Als geen ander

by Una LaMarche

Een eerste liefde raakt je altijd tot in de kern van je wezen. Maar alleen de meest wezenlijke liefde verandert je leven voor altijd.
Devorah is een lief meisje dat nooit is afgeweken van haar strenge chassidische opvoeding. Jaxon is een grappige en slimme nerd die zich nooit gemakkelijk heeft gevoeld in de buurt van meisjes. Ze hebben hun hele leven doorgebracht in Brooklyn aan weerszijden van dezelfde straat. Hun paden hebben elkaar nooit eerder gekruist... Tijdens een orkaan stranden ze samen in een lift, waar het lot ze geen andere keuze laat dan een verbinding aan te gaan. Hoewel hun relatie ten strengste verboden is, spreken Devorah en Jax in het geheim met elkaar af en riskeren ze alles om samen te kunnen zijn. Maar hoe ver kunnen ze gaan?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Coming Of Age

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 24, 2014

About the author

Una LaMarche is a writer and amateur Melrose Place historian who lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, her son, and her hoard of vintage Sassy magazines. Una used to be a fancy magazine and newspaper editor before she had a baby and started writing from home, sometimes pantsless, for a living. Her first novel, Five Summers, is being released from Razorbill in May, and she’s currently in development on a second. She also writes for The New York Observer (of which she is a former managing editor), The Huffington Post, Vegas Seven, NickMom, and Aiming Low. Una continues to blog at The Sassy Curmudgeon, which she started in 2006 as a way to bring shame to her family. You can find her on Twitter under the handle @sassycurmudgeon. (If she’s not there, she’s probably trolling the internet for celebrity blind items or bulk candy.)

Reviews

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Queen Ella Bee Reads

BEFORE we get started...
I think I should clarify what I'm going to cover in this review with a list.

1. The Jewish Stuff: I went to Jewish Private School for 14 years, did a gap year at a midrasha (all-girl's school for Jewish studies) in Israel, and served on the Hillel board at my university for two years. Frum from birth, as Devorah so frankly puts it early on in this story. (Yes, that is a thing and yes, I laughed when I read it.) So, technicalities abound.

2. Everything Else: This book will also be reviewed as I review anything else. This also includes the application of Judaism to the story (i.e. more than just the technical bits).

The Jewish Stuff
There are a lot of things in this book that are dead on. The laws surrounding yichud, yoledet, and tzniut are so spot on I was kvelling. Kosher was explained with ease. There are words and phrases and colloquialisms that are used so well I'd never know Una LaMarche wasn't also frum from birth. The structure of the Jewish community was so familiar it made me cringe because yes of course the Jewish community (no matter how religious) is like a never ending ride on "It's a Small World After All" - which is nice, sometimes, but not nice other times, as Devorah learns in this book.

So yeah, greatness. Except... there's this one law, shomer negiah (men and women cannot touch unless they're very closely related or married) that's not mentioned. It's actually violated, for example, when Devorah's brother-in-law hugs her, which is a no. And it struck me as odd because yichud and yoledet have some similarities with this law and I wasn't sure why it was skipped. (Although, I read an ARC and I'm kinda hoping it's different in the final version... I will do a whole write-up if it is. And, trust me, I really want it to be different in the final. I do.)

Everything Else:
This book starts with Devorah's sister Rose going into labor. They're at the hospital and, of course, the power waits to go out until Devorah's in an elevator with this strange boy, Jaxon. Once stuck, the two talk and quickly find themselves falling for each other. Devorah falls maybe because she's never really been allowed to have anything to do with boys, let alone someone like Jaxon (read: definitely not Jewish). And Jaxon falls maybe because he's a romantic with hormones.

The two leave the hospital but neither can stop thinking about the other - as the dual smooth, dual point of view in the book makes quite clear. Devorah can't stop thinking about this different boy who's come in and shaken up what she knows to be the norm and Jaxon likes how different and beautiful Devorah is. So they sneak around and find each other, but neither of them can keep up the charade for long because, hello, that is reality in parental form calling.

But here's the thing: Jaxon really has nothing beyond the usual at stake in this relationship. Sure, he gets wrapped up in everything, but his parents won't be angry he's seeing a Jewish girl. They're strict and (naturally) get mad at him when he blows of work and class, but they don't have a true bias against Devorah. It's Devorah who's got everything to lose. Her parents can't understand why she'd want to stray from the path she was raised on. They fear and reject the unknown that is Jaxon. And, while I didn't hate this unbalance, I feel like I wish Jaxon's situation had been a bit more precarious - if only so he could understand why all the risks he took to get close to Devorah only make their relationship even more impossible. (I did love all the parental involvement, though. I love present parents in YA.)

But, no matter how much I could have left Jaxon, I just want to taketaketake more of Devorah. Her struggles so hit home with me. Judaism, like every other religion I know, isn't an absolute. There might be a box you can check to denote your general denomination, but it's really more of a sliding scale. I do this, but I don't do that and so on and so forth. What Devorah doesn't realize is that, while her family and community check the box and ignore the scale, the scale is still there and she's allowed to contemplate it (Jaxon is just the extreme of this contemplation).

My only disappointment with Devorah is that, while she explores her options in this book - even beyond Jax - she lets other things go out of her desperation to be with Jax. Things she wouldn't have normally let go of if her parents weren't being difficult. I like, and even enjoy, the fact that she follows her heart and strays from one aspect of her Judaism (the bits with Jax), but you don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater, y'know? (Like that time she breaks shabbat and, indirectly makes her sister do so as well.) But, I guess she's a teen and that's something a teen might do while figuring out what she really wants in the grand scheme of life, so, okay, I'll push my disappointment aside.

Ultimately, this is a story about the struggle for freedom of choice (as every Romeo and Juliet story is). But the choice for each character is different. Of course, Jaxon and Devorah want to choose to be together. That's kind of where it stops for Jax. But Devorah... her struggle for freedom of choice goes deeper. While there are people who choose to live in this very religious, Chabad-Lubavitch world and are perfectly happy with using the laws to create a fulfilling lifestyle for themselves, Devorah isn't. And it's not just because she wants to talk with a boy on the street. She has bigger aspirations than the future she sees for herself in her older sister and, while she doesn't want to abandon or upset her family, she still wants that choice.

Yeah. Okay. I could probably write a dissertation about this book, so I'll stop now. But a quick story first: During my gap year, the girls in my year and I met with this woman who was totally secular but decided to become more religious (she's a ba'alat teshuva, as explained in this well-research novel). She ended up dating as Devorah's sister does and she was perfectly happy. None of the girls in my year could understand it. I didn't either. But I realize now that it's not my place to understand it. It's her place. It's Devorah's place. So, regardless of any of my other thoughts, I have to give Una LaMarche major props for reminding me that the world isn't made up of my values and moral. And even more props for reminding me what it means to be free.

TL;DR?:
This book is great. If you like Romeo and Juliet stories, read it. If you like books with religious facts that are more or less spot on, read it. If you like philosophical books that'll make you think really hard about many things, read it. Basically: just read it.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly liked this book, but ended up being disappointed by the end. It left me with the sense that, despite the dual narration, Jaxon isn't there to have his own story. At the end I felt like his whole character, who I had liked and been invested in, was just a plot device for Devorah's coming-of-age or whatever.

[Talia]

This book was annoying. I grew up in a Lubavitch community, even though my family isn't Hasidic. I frequent Crown Heights. I've spent Shabbat and holidays with my friends in their homes there, gone to concerts and galleries and open mics there, eaten in amazing restaurants there. But would you know any of that exists in Crown Heights from this book? No. Crown Heights is a hub of Jewish creativity, but the impression you get from this book is that it's a glorified prison.

This is a ridiculous portrayal of Hasidic Judaism. How many more of these books are going to be published? I don't get why they're so trendy right now. There are so many inaccuracies, so many stereotypes. This one was at least well-written, unlike THE WORLD OUTSIDE which was horrendous all around, but I can't look past the offensive content.

The evil brother in law? Cliche. The sister turned meek by marriage to said evil brother in law? Cliche. Pushy parents? Cliche. Racist, sexist, paranoid Hasidic Jews? Oh, definitely. There's no such thing as tolerant, accepting, worldly Hasidic Jews. That wouldn't be very interesting, would it?

I long for the day I find a good YA/NA novel about a religious but normal, well-adjusted character that has something interesting about her other than her religion. Sure, it's a defining factor of any devout person's life, but does it always have to be THE defining factor?

I urge you to check out jewinthecity.com for a more nuanced, informed portrayal of Judaism. Please don't read this book and think this is how it is.

[Rowie · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me the greatest love story of all time is not really a love story at all. It's a story about teenage lust and naivity. When I became a teenager myself I started to question if Romeo and Juliet were ever really in love at all. Was it just lust? Love at first sight seems so unbelievable...

But it's Like No Other that made me understand how a person can fall so hard in just a few minutes. In the beginning of the book I believed they had fallen in love. Never did I question why that happened. To Devorah, Jaxon is the opening to a whole new world. He is the prince that unlocks the door to her tower. She's on guard yet floored by love and while they're stuck in an elevator something is set in motion. I like the insight that people who fall head over heels might be looking for more than just love. Perhaps they're looking for a way out, for a new world to explore. One that's filled with acceptance, music and yes, love.

Una LaMarche did her research. It's almost as if she was brought up in a Jewish community herself. I can only applaud the amount of work that must have cost her. I'm not familair with the specific branch of the Jewish religion but after reading this I feel like I've learned a lot. It's really fascinating to read about two completely different worlds, both unfamiliar to me. Devorah's was really well done in terms of immersion, but Jaxon's is also worth noting. I like how she wrote about his awareness of being a minority, from the conversations with his white friend Ryan to feeling like he needs to work hard so people won't view him as a thief only because of his skin color. The foundations for the worlds that LaMarche let us peek into were sublime.

Devorah's world was really fascinating, but as a character I'm not a huge fan of her. She's a little too quick to throw the world she knows (which is everything she knows) overboard. I get the feeling the writer was going for the when you've done one bad thing it just becomes easier and easier to break those habits situation, but in this case it feels fake. What I wanted to see is Devorah try to break the rules at first, but then stop halfway and have a panic attack. She would then pray very hard and lay in bed, crying for forgiveness. Later on she would find the courage to follow her own heart. At least, that's how I would have written it.

For the longest time I thought it was only Devorah's issue that she would throw away her beliefs, motivations and reasoning all of a sudden. But near the end there's other characters who do too. This goes completely against what we've learned in the rest of the book. They've gone to such lengths to change the situation and then all of a sudden they agree to a compromise. I don't feel like the writer takes me seriously as a reader. Nor herself as a writer. It's like she got sorry for her main character so she made up this ending. And the decision that Devorah made before that just made me raise my eyebrow. After that I couldn't care for her anymore.

I do care for Jaxon. He makes a fine prince that goes on the quest to save the damsel in distress. At times he does stupid things, but for his upbringing and character it makes sense (for Devorah it did not). I like his kind and spontaneous nature. Most of the time when he thinks about his crush he's being ridiculous, but that's what a teenage boy falling freely in love is. I like how he outshines other characters by being normal. He's easily my favorite in this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love the way you just know Una LaMarche has completely devoted herself to portraying accurate versions of Jaxon's and Devorah's world. I have a lot of respect for that. Especially the Jewish community must not have been an easy thing to write about and never in the story do you question that part of the book. Then there's Jaxon who's just a blast to read about. He may be as naive as Romeo was, but deep down we all want someone to fight for us the way Jaxon did. But I can't ignore that throughout reading this book I was wondering if the writing style suffered because of the translation (I read this in Dutch). Sometimes I wondered if sentences were grammatically incorrect (happened about three times), but even if they weren't I still thought it wasn't a nice sentence. Overall it's not bad, but there's not the beautiful poetrylike prose I think a beautiful story like this deserves. I felt like this fascinating plot needed a bit more of a literary touch to better carry the story. But in the last half of the book there's a lot of story and character choices I didn't like. The ending being the most obvious one. I think I demand too much of some books. I had such high hopes for this, maybe I set the bar too high.

[Wendy Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars Is this a romance or a coming of age/coming into belief story? Sure, it can be both, but I'm afraid this book ultimately did not convince me of either. Like No Other started out so strong, and I loved the Rainbow Rowell-like narrative voice, as well as the "meet cute" thing and awkward flirting.

Romantically, things move way, way too fast after that for my taste, however. First date, first kiss, first grope...past the first few initial conversations, those didn't feel earned, either through what we saw our what the characters told/showed us. While I totally subscribe to the belief that we can suddenly be inspired to behave in ways we never have before because our eyes have been opened or inspired by another person, it's still hard to believe that a girl this innocent and literally untouched would progress that far that fast. It's hard not to be a tiny bit skeeved by some of Jaxon's behavior as well such as buying her a cell phone, showing up at her house unannounced AFTER TRACING HER IP ADDRESS, etc. etc...okay, so his friend traced it, but he still used the info; though it's all well-meaning, he's such a self-professed odd duck and there are so many obstacles to their relationship and he knows her so little that it's hard not to think that it's a case of "this is the first girl that's interested in me" fixation.

I also wish this story of a Hasidic girl and West Indian boy had talked more seriously about what the coming together of these two faiths meant, though. While we get some really nice scenes in the beginning with Devorah's family, once the sneaking around begins, it becomes a pretty stereotypical romance until it then suddenly becomes something different towards the end--more of what I would've wanted, for sure, except there wasn't nearly enough thought or emotion or even action shown to us. Portraying this branch of Orthodox Judaism is also a very tricky thing, particularly in showing the the more polarizing aspects of these beliefs. I knew about most of the practices going into this book and yet I still had pretty strong reactions to some of them--and I really wish this story had taken the opportunity to show us why these beliefs came to be and why these practices are still observed, both historically and emotionally.

I want nothing more when I read a book like this than to have my heart and mind opened up to ideas and feelings I had never before considered...and unfortunately, despite a few great opening chapters, this one didn't do either. Would definitely try another book by this author, though.

An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review.

[Munro's Kids · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning: Possible spoilers ahead.

I did not finish this book. Regardless, I am rating it one star out of five because what I read just made me so very angry. This book is marketed as a modern-day West Side Story, featuring a romance between a traditional Hasidic Jew (Devorah) and a Caribbean boy (Jaxon) living in New York. The two teenagers become trapped on an elevator together when the power goes out at a local hospital. They instantly connect and can't stop thinking about each other. Devorah is the obedient child in her family who, while she dreams beyond living life as a housewife, is still devoutly religious and committed to her faith and her family. Jaxon is a wacky, awkward, half-cool half-geek who is more of a free spirit.

That all sounds good, but the relationship between the two is frustrating and not believable. The author tries to play Jaxon off as zany and head-over-heels in love, but he comes across as clingy and nearly stalker-ish. He doesn't respect Devorah's family situation at all, and at one point basically forces her to tell him she loves him (keep in mind they had seen each other a total of three times before this happened). When she tells him they should take a break from meetin up because her family is getting suspicious, Jaxon's reply is literally "No." Umm... excuse me?! He then tells her that they need to not only continue to see each other, but they should run away and spend a night together in his friend's cabin. WHAT.

/beginrant
Okay, first of all, you are the only one who should decide if and when you are comfortable with breaking from family tradition or your religion. Do it, don't do it, whatever. But it has to be your choice, not someone else's.
Second, Jaxon's attitude wouldn't bother me so much if he was being portrayed as a negative or conflicting influence on her by not listening to her and telling her what to do instead. BUT THIS BEHAVIOUR IS SUPPOSED TO BE SEEN AS SWEET AND ROMANTIC. Arrrggghhhh!! That bothers me to no end. The author is basically saying, "You know what, you don't need to listen to your partner, because clearly you know best."

And that is why I didn't finish this book.
/endrant

-Kelsey

[Marieke | Marieke's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wauw, wat een boek! Soms kwam ik er een beetje moeilijk door, maar wat een goed verhaal! De hoofdpersonen waren echt ontzettend leuk en hun ontwikkeling vond ik heel speciaal. Vooral Devorah vond ik een sterk karakter hebben. Zij was echt heel erg goed beschreven.

Odette, ik weet dat je deze review waarschijnlijk leest: super bedankt voor het aanraden! Dit boek is inderdaad super goed :) Als jij niet zo enthousiast was, had ik dit boek nooit opgepakt.

[Dreya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this book so much (although I wasn't really satisfied with the ending but a good one anyway). This book also taught me a lot about religion specifically the practice of Hasidic. Still wish that Jaxon and Devorah might end up together even in my dreams.... Urghh!! This book broke my heart :(((

[Kels · Rating 4 out of 5]

She looks back down at me, and I open my mouth to say what I came to say, but she raises a finger to her lips and shakes her head urgently. So I do the only thing I can, the only thing I feel, which is to raise one hand to my heart like I’m about to say the Pledge of Allegiance, only not to any flag but to Devorah. And I just stare up at her and think, I love you I love you I love you.
The light is getting hazy, that soft orangey glow that will soon give way to purple dusk, but it’s bright enough still that I can see her features perfectly crumple, her chin quivering, her eyes folding into little winks. I was a little afraid she’d be angry that I showed up at her house, but I never thought she’d cry. I start to feel awful, until she breaks into the most heartbreaking smile, laughing and crying at the same time, and puts her hand up to her chest, too, so that we’re just standing, staring at each other, knowing we’re both thinking the same thing.

BIG SIGH.

This novel was like no other (sorry, couldn't help it). Una LaMarche can write her ass off and I fell deeply in love with her writing style. So frigging beautiful! I'm so impressed at how well she did the voices of her characters, it's almost like she wrote Devorah's POV and someone else wrote Jaxon's. But there were times where, despite having A+ writing, the story line itself bored me and I found it hard to pick this book up and finish it off (which explains why it took me forever to read). I think what--or should I say who?--really got on my nerves was Jaxon. He was such a lovesick puppy with no restraint--or rationale, for that matter--and his antics wore on me. And yes, there were other flaws too; this isn't a perfect story. Honestly, it isn't even really a unique one, either, but LaMarche adds a flair to it that makes it feel new and bold and refreshing. Her writing is captivating and amazingly emotive, and she gives depth and personality to all of her characters in such a skilled fashion. I especially appreciated her writing a character rooted in such a traditional Hasidic background (a religion I admittedly had little knowledge of) and I feel like after reading this I've come out more knowledgeable in that aspect. And my g-d (inside joke, haha), that ending was damn near perfection! I mean, it wasn't at all what I expected, and it did leave the story feeling slightly unfinished, but it was the perfect (and realistic) ending for Devorah and was so well done.

I debated giving this three stars, but anything less than four just didn't feel right.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dove into Like No Other after Eleanor & Park because I felt like my heart hadn’t quite been ripped out of my chest and I wanted to finish the job.

The story perfectly captures what it is like to be a teenager balancing the religion you were born into with what you know to be true. It also re-enforces the fact that religion largely benefits straight men. The sections where Devorah describes what life is like for Hasidic women reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale. What makes her struggle interesting and true, is that though Devorah can’t stand the more misogynist traditions of her religion, there are certain aspects of it that make sense to her.

Going into the book, I assumed, “There is no way this is going to end well,” and prepared myself to get bummed out by the end. There are some really intense scenes between Devorah and her Orthodox brother-in-law, Jacob, but they aren’t so uncomfortable I had to put the book down.

The sense of doom that overshadows the story is made bearable with some wonderful writing and internal monologues that are sombre, sensitive, and humorous. Devorah and Jax argue with themselves more than they do with each other, questioning their motives, actions, and what they hope to achieve. They both know their situation is hopeless but they charge ahead hoping the meaning of their internal struggles will reveal themselves in the end. And they do.

I loved how the author kept using Rucha, the girl who is expelled from her community, as a compass for Devorah’s decisions. I also loved how the opening anecdote keeps resurfacing until it’s secret is finally revealed in the closing chapters of the book.

I was really impressed with how the author created two distinct and authentic voices (authentic to me at least) for Devorah and Jax. I knew nothing about the author before I read the book and kept wondering if she was Hasidic or African American since she seemed to be speaking from personal experience. One of my best friends in high school was East Indian, and much of Jax’s narrative reminded me our conversations about subtle forms of racism.

If I had a teenage daughter, I would recommend Like No Other to her. Definitely a mature book for mature readers. The subject matter might be controversial for some households, but it’s well-researched and doesn’t go out of its way to condemn religion. Adults will enjoy it too.

If you liked this book, you might also like Sag Harbor.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leslie Odom Jr.'s narration is a saving grace in this audiobook. The star-crossed teen romance was too much for me, but maybe I am just old and bitter now.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

”I run all the way home, half a mile, my feet barely touching the pavement, my heartbeat flooding my ears again and again like a bass line that sings. Devorah, Devorah, Devorah.”

Somebody’s been watching too much West Side Story, apparently!!!



Jaxon and Devorah were never supposed to meet. Nice Jewish Hasidic girls don’t mingle with outsiders, especially when said outsider is a young, black teenager. But that’s exactly what happens when Devorah gets stuck in an elevator during a freak hurricane while visiting her sister and newborn niece. Jaxon happens to be in said elevator along with her, and try as she might, sparks begin to fly. But since Hasidic Jews aren’t meant to even talk to outsiders, let alone fall in love with them, their relationship is strictly forbidden.

”I do want a fairy-tale ending to my story. But I know that if the boy in my story is Jaxon, I’m never going to get it.”

But when have cultural differences let young lovers stand in the way of what they want? Not if these two have any say in the matter.

Like No Other is basically West Side Story.

No, not just basically; it is.

There just isn’t any other way to put it. Being a fan of West Side Story, it was fun to basically read a retelling of it set in modern New York. I mean, when you have a line like the one at the beginning of this review, how can you not compare the two? Not that that’s a bad thing. However, I would consider this a much more mediocre version of the classic musical and movie. It wasn’t bad, but it was nowhere near what I expected it to be.

I liked how the author not only explored the concept of racial identity, but spiritual identity as well. I think authors (and people in general) tend to forget or won’t acknowledge that teenagers can have a spiritual life as well. It’s something I rarely see in YA fiction, so it was refreshing to see. We have Jaxon made all too aware of his racial identity, even in such a diverse place as New York.

”It’s funny; I forget sometimes how I might look to other people. I could be reading The Great Gatsby on the 2 train, or walking down the street listening to a podcast on my phone, or coming out of my orthodontist’s office with Invisilign braces feeling like the biggest nerd on the planet, but some people don’t notice anything but an almost-six-foot-tall black man. After Trayvon Martin got shot in Florida, Mom wouldn’t let me wear a hoodie for six months.”

And we have Devorah, the consummate Hasidic ‘good girl’ who attends synagogue, follows tradition, and is unfailingly obedient.

”The life of a good girl, of a doting wife and mother, is a cloudless blue sky stretching across a flat horizon. And as it rages outside I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be in the eye of the storm.”

Jaxon was sweet, sarcastic and had killer one-liners, though I thought he acted too much with his heart and not with his head. Devorah was also fun to read about, especially her spiritual crisis and coming to realize that maybe her religion isn’t all it was made out to be.

The main problem I had with it was, ironically, the romance (and some of the Jewish aspects, which I discuss more below). When Devorah and Jaxon fall, they fall hard and fast.

”I know my father says that only G-d can know when two souls are meant to be together, but my feelings for Jaxon have developed into something deep and profound that I don’t know what else it could be but fate.”

And yet despite that, and all their interactions, I couldn’t connect with them as a couple. Their romance felt very flat to me, for some reason. I don’t know if it was at the speed they were taking things, or if I didn’t think that they were a good fit as a couple. Or maybe I knew they were doomed from the start. Either way, I wasn’t rooting for them the way I rooted for Maria and Tony. I was more rooting for Devorah to escape her family and start new, to be perfectly honest.

As far as the Jewish aspects go, I know absolute didely-squat about Hasidic Judaism. I have one Jewish relative, but she doesn’t belong to that branch of Judaism. So I’m at a total loss if someone asks me whether or not this book accurately or positively represents Hasidic Jews. I’m going to assume it does, but I can’t say for certain. From what I read, it did seem that the author did her research, and I was able to look up some of the characteristics and facts I read about them in the book and verify that they were in fact accurate. It was nice to read about a faith different than my own. I can’t say that the portrayal was in a positive light, however.She made them out to be pretty much ‘evil Jews’, so to speak. Women are oppressed and basically Play-Dough in the hands of the more superior Jewish men in the community, with them having the leave school and be subjected to arranged marriages.

”Forget that my grades are better than either of my older brothers’ ever were. Forget that I study English and math and science, much more well-rounded than their almost entirely religious education. It is simply expected that my education will end when I am married.”

I’m not entirely sure if this is how it is in the real world, but I certainly hope the author didn’t embellish the potentially negative aspects to make for a more dramatic story. Particularly in the instance of Jacob, Devorah’s brother-in-law, who was the absolute worst character in the book. The worst part was, the author portrayed all the Hasidic Jewish men like this. And I’m not sure that was a good thing.

If you like forbidden romance books, this might be one to add to your collection. And if you like West Side Story, you might want to check it out. However for me, this book, while strong in exploring racial and spiritual identities, fell flat on the romance and portrayed Hasidic Jews in a questionable and disturbing light.

As for me, I’ll just stick to the musical (and movie!)

[Yael · Rating 1 out of 5]

When you are writing about a community that is not well understood, when you are writing about a character that is wildly different from yourself in terms of race, religion, or creed, when you are a speaking with a voice that is not often represented, you have an ethical and moral responsibility to do so accurately, fairly, and respectfully. 

The author doesn't just fail to do this. She doesn't even attempt it. 

I saw several reviews comment on the many inaccuracies in the book, so I won't repeat them all, and will just encourage everyone to take a look at the 1 and 2 star reviews. (But I will personally shout out my favorite errors, which include calling shabbat day a time for cold lunch and homework, the use of Mom and Dad and all the other odd name choices, and the absence of shomer negiah but the weird obsession on yichud-- which certainly does not apply to siblings. Oh and the whole thinking New Square is a Lubavitch community, that too.) 

The details matter, and the constant errors are frustrating. But what is worse to me is how these details add up to depict a severe community lacking in any kind of warmth, joy, or fellowship. All chasidim, with the exception of two of her sisters, are depicted as cold, callous, and controlling. This begins with the bizarre scene in the beginning when Devorah's mother must sneak away from her husband to express her joy at the birth of a girl (huh!?), and continues through the totally unrealistic scene in which they trick Devorah into going on a shidduch date at 16.
 
The most grievous-- and unforgivable-- errors come at the end of the book, when Devorah and Jaxon's attempts to run away together are thwarted by the "shomrim," a Jewish volunteer patrol. Though in real life Shomrim serve a real need in the community, here they are depicted as corrupt and violent. Across, the board, the chasidim (especially the ones who are in leadership roles), are all presented as cruel, violent, racist, and all around evil. 

Why did the author think it was okay to paint an entire group of people this way?

Why did she think it was okay to have the non-Jewish character reflect "I don't feel that safe in a sea of black fedoras, even if we're on a commuter train in broad daylight." 

Why did she think it was okay for him to refer to Devorah's neighborhood as "chabadland."

Were the narratives reversed, we all know it would not be okay for a character to express that discomfort about being in a black community, or to have a mocking name for a black neighborhood. That would be 100% racist and unacceptable. In this case, it is 100% antisemitic and unacceptable. 

Perhaps if I read this book another time, not on a week when there were 9 antisemitic atacks in NYC, I would be able to just roll my eyes and move on. But right now I can't. This book is hurtful and irresponsible. 

Chasidic women are smart, accomplished, and complicated. They do have incredible stories to tell. This wasn't one of them. 

[Marie the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and sad love story a la West side story! I did not like the ending though, but I get it:)

[Femke]

Waarschijnlijk 7/10 (ik denk dat ik ga afronden naar 4 sterren, not sure, maar recensie volgt)

[Fadilah · Rating 5 out of 5]

soooooooooo good even 4 years later

[Saar The Book owl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the Dutch translation of Like No Other.
I didn't know very much about being Hasidic, so it was interesting to read about this religion, but since I don't know anything about it, I won't go into what is true about the Jewish religion and what is not.
About the story:
Most of the part couldn't touch me. I can understand the feelings that comes with a first love, but it was as if Jaxon was just blinded by it and that he couldn't or wouldn't see in what position he brought Devorah in. Sure, it was all exiting and new, but there were also consequences involved. I felt sorry for Devorah for what position Jaxon put her in, but also for the mess she puts herself in.
But, it doesn't has to be so negative: I loved the last chapters. Because of what Devorah had to go through wit Jaxon and the consequents it had, she learned to stood up for herself and what she wants, with not losing her faith in her religion.
The last chapters makes it up after the blindness of first love.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this book (especially the two amazing Broadway actors who read the audiobook; I cared a lot about both protagonists), but the author's portrayal of the Hasidic community in Crown Heights felt well researched rather than well thought through. They were like... Alternatively respected and caricatured? I don't think that was the intent, at all, but it's how it felt to me.
CN: violence (many against one), forced religious counseling / 'rehabilitation', attempted coerced marriage, racism, high school bullying, difficult and premature childbirth, being trapped in an elevator

[Hadley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it unentertaining. And there would be no point to read it again.

[Emily]

Like No Other appears to be a book based on clear, solid divides. Jaxon’s ancestors are West Indian; Devorah’s mostly-covered skin is pale. Jaxon comes from an average happy family; Devorah has been raised with restrictive regulations. Even the setting physically separates these characters, placing a street between them and confining them to their own neighborhoods—and that is not the only thing keeping them apart. Devorah and Jaxon can never be together; their cultures are simply too different and the rules of Devorah’s religion are too restraining. However, while this book’s premise may be based on a strict dichotomy of cultures and a strict set of religious guidelines, its story is all about the gray space between the groups and the rules.

Raised in a Hasidic family that keeps her from watching television, going out without a long skirt and tights, and most of all having any romantic feelings before an arranged marriage, Devorah thinks she knows the difference between right and wrong. However, in Like No Other, she begins to question the truths that have been instilled in her for her whole life, learning that being a good person is not as black and white as she thought. I loved watching her moral grappling as she debates whether or not to pursue her relationship with Jaxon and questions each lie she tells her parents. Devorah’s decision to finally consider that there might be some room for deviation in the laws she knows so well causes her to grow immensely. Most importantly, her conflict poses a question—what is morality, and how strict should its rules be?

Devorah does not denounce her religion completely after meeting Jaxon, though, which creates another mass of unclear questions in her life. Not only does Like No Other raise questions about morality in general, but it encourages readers to consider Hasidism in particular. Despite sharing her growing dread at the life her religion ensures, Devorah admits that she loves several things about her culture, saying her family is everything to her and clutching to religious traditions and beliefs as much as she can. LaMarche creates a vibrant and educational picture of the religion, both the good and the bad, and lets her protagonist discover the extent of her faith and decide which aspects she agrees with. As someone who could never be part of a culture with as little freedom as Hasidism offers, I could not help mentally urging Devorah to make the decision I would make in her position—Go! Go! Get out while you have the chance and find a way to somehow go to college and make a life for yourself that does not include marriage and babies at 18!—but more than that, I enjoyed watching with fascination as Devorah decides whether or not Hasidism is right—or what parts of it are right—for her.

Most of all, LaMarche explores the bridging of cultures. Her characters repeatedly reference race and culture-related stereotypes, from society’s assumptions about people of Jaxon’s skin color to Hasids’ scorning of “goys,” people outside their religion. However, neither Devorah nor Jaxon fits neatly into his or her stereotype, and they spend much of the novel sampling each other’s lifestyles. Obviously, Devorah tests Jaxon’s culture by breaking her rules against romance. Jaxon also looks into Devorah’s life in smaller ways like like planning a Shabbat date that does not require any of the activities that Hasidism forbids its members to complete on Saturdays. Not only does their willingness to experience each other’s cultures strengthen their own relationship, but proves that culture divides in general are not impossible to overcome.

I have not even come close to capturing this book’s captivating complexity, but as much as I would love to ramble about the rest of this book’s facets, I will stop myself here for fear of spoilers or an excessively long review. Through complicated relationships and knotted thoughts about their own beliefs, both Devorah and Jaxon grow into new, more mature and self-aware people, creating a stunning tale about shaping yourself and your future. Like No Other is at once about staying true to yourself and exploring new ideas, finding love and learning when to let it go. It is a book that any fan of love stories, multicultural tales, or novels about the shaping of self needs to read and one I will continue to recommend long into the future.

This review originally appeared at www.litup-review.com.

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on: Rather Be Reading Blog

This is the thing about forbidden love. We root for it to work, iron out its creases and prosper so we can believe in the impossible too.

Even though Devorah and Jaxon’s connection is a bit instantaneous, I was immediately hooked by their intersecting stories, hoping they could get their happily ever after. In alternating chapters, we learn of Devorah’s devotion to her Hasidic upbringing and the immense love she feels for her family while we see Jaxon work his tail off to obtain the higher education his father never had, and goofing off with his friends. Despite living so closely to each other in a neighborhood in Brooklyn, Devorah and Jaxon are worlds apart until they meet in a hospital elevator during a storm.

Devorah is not allowed to be alone with a male who is not a family member but in this elevator she has no other choice to converse with Jaxon and it comes so easily. She’s straightforward and honest, and he’s a dorky kind of charming and sweet. Pretty quickly, the two realize they have found someone in one another they haven’t found before and, in the time ahead, are willing to risk quite a bit to see what this chance meeting could mean for the both of them.

While Devorah is known to be a goodie-two-shoes, she’s already begun to question her male-dominated religion, watching her older sister (who she always idolized) grow more and more submissive in her marriage to the overpowering Jacob. Unlike her sister, Devorah isn’t sure she wants to be a mother at 18 and dreams about the possibility of college instead. Why does everyone in her family have to live life the same way? Can happiness and acceptance be achieved if she chose another path?

You would think Like No Other was a thriller because I was on the edge of my couch, wondering what was going to happen to Devorah and Jaxon. I’ve been 16 before. I know there’s only so much that I could get away with before I got caught, and these two were pulling out the stops. It broke my heart but Jaxon so earnestly believed they could work through these differences, and make their families understand how real their feelings were for each other. It’s true that Jaxon may be one of my top YA male characters; he is just such a good guy and it’s not surprising either because his family, while strict, is supportive and wonderful. (His mother made me cry.)

In ways, Like No Other felt like a love letter to the diversity of New York City. There are so many of us from different backgrounds, religions, towns, and families constantly jumbled together on the busy streets or crowded subways, hitting the same coffee shops and working at the same office buildings. Most of the time we walk by each other without even acknowledging the other or truly learning about them. But we manage to coexist. Devorah and Jaxon are just two pieces of the puzzle, but I loved how Jaxon took the time to learn about her traditions and took them into account and I adored how much of their love blossomed all over New York City.

While I enjoyed reading Five Summers last year, Una LaMarche has catapulted herself into my “must buy” category with Like No Other. The intricacy of her research, the authentic look at young love, and testing her characters in a way that will make them braver, stronger human beings? It’s so impressive. Yes, young love is about romance and sex and chemistry but it’s also about self-discovery and LaMarche hits that nail on the head.

I rarely sit in one place and read in a book in a single day but I couldn’t get anything done until I finished this one. (Seriously, I was gasping, yelling, crying, and swooning!) Like No Other is one of those books that makes me proud to be a young adult lit fan.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, really. The writing and characterization were strong; my problem was that I just didn't buy that these two characters would fall in love so quickly.

If I put that aside, though, then I really enjoyed the themes and conflicts. Devorah's struggle to reconcile her individuality, and her desire for freedom, with the faith and culture she was raised in, is very compelling and relatable. It would be easy to paint the Hasidic world as backwards and repressive, but I think the author does a good job of showing the positives in a way that allows modern readers to understand, even if they might not agree.

I appreciated that the ending was realistic, given the situation, and I liked that the parents of both Devorah and Jaxon were good people and involved in the story.

The dual narration structure worked well, because Devorah and Jaxon's voices were distinct, and though I had a couple moments of doubt inside Jaxon's head, they were minor and infrequent. The story was slightly more weighted in Devorah's direction anyway.

[Charlotte (readwithchar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book told from multiple character POVs ✔

[Janice · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an utter disappointment. At first, it was cute and interesting, but it just ended up nowhere. It was interesting to learn a little something of Hasidic Jews, but the book itself was just ekraiefjdkla

Jaxon just got more annoying, his character was clingy and just a bother. Devorah's character almost seemed to be going somewhere, but as the book ended, it was obvious nothing big was going to happen, it was a disappointment. It was as if the author was trying to reach a goal in writing the conclusions, but ultimately failed.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niet makkelijk om te beoordelen.. Ik heb er lang over gedaan, maar ben wel van de karakters gaan houden

[Jen (Pop! Goes The Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you find this review helpful? Find more of my reviews at Pop! Goes The Reader!

“Where do I begin? I’m here because the night of the hurricane, my parents were just three miles from here, sitting around my Aunt Varda’s kitchen table having instant coffee instead of sitting in the waiting room of Interfaith Medical Centre. I’m here because I got thirsty, and the stairs seemed like too much work. I’m here because I let myself talk to a stranger, whose kind eyes managed to light a flame in a heart I had always just assumed was fireproof. I’m here because once I questioned why I wasn’t allowed to be with Jaxon, I started to question everything.”

When her elder sister Rose’s water broke two months before her due date, plunging their entire family into chaos, sixteen-year-old Devorah Blum thought her biggest concern would be having to coach her sister through the birth with only the help of her intractable, pious brother-in-law, Jacob, for support. Instead, what begins as an innocent trip to the hospital cafeteria during a storm of biblical proportions will soon become a pivotal moment that promises to change the course of Devorah’s life forever. When the power suddenly goes out, Devorah finds herself unexpectedly trapped alone in the elevator with Jaxon ‘Jax’ Hunte, an awkward, shy, but handsome boy who had accompanied his friend to the hospital after a skateboard trick gone awry. While a clear violation of yichud, a Jewish law which prohibits an unmarried man and woman from being alone together in order to prevent the temptation to sin, Devorah expects this to be nothing more than a unavoidable blip on an otherwise staid, unblemished life of devotion and proper behaviour. Devorah tries her best to remain silent, having been taught that God is always watching, but she can’t help but be charmed by Jaxon’s bashful attempts to soothe her nerves and make her feel comfortable in an undoubtedly scary situation. Despite a world of differences between them, Devorah and Jaxon soon find themselves talking in earnest and begin grappling with feelings they can neither help nor ignore. Devorah worries about transitioning from frum to frei in the blink of an eye but, desperate to see one another again, the two begin to navigate the many obstacles that threaten to separate them. In doing so, Devorah and Jaxon embark on a relationship that will call their families, their friendships, their faith, and even their very futures into question in a modern love story of star-crossed lovers and self-discovery in which worlds, beliefs and hearts collide.

“She stands up and takes a step toward me, and as the light filters down through the hole above us, like artificial light on a movie set, I can really see her eyes for the first time, big and grey flecked with shimmering hints of sky blue, like someone bottled that moment when Dorothy steps out of her black-and-white farmhouse and into Oz.
That’s the moment I know I’m in trouble.”

“This book is so much more than a love story.” This was my first, last, and most prevalent thought while I devoured Una LaMarche’s Like No Other in a single sitting. That isn’t to say that there is anything wrong or lesser-than about a romance. In fact, statistically speaking I’m 85% more likely to read a novel that involves kissing and declarations of love in some form. Trust me. I’ve checked. That said, I might not have heard of this novel at all were it not for my friends at Penguin Canada, who pitched this novel in an email back in March as the perfect choice for those searching for diversity and a story that would challenge their preconceptions and open their minds to a world previously unknown to them. This novel undoubtedly does both. Marketed predominantly as a modern day re-telling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Ernest Lehman’s West Side Story, Like No Other is a beautiful, empowering, uplifting story in which young love provides the catalyst for a greater message about forging one’s own path and being true to oneself, even in the face of overwhelming opposition.

“…Something about this year feels very different. Suddenly nothing quite fits – and not just my billowy white school blouse, which is straining at the bust for the first time under my thick navy vest. I feel an unrest creeping in, that expanding, unknown universe straining against the confines of my consciousness. And it’s paralyzing.”

Like the thick, woollen tights she must wear even in the heat of the summer, sixteen-year-old Devorah Blum chafes against the restrictions placed against her by her strict Hasidic faith and the resultant lack of personal agency this creates in her life. For years she has been told about the fine match she will make because of her beautiful face and obedient nature. So obedient, in fact, that Devorah’s best friend, Shoshana, has begun to joke that Devorah should change her initials to ‘FFB’ or ‘Frum From Birth’. But what if Devorah wants more, to venture outside of the claustrophobic confines of the small community she has always inhabited but never questioned until a single boy brought everything into stark relief? Faced with a future that is anything but desirable that involves matrimony at the age of eighteen followed by children soon afterward, Devorah experiences the first stirrings of rebellion as she begins to explore her feelings for Jaxon. Having been taught never to trust ‘outsiders’, Devorah’s continued contact with Jaxon is in direct conflict with everything she has been taught. Of the two characters, Devorah is the one I could most closely identify and empathize with. Her academic achievement. Her strict adherence to rule following. Her desperate desire to seek the approval of authority figures. Devorah is at war within herself, her feelings for Jaxon, and by extension her desire for freedom, in conflict with her familial devotion and tradition. For Jaxon Hunte, the consequences of his relationship with Devorah are far less dire, although his character is no less charismatic and compelling. A boy of West Indian descent who aspires to attend college and achieve all that his parents have not, Jaxon’s conflict with his peers, his racial identity and how the latter effected his relationship with those around him, was authentic and well rendered.

“I’ve never felt adrenaline like this before, never felt the air fill my lungs so sweetly or the sun bathe my skin so gloriously. I run all the way home, half a mile, my feet barely touching the pavement, my heartbeat flooding my ears again and again like a bass line that sings, Devorah, Devorah, Devorah.”

Given its comparison to other tragic love stories featuring star-crossed lovers, such as Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, it isn’t difficult to discern the intended end for Devorah and Jaxon’s whirlwind romance. LaMarche perfectly captures the heady rush of feeling typified by first crushes and young love. The possibility. The excitement. The desperation. Despite one’s immediate sense that the relationship is doomed from the outset, the author’s intimate portrayal of Devorah and Jaxon’s growing feelings for one another, helped in large part by LaMarche’s masterful use of a dual, first-person narration from the perspective of both characters, makes this relationship a tumultuous thrill ride that the reader can’t help but invest in. It’s romantic and sweet, exhilarating and potentially dangerous, particularly for Devorah, for whom discovery could mean the loss of the meagre ounce of freedom and trust she had once enjoyed. The constant threat of discovery and the forbidden nature of their relationship make their story all the more captivating.

“When Jaxon kissed me on that bridge I felt like the world was limitless, spinning out to infinity in all directions, making anything seem possible. Now three days later I feel like the world could fit inside that ugly MOMA hourglass that Rose keeps on her bedside table, and I’m drowning in the sands.”

Despite the growing call for diversity in books aimed at the young adult audience, I think there’s a natural fear amongst authors that they will be accused of misappropriating or misrepresenting a cultural, race, or religion that is not their own. While this is concern is both understandable and justified given that stereotypical, two-dimensional portrayals of minorities are not uncommon no matter what the genre or intended target audience, this is not a charge that could be levelled at LaMarche, whose construction and examination of Devorah’s faith is handled with grace and sensitivity. While my experience with the Hasidic religion is non-existent and I cannot speak to the strict veracity of the author’s portrayal, it is glaringly obvious that a great deal of time, care and research went into the study of a form of worship of which relatively little is known given the insular and private nature of its worshipers. That said, given my complete ignorance on the subject, it was fascinating to be given an opportunity to learn more about it. From concepts such as tz’ni’ut, an adherence to modest dress to avoid drawing attention to oneself, to yoledet and niddah, periods during which a woman is considered ‘unclean’, either during her menstrual cycle or childbirth, and is prohibited from all physical contact with their significant other, LaMarche’s meticulous attention to detail should be applauded and held up as the standard to which other such novels aspire. Admittedly, I struggled to understand the implied, apparent preference of males, who are allowed, and even encouraged, to become scholars, and the resultant subjugation of women, who are expected to relinquish a desire for higher education and become married and begin a family of their own instead. That said, this challenged me to open my mind and accept that while this might not be the behaviour to which I’ve become accustomed, having been raised in a socially liberal, feminist household, this novel is not about what I find to be ‘acceptable’. While it should be common sense and self-evident, the notion that what’s right for one person might not be right for another (and vice versa), bears repeating. Although Devorah clearly chafes against the restrictions placed against her by a strict adherence to the Chabad-Lubavitch teachings, other members of her family, such as her mother, her father, and her sister Rose, are all portrayed as happy, functioning adults who feel that this method of worship allows them a sense of harmony and a closer communion with God. LaMarche provides an all-encompassing perspective, from the intolerant, religious zealot antagonist to those interested in challenging the accepted notions of piety and rebelling against the status quo. In this and a number of other respects, Like No Other forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and approach the subject of religion from an entirely new perspective. I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity to broaden my horizons in a novel that will challenge young readers to confront issues of multicultural relationships, personal autonomy, religious restriction and forging one’s own future.

“The books packed in all around us are full of stories of people who made decisions that changed history. Of course, not all of them ended well. But luckily I don’t have time to dwell on that. I have to go home and get ready to say goodbye to life as I know it.”

Thoughtful, diverse, smart, bittersweet, unsettling, uplifting, and undeniably special, Una LaMarche’s Like No Other encapsulates in a single volume the powerful potential that literature holds to test our preconceptions and redefine our relationship with the world around us. There is no better story than one that challenges and educates, that will inspire personal reflection and impassioned discussion. In her sophomore publication, Una LaMarche has accomplished all of this and more in a compelling, complex narrative about small minds and big dreams, young hearts and old beliefs.

Please Note: All quotations included in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy and therefore might be subject to change.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het verhaal is me tegengevallen, maar het einde is wel fan-tas-tisch.

[ALPHAreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a storm raging across New York, and at a Brooklyn hospital two teenagers from vastly different worlds are about to collide.

Jaxon is sixteen-years-old and currently sitting by his best friend’s bedside, after Ryan attempted to jump a fallen tree branch with his skateboard and got a broken arm in the process.

Devorah is also sixteen, sitting in a waiting room with her pious brother-in-law, Jacob, awaiting the premature birth of her first niece. As the generators power on, Devorah becomes increasingly worried for her eighteen-year-old sister Rose as she goes into labour; their parents are out of town visiting a sick aunt, and it’s down to Devorah to be her sister’s strength.

But when Jaxon and Devorah – two perfect strangers who couldn’t be more opposite – get into the hospital elevator, they have no idea what fate has in store for them. The elevator stops and throws them into darkness – stuck, as the storm outside cuts power to the hospital.

Forced to keep one another company, Devorah only remembers that the boy in the elevator is very tall, and black and she’s breaking ‘yichud’ by even just telling him her name – because her Jewish religious law says she cannot speak to men outside her family and unchaperoned … never mind that her family really wouldn’t want her talking to someone who is so very secular.

Devorah, Jaxon learns, is a Hasidic Jewish girl who lives practically next-door to him in Brooklyn … except she’s from the Hasidic community of Crown Heights. When he can’t contain his shock at this revelation, and Devorah replies with a snappy; “What? We all look the same to you?” he feels himself falling harder and faster for this girl than he ever has in his not-so-illustrious romantic history.

And even though the two of them part ways after an elevator rescue – they both conspire to meet again, each intrigued by the other and consumed by the need to see where their attraction may lead …

‘Like No Other’ is the new contemporary young adult novel from American author Una LaMarche.

This book has been on my radar for a while now – after that gorgeous cover came out (illustration by Michael Kirkham) and the story promised some much-needed diversity in YA. I went into this book with extremely high-hopes … and by about 10 pages, I was relieved to discover that each and every one would be met. Because I knew after those 10 pages, that ‘Like No Other’ was going to be a deserving hit.

The story begins on August 28 and ends on September 22 – and in that timespan we get alternate chapters told from both Jaxon and Devorah’s point of view. And even though it’s a relatively small slab of time for these characters, I was surprised that the whirlwind romance they enter into feels no less raw and vivid for being so condensed. Indeed, the page starts igniting with sparks from the moment of Devorah and Jaxon’s fateful meeting;

She stands up and takes a step toward me, and as the light filters down through the hole above us, like artificial moonlight on a movie set, I can really see her eyes for the first time, big and gray flecked with shimmering hints of sky blue, like someone bottled that moment when Dorothy steps out of her black-and-white farmhouse and into Oz.
That’s the moment I know I’m in trouble.

But even though Jaxon and Devorah both tell their sides of the story, make no mistake that the real protagonist of ‘Like No Other’ is Devorah. She’s the one who goes on the bigger hero’s journey, and of the two of them she’s the one who most needs her world shook up, and her foundations rocked by Jaxon.

From our first meeting Devorah, readers will suspect that this is a girl who will not be tamed. Indeed, while reading this book I had many goosebump moments from LaMarche’s words, never more than when Devorah is witnessing the birth of her niece;

I want to stand up and burst into applause – people do it for all kinds of lesser miracles: when a pilot lands a plane, when a pre-schooler bangs tunelessly on a piano; when sweaty men manage to throw a ball into a metal hoop, so why not now? Why not for this miracle? There is life in this room. A new life. And I saw it happen.

Readers will then be surprised to discover that Devorah is considered to be the very definition of ‘frum’ (very pious) by her family and friends; she’s top of her class, respectful, modest and shuns technology and the secular world in a way that even her peers consider extreme (indeed, Devorah’s young brothers hide iPods and magazines). But, after her sister’s marriage and now her pregnancy (and only at the age of 18!) Devorah has to acknowledge that she’s scared of what the next two years will bring – when she’ll have to leave her education behind and her parents will go to the matchmaker to find her a husband. Devorah can quietly admit to herself that she’s not ready for that life, but it’s meeting Jaxon that causes her to start questioning the reasons why…

Back in July I read 'Invisible City' by Julia Dahl, a murder-mystery set inside a Hasidic Jewish community of Brooklyn. From reading that book I was already familiar with a few traditions, and in particular the patriarchal system. Una LaMarche really must be commended for how tenderly she portrays this community and questions it – yes, through the character of Devorah she is critical of many aspects of how this community operates, but she never does so in a disrespectful way. In the acknowledgments LaMarche thanked a group of women – “I dove into ‘Like No Other’ knowing that the book would be doomed if I didn’t give Devorah a real, vibrant inner voice, family life and community, and I am forever indebted to the women who told me their stories so that I could tell hers.” That respect and attention to detail shines in the text, and young readers will be both captivated and forced to question the foundations of the community while still acknowledging Devorah’s deep love and respect for it. A hard balancing-act, but LaMarche does it.

Though Devorah’s is very much the larger character arc (purely for needing the most change in her life) Jaxon is a no less wonderful protagonist. Particularly because LaMarche touches on so many relevant racial tensions in this book; indeed, the horrible events surrounding Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Missouri were playing out while I read the book, and highlighted the importance of continuing to campaign for diverse voices in YA such as LaMarche’s Jaxon:

It’s funny; I forget sometimes how I might look to other people. I could be reading ‘The Great Gatsby’ on the 3 train, or walking down the street listening to a podcast on my phone, or coming out of my orthodontist’s office with Invisalign braces feeling like the biggest nerd on the planet, but some people don’t notice anything but an almost-six-foot-tall black man. After Trayvon Martin got shot in Florida, Mom wouldn’t let me wear a hoodie for six months.

‘Like No Other’ was also a great book for teaching me so much. About the Hasidic Jewish community, of course, but LaMarche also highlights some pertinent historical markers that I never knew about – like the Crown Heights riot of 1991, when tensions between Hasidic Jews and the Crown Heights black community boiled over. This book has been praised for its diversity, and I do think it’s entirely deserving:

“How does it feel to be a minority?” I ask him as we pass a big store called Judaica World.
“Fine,” he says – the only answer that a privileged white kid can give to that question without getting a beat-down.

I loved this book, and it’s going down as one of my favourite of 2014. It’s a tough book, even while cloaked in the very romantic story of Devorah and Jaxon. LaMarche is writing a deeper tale of star-crossed lovers, one that discusses racial and religious tensions, feminism and independence – an absolute triumph for Una LaMarche.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This young adult novel is told from two alternating perspectives. Devorah is a 16 year old girl from a strictly religious Hasidic Jewish family, while Jaxon is a 16 year old boy from a black West Indian family. They live not far from each other in Brooklyn, but normally their paths would never cross - until they both end up trapped in an elevator together in the local hospital in a storm. And this chance meeting just might change both of their lives.

This was sort of a modern day Romeo and Juliet story, about two young people from very different backgrounds who unexpectedly fall from each other. They’re both perhaps a tad melodramatic and naive, but it feels appropriate to their age. I loved though that it wasn’t just about romance but about each of them, especially Devorah, having their own personal journey of growth as well.

I read and loved Una LaMarche’s memoir last year, and decided I wanted to go back and try get YA fiction. I looked up her books on Libby, and saw that the audio of this one was partially narrated by Leslie Odom Jr, and that sold it for me! This book is ten years old, so it’s before her became famous for playing Aaron Burr in Hamilton, but not surprisingly he is a fabulous audiobook narrator. The woman who voices Devorah, Phoebe Strole, is also wonderful with a lovely sweet and emotional voice. Definitely a very enjoyable audio listen.

[Thea Boyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! It was such a page turner, and I loved the way it provided insight into Devorah's Hasidic Jewish culture. That is a culture I know almost nothing about, so it was fascinating to me to learn more about it through this story. The New York City setting was really cool too. The characters were so real and well-crafted and it was easy to love & get invested in their storylines. But...even though this book is dual POV with both Devorah and Jaxon telling sections of the story, I couldn't help but feel that the book is like 90% about Devorah. Jaxon's heritage/culture and family dynamics are explored far less than Devorah's. Devorah has a character arc, Jaxon only kind of does. While I really enjoyed Devorah's story, it frustrated me that Jaxon's story got so much less attention and care. Don't get me wrong--I loved this book, and Jaxon does have somewhat of a storyline--but the book is mostly Devorah's story. I think it should have had more Jaxon, or have just been Devorah's POV.