Neshama

by Marcella Pixley

"A beautiful, quiet storm of a story that explores grief, forgiveness, and finding courage for the present through the past." — Randy Ribay, award-winning author of Everything We Never Had

Anna sees ghosts. The spirits of her ancestors call to her from the shadows, and no matter where she is, Anna always answers. Kids in her middle school tease her. Teachers and parents are worried by her strange behavior. The only one who seems to understand is Anna’s beloved grandmother, Bubbe, who has always treasured Anna’s shayna neshama, her beautiful soul. Spending Shabbos with Bubbe is the only thing that gives Anna the sense of love and belonging that she needs.

But when a ghost named Ruthie appears at Bubbe’s house by the sea, Anna begins to uncover long-hidden secrets that reveal the mystery of her family’s troubled past. As Anna and Ruthie get closer, Anna must decide for herself whether being connected to a restless ghost is worth the risk. When it becomes clear that Bubbe’s life is in danger, Anna must face the horrible truth: She alone has the ability to save her family and heal the wounds that follow them from one generation to the next.

National Book Award long-listed author Marcella Pixley brings her Jewish faith and her acclaimed sense of lyricism to this powerful story of bravery, forgiveness, and healing.

Genres: Middle Grade, Poetry, Fantasy, Novel In Verse, Jewish, Ghosts, Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 22, 2027

Reviews

[Bookishrealm]

This was a lot heavier than I expected. CW: bullying and anti-semitism. 3.5 stars

What Worked: Written in free verse, Neshama beautifully captures the feelings/emotions that come from being ostracized and labeled as different. Pixley's decision to make this a contemporary fantasy novel worked well for the development of Anna as a character. The relationship shared between Anna and her Bubbe was sweet and endearing. It is a reminder that all children need a safe space/person that they can connect to when things aren't going well. The incorporation of Jewish faith and traditions was an added bonus. For those who enjoy a mystery, part of the novel does focus on the "uncovering" of family secrets through Anna's connection to her deceased aunt. Through that "discovery," Pixley did a wonderful job outlining the correlation between grief, anger, and forgiveness.

What Didn't Work: There were two main things that didn't work for me. I wanted Pixley to spend a little more time refining the conflict at school. While a resolution doesn't have to be perfect, I felt like this plot point was a little neglected towards the end of the novel. Additionally, though the the shared body element between Anna and her aunt was cool. There were moments when it was rather difficult to distinguish between them as characters. Their voices were constructed in a way that was too similar.

Overall, this was a solid read and I can see why it was received the Sydney Taylor book award.

[Jen Nishi]

Hands down the most beautiful book I read this year. I’d give it a galaxy of stars if I could. I am a lover of verse novels but sometimes they feel like regular prose styled into verse form without playing an integral part to the narrative. But not this time. This time the verse are actual beautiful poems that serve a purpose. It is simply a beautiful read with so much heart and emotions packed in there. If you’re a teacher looking to mix things up in a poetry unit, use this book, it’s just hands down awesome.

[Amy]

Beautifully written free verse…difficult themes of being different, forgiveness, bullying, cruelty and death are explored through the lyrical poems.

[Mayleen]

Brilliant. Beautiful. I wish I could read it for the first time over and over.

[Nicole]

I really enjoyed this one. As per usual with me...I went into this without reading the synopsis and I assumed it was going to be a fantasy story...magical in some way ..based on the cover. And what I got was a ghost story centered around grief and the Jewish faith. Lucky me because I LOVE ghost stories and books about grief and loss. It also addresses issues of bullying, finding your voice, being accepted by family and friends, etc and I feel like it wove all those elements together nicely. My only real complaint is that I feel like the school elements of this story didn't really have a satisfying conclusion ..but you can see where it was headed and hope for the best on that front. While it's not a new favorite...I did really enjoy this one and would recommend it.

[Heidi]

I liked the Hebrew language and Jewish lore. The poetry format worked very well in rendering the plot and developing the characters.

[Deke Moulton]

A really sweet book about healing broken relationships, but a lot of the sincerity was muddled with truly anti-girl messages. There was a really uncomfortable amount of truly vicious bullying (like really cruel bullying that is quite relentless) that made it a very uncomfortable read at times. Plus, there is apparently such bad antisemitism that leads to a death that was quite shocking. I really did like the relationship of the main character with her grandmother and the way that guilt can drive people to be angry and harm the people they love most. And I love that the story featured a lot of healing. I cried a lot of times.

For as much as being bullied was heavily emphasized in the first 2/3 of the book, the resolution was a really vague couple of pages at the end that felt almost like an afterthought. It just did not feel as satisfying after the emotional depths of the bullying sections. It was just “yay we are friends now” and that was that. I also had issue with the oft repeated “girls who like fashion are shallow and mean” trope. As cruel as the “mean girls” were, the author constantly mentioned that girls who have lip gloss are shallow and fake and ‘mindless clones,’ (this is about 11-year-olds we are talking about) which kind of made me not as receptive to the message. I’m really past the point of appreciating any kind of “there’s a right kind of girl and there’s a wrong kind of girl” especially in a book that emphasizes how painful bullying is.

[Lesley]

What an exquisite, lyrically-rendered tale about beautiful souls, both those who are living and those who have passed.

“Seeing ghosts
wherever I look,
children
centuries old,
their quick footsteps
skittering
like autumn leaves,
a cold hand
on my shoulder,
a voice in my ear
insistent as wind.” (ARC 4)

Anna sees spirits, not only from her ancestors but those who have passed from others’ lives, such as her peers. She communicates and dances with them and writes poetry to and with them. She is ostracized by the other kids in her middle school class, especially the popular, mean girls led by Eden, and sadly, also by her father who wants her to fit in with the other kids, not like his little sister Ruthie who died when eleven.

Anna is very interested in her Jewish heritage and religion even though her father sees himself as a “secular” Jew and has forsaken the customs. Her mother’s heritage is Lutheran and, therefore, she does not know the traditions, but her grandmother, her Bubbe Esther, practices, observing the Shabbat every week, following the rituals of past generations, passing to the next, Anna.

Bubbe calls Anna a “shayna neshama” (beautiful soul) and gifts her a leather journal for her ghost poems, but when things escalate with Eden at school and Anna stands up for herself, her father burns her journal and Anna begins going to her Bubbe’s for the weekends,
“…this magical place
where no one can say
it’s more important
to pretend I am normal
than to be
who I was meant to be,
a girl who is not quite
like the others,
a girl who would rather
dance with ghosts
than try to slow my feet
so they can fit
into the normal
endless predictable pat.” (ARC 76)

Here she meets the ghost of Ruthie, “…the wild child everyone thought was crazy,…” (ARC 65)

Ruthie writes poetry with her, and Anna lets her inhabit her body so she can feel her mother.

But Ruthie has a score to settle with Jeremy, the boy—now a man—who, at the direction of his abusive, anti-Semitic father, teased Ruthie, and her ghost cannot forgive him. He lives a sad life at the bottom of the hill near Bubbe, and Ruthie begs Anna to take vengeance on him. But through the events that follow, and, mostly due to Anna’s happy, singing, loving little sister, Evie, Ruthie, her brother (Anna’s father), and Bubbe learn forgiveness. And Anna learns to help her peers, such as Eden—not changing who she is but using her gift for others, a true shayna neshama.

[Mark Buxton]

What worked:
The idea of religion is one facet of the story that creates a conflict. Anna’s father says they are secular, which means they don’t pay attention to what it means to be Jewish. Her mother grew up Lutheran and doesn’t know enough about Judaism to teach Anna. However, Anna’s grandmother, Bubbe, is still a practicing Jew and invites Anna to her home to celebrate Shabbat. They sing prayers together in Hebrew, and the author includes the lyrics with English translations. However, visiting Bubbe opens the door for a larger conflict.
Anna can see ghosts, and she lets them control her hands to write messages in a journal. Other people, including her teacher and parents, think she has an active imagination, but Anna doesn’t try to hide the truth. Talking about ghosts scares some students, but it also makes her a target for ridicule and teasing. Bubbe believes Anna is a shayna neshama, a Yiddish-Hebrew term for a beautiful soul, but even Bubbe doesn’t think Anna can see ghosts. Bubbe doesn’t know that the ghost of Ruthie, sister of Anna’s father, hangs around her home, and Ruthie misses dancing with her mother and holding her hands. Anna and Ruthie communicate through the journal, but Anna decides to make a fateful decision.
The entire book is in verse, with each page sharing something different. Some pages narrate the story, and others present the thoughts from ghosts. Readers will know what Anna is thinking and feeling as she deals with school, her father, and Ruthie. Eden is the main tormentor at school, and she goes out of her way to make Anna’s life horrible. Anna’s father isn’t an understanding character, and he does something terrible to her that is unforgivable. The verses use short lines to quickly communicate feelings and ideas, so the plot actually moves fairly quickly.
What didn’t work as well:
It’s sometimes challenging to differentiate Anna’s thoughts from Ruthie’s. The story in verse shares thoughts and feelings, but readers may not fully connect with Anna. There are scenes where readers might not grasp exactly what she’s experiencing without more description.
The final verdict:
This story in verse offers a touching tale of family and faith. The lyrical style allows readers to capture the intense emotions and thoughts of the characters, as Anna tries to restore peace to troubled souls. If you’re okay with books in verse, I recommend you give this one a shot.

[Emily Haage]

Beautiful novel-in-verse that is perfect for readers who like quiet stories that explore themes like grief, forgiveness, healing, etc. The description on the cover flap suggests this is more of a ghost story than it actually is; most of my readers who ask for ghost stories or horror would not be satisfied with this novel,

I appreciated the emphasis on ancestors and generational beauty and tragedy. Anna’s relationship with her Bubbe was especially sweet after witnessing how misunderstood (and bullied!) she was by her classmates, teachers, and even her own parents.

The descriptions of Shabbos and Hebrew prayers are beautiful and interesting—I spend some time learning more about these Jewish traditions when I finished reading.

The writing is gorgeous and I flagged several pages as I read. Probably best enjoyed by more mature middle grade readers.

“Mudlarking”
To me, things are always
more beautiful
when they are broken.
Why can’t grown-ups
understand
what children and the very old
know in their bones?
Just because something is worn
doesn’t mean
it is any less worthy of love.

“Unchained”
…
and I feel clearheaded
and certain
for the first time in my life

because
I am sure
the voice
I have
to speak with
and the hands
I have
to work with
and the feet
I have
to dance with
are my own
and they are good
and I trust them
to do
what they must
even if
what happens next
is somehow
destined
to break my heart.

“Hugging the Hurt”
…
But now I wonder if maybe
forgiveness is different
from what I used to think it was.
Maybe it’s not about being okay
with what the person did.
Maybe it’s not about
forgetting or getting past it.
Maybe it’s about hugging the hurt,
calling it by name,
and then loving them anyway.

“Sunshine”
…
That was only temporary
but the nameless part,
the neshama,
is the part that lasts forever,
that can only be seen
once the body is gone,
when all we have left
are memories, gratitude, and love.

[Joan]

I did not enjoy this, partially because I've never been one for ghost stories. However, I also felt that the whole school response was inappropriate from start to end. So were the responses of both her parents, in different ways. It also didn't make sense to me. Her Dad is furious with Anna but she is still allowed to go see her grandmother the following weekend, even though her grandmother was somehow part of the problem. Her dead aunt Ruthie possesses her and keeps egging her on to do inappropriate things, just what a kid already in trouble at school needs, right? The principal tells the class he will be keeping an eye on them till their tardy teacher (when is a teacher ever late?) gets there but leaves the classroom. None of the kids take action when two enemies start fighting in the room and (duh) the principal doesn't come back in. The book is supposed to have Jewish characters, Anna and her family, but other than the bubbe, the grandmother, they don't act Jewish or seem to have any overriding Jewish theme. At the same time, Jewish words and prayers are used and not well explained. The man next door to the bubbe is antisemitic, taught by his father, although that is the vaguest part of many vague things in this vague book. He apologizes to her father for his part in Ruthie's death which is not accepted by the father but doesn't seem to surprise him so I suppose his actions were seen when the tragedy happened. I can understand not forgiving the antisemitic guy who got away with actions that lead to the death of his sister around a generation ago but that is an uncommon reaction in a book meant for children.

All in all, this book did not make me richer in any way from this experience. Not recommended.

[Hannah MacLean]

4.25*

Young Anna can see ghosts—she observes them, plays with them, and converses with them. The only problem is that no one believes her. She is mercilessly bullied at school and her father bullies her at home. Her only comfort is her beloved Jewish grandmother, Bubbe, at whose home she spends Shabbos. While there, she meets the ghost of Ruthie—her father's sister, who shared the same gift and who died as a child. She has to decide how she chooses to absorb what she learns and how to respond when she learns old family secrets. Self-consciousness and self-assuredness battle within Anna as she develops her own sense of self.

I love how this novel gracefully weaves themes of grief, reconciliation, Jewish tradition, regret, and family ties together in free verse. I think the message that empathy is more courageous than spitefulness comes across clearly. I think Pixley worked hard to communicate that forgiveness is not denial/forgetting what happened, but a process that can’t be shorted. Likewise, reconciliation is portrayed as something that happens only when the offending party accepts responsibility and works to right their wrongs.

What keeps this from 5 stars to me is that I honestly felt that I wanted more. The poetry of this novel was beautiful, and I felt that every word was truly intentional and well-chosen, but in the end, I just felt like something was missing. That said, this was a really lovely, heartwarming, and reflective novel, and I'd happily recommend it to someone looking for something genuine and weighty but not so heavy your heart might break.

TW: child death, antisemitism, bullying

[Arianna]

A highly readable middle grade book, that dives deep into emotions without feeling overly sentimental. The protagonist, Anna, is a relatable middle grade character, misunderstood by both her parents and her classmates. But that’s not really the main conflict. The conflict is really with this ability Anna has to connect with the dead, and how she is often marginalized and disbelieved. The book definitely touches on grief and family trauma, but could also be read as simply a girl coming to terms with who she is, whether folks like it or not. The writing was beautiful, lyrical and sensitive. And each little poem felt like a full story, full of insight. The only complaint I had is the deeply religious feel, where the main character is often praying or speaking about prayers. As not a highly religious person, I found the constant conversation around prayers taking me out of the story. And creating a distance between myself and the characters. But perhaps I’m more sensitive about that than most. The book is gorgeously written, and I do think it will be a treat for a middle grader who feels misunderstood to read.

[Miz Lizzie]

No one believes that Anna can see and interact with ghosts. She is bullied at school for her odd behavior. Her parents think she has an over-active imagination and that it is time for her to "act normal." The only one who understands her, though still not knowing Anna can see ghosts, is her grandmother. Anna seeks comfort in her Jewish grandmother's prayers and rituals for the Sabbath, in part because Anna can see the ghosts of all her ancestors celebrating with them. I loved that the ghosts in this book weren't there as supernatural horrors but as the ancestors and loved ones who have passed on. Anna and the ghost of her aunt who died as a child both carry a lot of anger, but compassion and forgiveness overcome their grudges and desires for revenge. This novel in verse carries a lot of wisdom about healing ancestral trauma in a highly accessible and impactful story.

[Martha Simpson]

The 2026 middle grade Sydney Taylor Book Award winner is a novel written in verse. Anna sees ghosts and reacts to them, so people at school think she's weird and her parents don't understand her odd behavior. Only her father's mother seems to understand Anna, but even she doesn't know about the ghosts. While spending a weekend at her Bubbe's home, Anna encounters the ghost of her father's sister, Ruthie, who died as a child. Ruthie emboldens Anna to fight back against people who have wronged them but also makes Anna realize how precious a gift it is to be alive. Bubbe (and Ruthie) teach Anna how to observe Shabbos and she longs to fully experience her Jewish heritage. Family secrets, bullying at school, grief, and faith are explored in this lyrical novel.

[Holly Wagner]

Wow! What a powerful story about a middle school girl bullied as ‘weird’ because she is reclusive and sees ghosts. Only her Bubbe seems to understand. As it happens, her Aunt also saw ghosts and died at a young age having been tormented by her neighbor. So Bubbe is sympathetic.

The focus of the story is on forgiveness. And it is beautiful. The verse is a perfect fit for the topic. Yet, it seems like the conflict resolution could have been more robust.

Being able to commune with those we have lost and love is powerful enough draw for many characters that they see Anna as being able to help them and therefore, they are willing to let go of their distaste for her and embrace their mourning more directly.

[Jeni Enjaian]

This novel in verse is a beautiful exploration of both grief and not fitting in in situations where it seems like the entire world is against you. The main character can see ghosts and interacts with them. However, because no one else can see these ghosts, they believe that the main character is weird and troubled. This applies to all of the adults in her life, including her own family as well as other kids in school. The grief part comes in when it deals with the long deceased sister of the main character's father who longs to be able to physically hug her mother, the main character’s grandmother. The way that the author beautifully moves through this grief and these different explorations is absolutely astounding. I highly recommend this book.

[Ellen Brandt]

It felt cliche at the beginning: yet another story of a kid who is bullied in school because she is different, and the teachers and the parents don't understand, and wish she would try harder to fit in.
But I am glad I stuck with it.
With help from her grandmother, Anna gains courage to be herself by connecting with her Jewish Heritage and channeling her ancestors, especially the spirit of her dad's little sister.
Once Anna has confidence, she is able to help some former adversaries.
Told in verse, it is a quick read. The celebration of Jewish culture is a needed addition to middle grade literature.

[Liza Wiemer]

Written in free verse poetry, this emotional book is about a girl who can see ghosts, including her aunt who died when she was young. Many important issues are addressed in this book that are relatable to middle school students and older - bullying, antisemitism, feeling like you don't belong, family, and forgiveness. What happens when we die? Does our soul linger on earth to watch over loved ones or to right a wrong? These are just two questions that students might ask. This would make a great book to be read for a child-adult book club.

[Martha Meyer]

Neshama means soul in Hebrew. This book is infused with the joy of Jewish ritual and family, bound up in a story about a girl, Anna, with the ability to see ghosts. Her father punishes her and fears for her because his dead kid sister died due to her similar free spirited ways. The ghost actually inhabiting Anna is a fun plot element and the author uses it to allow us to learn family secrets. Anna also learns to be open and truthful and self-determined and to use her gifts for the good of others. A nice coming of age arc. I love the Jewish joy, and I liked this book a lot.

[Meagan]

Neshama is a wholly unique middle-grade novel in verse that blends heart, heritage, and a touch of the supernatural. The story centers on Anna, a young Jewish girl navigating a complex family dynamic, who, oh by the way, can also see ghosts.

In a short span, the book weaves together themes of grief, bullying, Jewish tradition, and mysticism with surprising depth and emotional clarity. Despite its brevity, it thoughtfully resolves each thread, leaving the reader with a sense of hope and wholeness.

A must-purchase for middle school collections—this one stands out.

[LaVonne Hanlon]

Marcella Pixley's 2026 Sydney Taylor Book Award winner centers around Anna Fleischman, a shayna neshama or "beautiful soul" who sees ghosts in the world around her. Ostracized by classmates and misunderstood by her parents, Anna finds solace with her Bubbe Esther in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where she meets the ghost of her aunt Ruthie, who died as a child. Beautifully told in free verse, Anna's story is both haunting and heartening, and readers will root for her and her family as they try to resolve their differences.

[Karen]

Anna sees ghosts. No really, she sees ghosts. When she dances with them and talks to them, her classmates and teachers are concerned because they do not see ghosts. Anna is an outcast with no friends and always in trouble with her teachers. When she has a chance to spend time with her grandmother, she meets a family ghost and with the help of her grandmother, comes to understand more about her family and heritage. This verse novel will give readers much to contemplate about family and Jewish traditions.

[Tamsyn]

This is a story about a girl, Anna, who is regularly bullied by kids at school and is misunderstood by her father at home because she interacts with the spirits (neshama in Hebrew) around her, which no one else sees. She's very close to her grandmother, with whom she visits for the weekend and observes Shabbat and then encounters the spirit of her aunt, who died in an accident at 11. She is craving contact and to resolve unfinished issues and convinces Anna to help her. Told in verse, this was a sad, interesting, and ultimately uplifting story.

[Laurie Schneider]

I read this beautiful book in great thirsty gulps, not just because verse goes faster than a full page of print, but because my own neshama (soul/breath/spirit) seemed to need it. It's a ghost story, yes, but also a story about feeling and being different, about healing and forgiving our own and others' shortcomings, and about honoring and carrying forward our ancestors' hopes. And it's done with verse that's nimble and heart piercing.

[Cassie Stever]

Rowynn picked this book at the library for her to read at and upon bringing it home and reading the synopsis myself, I was intrigued. It’s written in prose style, so it was a quick read, but it was beautiful throughout! Kids books are so good sometimes! It explores patterns of generational trauma and complicated family dynamics, which was something that’s been on my mind lately, so I thought it interesting that Rowynn picked it out unprompted. Really enjoyed it.

[Lisa Bernstein]

This is a middle grade novel told in verse. I loved that it involved Jewish tradition as well as a girl who sees ghosts! It depicts Anna as an odd child who has no friends because she sees and interacts with ghosts. Even her parents, particularly her father, are not supportive. Only her Bubbe seems to love her unconditionally. Anna ends up teaching everyone, alive and dead, lessons about mourning, understanding, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

[Arielle]

This is a sweet YA book with a Jewish lens. As a kid growing up, I didn’t see my community represented in many YA stories (other than Holocaust books).

Overall, it’s a lesson on kindness in the face of difference. I was worried the story was going to force Anna to apologize when she wasn’t in the wrong. Her father was unnecessarily harsh and cruel to her. But the book took a turn and allowed Anna to stand up for herself while also having empathy for other’s pain.

[Elly Swartz]

I had the privilege of getting an early read of this book. I loved it!

This book will steal your heart and open your soul. Neshama by Marcella Pixley is a beautiful homage to the lessons our ancestors, the power of prayer, the transcendence of forgiveness, and the freedom that comes from being uniquely you. I loved every word!

[Rachel]

An increasing number of novels for tweens are being written as prose poetry. When used properly, it can add mood and meaning to a story. That is true for Marcella Pixley’s sweet and moving “Neshama” (Candlewick Press). Anna is an unusual tween: she sees and can speak to ghosts.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...