woman. Being the daughter or an Orthodox rabbi came across as even handed, neither steeped in angst or sprinkled in holiness.
My only gripe is the cover....it smacks of a middle school audience and this definitely isn't for that group.

[Gretchen Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isaac Blum has delivered yet another stunning YA novel that is just as thoughtful as his first while also being completely different. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. As an added bonus, the chemistry between Yoyo and the boy she likes is simply off the charts.

[Leah M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Philomel Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to get approved for this book because I loved Isaac Blum’s first book and couldn’t wait to see what he had in store. The cover immediately caught my attention, because much like in The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, the person pictured is a visibly Orthodox Jewish character. It might not seem like a big deal, but having an Orthodox Jewish character on the cover of a book published by one of the Big Five is a huge deal for a population that is so small in comparison to the rest of the world.

As expected, Blum takes readers into the heart of a closed community that most people don’t get to see. As someone who was raised in between Conservative and Orthodox Judaism, my family leaned more towards Orthodox, allowing me insight into the community as someone who has been on the edges of it for my whole life. This made it easy for me to understand and identify with a lot of the book, although I did have a few dislikes.

Starting with the positives is Yoyo herself, and the characters around her. Yoyo is smart, capable, and comes across as significantly more mature than most of her peers. It made me sad for her that so much responsibility is on her shoulders without her getting any say in it. As one of the oldest siblings, Yoyo isn’t just driven to do well in school, she’s basically pushed to be a miniature version of a rabbi’s wife, like her mother. This requires Yoyo to be a power of example and support within the community, handle tasks around the house, and care for her younger siblings. As if that isn’t enough, we meet Yoyo just after her very best friend, Esti, left the community and has no means of contacting Yoyo.

We also get to know a little bit about her five siblings, but more importantly, her other friends, and a new person in her life, the daughter of the new Reform Jewish rabbi, who has just moved to the area. It seems to be the first sustained interaction that Yoyo has had outside of her own community, which is insulated: she attends yeshiva (Jewish day school) with the girls from her community, shops at the kosher supermarket in town, and is always surrounded by other Orthodox Jews. A budding potential relationship with Mickey ushers in a conflict of ideas in some areas that Yoyo hasn’t really put much thought into. But it’s ultimately her experience with TikTok that causes the most conflict in Yoyo’s life.

Being a rabbi’s daughter comes with a lot of expectations, and Yoyo has shown herself more than capable of doing what her society expects of her and exceptionally self-aware for a teenager. However, now that Yoyo sees some things occurring in her community and has no outlet, she finds herself questioning some things she never even thought about questioning. This comes on the heels of Esti’s leaving the community over some things that didn’t seem overly problematic to Yoyo, and in fact are common practices of people who aren’t very religious.

There are funny moments, and universal moments of frustration with siblings that every teenager can identify with. There is a major twist at the end, and it changed my perception about one thing that I was a bit critical of. When portraying such a small, insulated community of people, there’s a fine line between discussion and potentially misrepresenting a larger group of people. Yes, Orthodox Jews especially tend to stay in small, clannish communities, but millennia of persecution and being kept in ghettos has had strong effects on Jewish communities, especially Orthodox communities, where residents are visibly Jewish.

One of my biggest issues with the book is that it makes the community only want people to blindly obey. Judaism is very heavy on questioning and explaining a rational reason why we are directed to obey the 613 commandments laid out in the Torah. Throughout our readings is discussion by the sages of what was meant by each paragraph, sentence, even why one word was used instead of another. And maybe it was because Yoyo was a rabbi’s daughter, with additional pressure on her to conform, but it didn’t sit right with me when normal and healthy teenage behavior is pathologized and ostracized. Women in Judaism are very important both in our past and our present, and Orthodox women aren’t just the heart of the home, they are supportive of the others in their community and are viewed as being closer to HaShem than men.

“They said that women were naturally closer to God. That’s why we weren’t required to pray as often as men, or as thoroughly, or as intensely: because women were Godly in and of themselves.”

I could empathize with what Yoyo was going through, and when you’ve always done what is expected and seen others doing that all your life, it is immensely difficult to see hypocrisy and problems within a community. It was a turning point for Yoyo when she comes to this realization, which embodies the strong tradition of social justice in Judaism:

“‘We need to worry about whatever it was that made her sneak out at night on Shabbos to sit in the dark in a parked car and vape alone. And we need to worry that it’s us, that we’re the ones who made her do that.’”

For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could see characters doing the wrong thing and seeing the slippery slope that they were on, but I could also see the humanity in all of the flawed characters in this book. It made them feel more realistic, and gives voice to the young people who are seeking connection with others who understand them. And while I had my issues with the story, I think it is still an important read because it gives voice to young Orthodox Jews who are ready to modernize some aspects of an ancient religion, and sometimes even those who have to learn things the hard way:

“‘It’s like every little thing was fine. Every step I took felt like the right step at the time. But then I didn’t end up where I wanted to. And I should have known. I did know. I was told over and over, but it took all these steps to figure it out myself.”

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half almost lost me, Blum bogs so much of the narrative down with details about the lives of Orthodox Jews. While the restrictive lifestyle Yoyo is expected to live is a driving force to her rebellions, and the gravity of most of her actions wouldn't make sense to the average reader without that context, it's still enough to drag the plot down at times.

The second half was much better and I appreciated that Blum didn't wrap everything up nice and neatly and that even on the final pages, Yoyo was still trying to figure out who she wanted to be and how she fit into the community she grew up in. I do wish there was more resolution on the romantic plot point though.

Emily Lawrence does a good job with the audiobook narration.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rabbi's daughter in an Orthodox community outside Philadelphia begins to question the religious and social norms within which she lives. The narrator's voice is compelling and believable, and the glimpse of the closed off community is super interesting.

[Sandy Quill · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Philomel/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "The Judgement of Yoyo Gold" in exchange for an honest review.

Yoyo is most definitely not your typical teen overachiever who longs to break through the constraints put upon her by her family, friends and community. She's the dutiful oldest child of an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and tirelessly does everything expected of her......excels in classes, helps to co-parent her younger siblings, follows the teachings and procedures of her faith and functions as a perfect role model for everyone around her.

Her only outlet for communicating her true feelings was her lifelong friendship with Esti, whose extroverted, daring behavior proved too much to their tight-knit community........when Esti s sent off to a far away school, an angry, frustrated Yoyo believes her dearest friend was indeed banished, with her father having a hand in it.

Yoyo's more than ready to unleash rebellion against the structure of her Orthodox life, and her increasingly uncomfortable role in it. in. She finds a kindred spirit (and sweet first love) in gentle, studious Shua, yet another outcast who helps removes her father's filters from her phone.. This allows Yoyo to secretly outrage and confound her peers. with anonymous gossip-y Tik Tok videos.......revealing moments of un-Orthodox, rule breaking behavior from her friends and herself. as well.

All of Yoyo's inner turbulence is presented with a knowing sense of wisdom and at times, the sharpest, ironic wit you'll ever enjoy in a YA drama. And author Isaac Blum deftly immerses you in a world of religious faith that may seem strange and foreign until you see all the universal things unfold.....the changing dynamics between parents and children and the eternal adolescent challenge to figure out who you are and what's your place in the world.

A great, thoughtful read, with a character who captures you from the first page and will hold you till she reaches a reckoning with faith, love, friendship and the world outside her own. My highest recommendation.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I wasn’t even finished with the book by time I’d included it in my “best books of 2024” shelf. 4.75 stars. If I’d have changed anything I think I’d have just liked a few more pages at the end :)
At no point was I ready to finish this story. I was aware of how much I had left only because I didn’t want the story to end.
I have to say that I loved this author’s previous book The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen and wasn’t expecting to love Yoyo even more!

Yoyo is a teenage girl who is also orthodox Jewish. Her father is a rabbi. Yoyo takes her faith, and her father’s interpretation of that faith, very seriously.
She’s pretty much perfect. Her grades are good, she gets in absolutely no trouble, she even does community service and helps care for her younger siblings and cook dinner.

Then her best friend gets sent away and Yoyo starts to question things a little. Then a new friend asks her whether she does the things she does because *she wants to* or whether it’s because she’s been told she was supposed to. And Yoyo can’t even remember.

She makes the very rebellious decision to pay a teenage boy to unlock filers from her kosher phone. The boy goes by Shua.

After her phone is unlocked, there’s a bit of a Gossip Girl vibe where Yoyo posts some anonymous videos about other Orthodox Jewish teenagers who were acting out. She felt like they were being hypocrites for judging her best friend.

This is such wonderful coming of age story. It doesn’t matter what your religion is, you can relate to this story. Yoyo is trying to figure out who she is beyond all of the rules of her parents and of her religion. She’s trying to figure out what she believes is right. She wants to be a good person too.

I loved Yoyo and I loved Shua!

What a wonderful book! This author needs to keep writing books of this caliber :)

I got to read an early ebook edition, thank you!!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA +Orthodox Jewish MC + TikTok!

Yoyo has always been the perfect Orthodox Jewish daughter. But then her best friend is cast out of the community, and her frustration builds. She decides to speak out anonymously on TikTok. When one of her videos goes viral, Yoyo's life becomes chaos.

Read if you love...
✨YA
✨TikTok videos
✨Gossip Girl vibes

I loved this one & flew through it!

The Orthodox Jewish community fascinates me & I loved learning more about it in a positive light. Just general aspects of how they live, eating Kosher, rules followed on Shabbot, rules surrounding what kids/teenagers can do on their phones, and more.

Yoyo is one of those characters that I just loved because while she does so love being Orthodox Jewish so much, she also is curious about the world and wants a little more freedom to explore that.

I loved the coming of age vibes, the curiosity, the friendships created & ones she questions, the exploring culture outside of what she knows, and more.

Definitely recommend this one!

📍Pennsylvania
✨Representation: Orthodox Jewish MC

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s done it again!

Never before have I wanted to reread a book immediately because I wanted to take it all in again and really ponder the questions it raises until first Hoodie Rosen and now this book. Isaac Blum perfectly balances humor and serious topics, criticizing Judaism and Jewish culture and celebrating its beauty. Definitely another favorite book for me.

[Olivia Pilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cool because at no point is faith ever a burden.

Religion is never a burden to our main chapter and that is so special in a secular world. As someone who is religious, reading a book about a girl who is truly learning what religion means for her was such a good and satisfying read.

But also Yoyo struggles!! She flounders and makes mistakes and acts impulsively because she’s a teenager! She’s not supposed to know everything!!

It was also so satisfying because the conflict and the conclusion to the conflict isn’t punishment & shaming like it feels like it might be. It shows that religion isn’t always about shaming into keeping these rules. It’s also about trust & community. it shows Yoyo figuring out what it means to be an Orthodox Jew and truly choosing it for herself, not out of shame or fear; but instead out of love and respect for the rules & wanting to be an Orthodox Jew, not just being born one.

I believe religion is important but mostly that it’s important that we figure out its importance in our lives for ourselves and this book echos that beautifully.

[MrsReganReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much a reflective and introspective book amid some young adult chaos, I really enjoyed meeting Yo Yo and going on this coming of age journey with her. There were fantastic characters, a nice use of snarky commentary and humor, and I learned a lot about life in Orthodox Judaism. I really appreciated the views she considered and how honest it all was- and while there may have been too many characters and I’m not 100% sure I was fulfilled by the ending, I for sure recommend this book, along with Blum’s first.

Favorite quotes:
“My guess was that these (comments) were mostly from old people. Old people were often confused. These comments were also written in full sentences with punctuation, another hallmark of old people - punctuation is like catnip to an old person.”

“People often underestimate small children. People do this because small children don’t know anything and they struggle to wipe their own butts. But little kids are hyper aware of household tension”

“Those little details bothered me, but there was a comfort in knowing that these things did get done without me. Would I have done them better? Yeah, probably. But they were done” (one for me personally to remember!)

[The One Where Aimee Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Judgment of Yoyo Gold is a coming-of-age story at its finest and that’s a testament to Isaac Blum’s storytelling. I was completely immersed in Yoyo Gold’s world.

Yoyo struggles with the lot typical of any teenager: school obligations, familial and responsibilities, friendships and her first crush. But there are heightened expectations of her as the daughter of the local Orthodox rabbi. And after her best friend is sent off to boarding school, Yoyo (the ultimate rule follower) begins to question it all. I think Blum expertly portrayed and developed Yoyo’s emotional journey: her indignation at discovered hypocrisies, feelings of loneliness and being misunderstood, and her struggle to adequately channel feelings so strong they could burst from her body. These feelings were tangible. It made her growth and reclaimed agency extremely satisfying. Also, you wouldn’t expect a book set in an Orthodox community to showcase varying observance levels of Judaism, but this book does it beautifully.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Judgment of Yoyo Gold is out TODAY! I highly recommend it.

Thank you Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that Blum writes about Orthodox Jewish teens and I loved reading about Yoyo. This book is about expectations versus choices while living in an insular community. Yoyo is the oldest daughter of a rabbi and she is expected to take care of her younger siblings, the house, and more. When her best friend leaves town, things become harder for Yoyo. She begins to realize that some of the people who act one way in public are actually not doing what they say in private. Meanwhile, they are judging others as well. She becomes friends with a less religious girl and realizes she is attracted to another friend’s brother. She downloads TikTok. And she begins to figure out who she is without all the expectations. I found some of the book to be funny and almost satirical in its commentary. I loved this coming of age novel. ⁣

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! I found Yoyo to be incredibly complex and relatable. I knew very little about Judaism and I very much liked learning about the religion, especially the different sects of it. I felt like beyond Yoyo feeling conflicted in certain beliefs and practices in being Orthodox, the book did a great job of showing eldest sister syndrome and the pressures of being a child of a religious leader. Even though this book focuses on being in an Orthodox Jewish community, I thought it was relatable for anyone who has ever questioned or deconstructed their religious beliefs. I also loved seeing Yoyo’s relationships with Esti, Shua and Mickey. I’m so glad I got the chance to read this one!
CW: animal death, antisemitism, bullying,

Thank you to NetGalley and Philomel Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Leeann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading The Judgment of Yoyo Gold.

Many of us have heard about the travails and annoyances of growing up a "PK" (preacher's kid.)
That being said, I don't know a lot (some, but not a lot) about Orthodox Jews and their traditions and rules. I find it utterly fascinating to learn about, and I had such empathy for Yoyo, being caught betwixt and between two worlds. It's hard for anyone to find their place in the world in middle and high school and her situation as the daughter of a Rabbi really compounded all of that.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for a galley edition of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Inna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Isaac Blum's debut novel, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, so I was very excited that he had a new book out. Similar to the first novel, The Judgement of Yoyo Gold is about family, faith, love, responsibility and also so much more. Yoyo, the protagonist, is smart, funny, surprisingly relatable, and easy to root for. I enjoyed spending time with her and wasn't ready for the book to end. Highly enjoyable!!

The cherry on top of the cake was that the audiobook narration was perfect!

- Inna
IG: Audiblebookclub

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a roller coaster of emotions. Yoyo is the perfect Jewish daughter for her rabbi father in her Orthodox Jewish community. But her eyes are opened overtime of transgressions and hypocrisies in her community, and it is just time before these small notices begin to change her and make her question herself and her life. I, as an outsider of this community, learned a lot about their religion and traditions while also going along for Yoyo’s journey of self discovery.