Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz

by Diana Harmon Asher

What could be more humiliating than your mom dating your assistant principal? Evie’s about to find out in this hilarious, big-hearted novel about surviving the uncertainties of middle school, sticking up for what you believe, and becoming the person you’re meant to be.




"Original, clever, deftly crafted, a fun read from cover to cover, and with a valued message about the importance personal courage and resolution, "Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz" from PJ Publishing is especially and unreservedly recommended for elementary school, middle school and community library General Fiction collections for young readers ages 9-12." -- Midwest Book Review




 "Asher delivers a warm, sharply observed middle-grade tale that effectively captures the turbulence of early adolescence, as well as the power of unlikely connections. It’s a satisfying story that offers a clear message that it takes real courage to stand up for one’s beliefs...Evie’s first-person narration is relatable throughout, and the novel brims with authentic characters, pitch-perfect dialogue, and emotional truth, making it a story that young readers will want to revisit. A lively tale about the unexpected magic that comes from helping one another." -- Kirkus Reviews 

260 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon reading this book, I discovered it had several different “layers” within it.

One “layer”was about the importance of memories, and how they can keep a person “alive” even after they have gone. Evie shares with the reader many details of times that she and her father spent in the synagogue together; the bittersweet way in which she relates them is like being tucked under a cozy blanket.
Another layer was the subplot of the local synagogue being the target of antisemitism, and the guarded yet present tension that members felt. Unfortunately, this topic is all too timely; a school about 30 miles away from where I live was vandalized with Nazi flags just last week…
True friendship was emphasized, as well as the importance to standing up to bullies even when scared. There was a boy labeled by his teachers as “the boy with trouble written all over him” that at first is a nemesis, but Evie and and her friends wisely decide to give Tommy a chance for a do-over. The results of this are surprising, and heart-warming.
This book was a wonderful read; it belongs in classrooms everywhere.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

[Deke Moulton]

DNF on page one.

One of the premises of the book is that the main character’s mom is a new substitute teacher at her school and has started dating the assistant principal.

Although this scenario would make the intended audience relate to the main character (because what a terrible embarrassing situation, in terms of social currency, nothing could be more terrible fora middle school student)

However, such a situation, an assistant principal starting to date a new teacher, even a substitute teacher, is actually against ethic standards that can be found in pretty much every school district and it just gives me an ick anyways with the concept of fraternization.

This may not bother other readers, but for me, it’s just too much.

[Barbara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, funny, engaging coming-of-age story. As in this author's other books, the young characters emerge as fully-rounded, real people -- kids who face the kinds of emotional quandries that middle-schoolers (and their parents and teachers) will recognize. And as in the best middle grade fiction, the kids in this book also face some of their first big moral questions: What's important to me? Who should I trust? What's right and wrong in this situation? What does it mean to be part of a community? But what really sets this book apart and makes it shine are Evie's memories of time spent with her father, who had been the cantor of her temple before he passed away when Evie was ten. And now, as she approaches her bat mitzvah, her feelings are a tangle of sadness and hope. Love flows through the pages of this heartfelt story.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana Harmon manages to combine humorous and serious situations in “Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz” (P. J. Library). Evie is still considered the cantor’s daughter, even though her father died two years before. She’s lucky to have a loving mother and two really good friends, Rachel and Spencer. However, her life soon becomes complicated on a variety of fronts. First, it’s bad enough that her mom has a temporary position at her middle school, but now the new assistant principal has asked her on a date, and her mother seems very interested. Evie and her mom had bonded over the very bad dates that her mother had had, but this one seems different – a potential threat to their bond.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

This started slowly for me. But then Tommy made breakfast and I got a different glimpse of the character. Then, as the group of kids spent more time in spaces together, I was drawn in that much more. By the end, I had laughed (the praying mantises!!) and cried my way through to the satisfying end to the story. This was lovely. There's a lot here for readers to talk and think about - various cultures, including Jewish culture; bullying; grief; friendship; fellowship; family. This would make a great classroom readaloud and/or book group selection.

[Rebekkah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evie is a middle-schooler who is navigating many things at once: what her life looks like after her father passed, where she fits in with the Jewish community, how to deal with her mom dating again, and where she fits in at school, particularly when she finds herself hanging out with a different crowd. I really enjoyed this one. As an adult reader, I found some of the grasshopper rescue plot to be a bit silly, but the payoff at the end is so worth it. I think middle-grade readers will love it too, and, hopefully, learn a bit along the way about how communities can come together and support each other, especially in times of need. 5 stars.

Thank you to PJ Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.