Penina Levine Is a Hard-boiled Egg

by Rebecca O'Connell, Majella Lue Sue (Illustrator)

Penina Levine has a bossy best friend, a tattletale sister, crazy parents, and a big, fat zero on her school assignment. It was a stupid assignment, completely impossible, totally unfair. She's never going to do it, not ever, and it's no use telling her parents about it. They never listen to her anyway. But Penina's grandmother does. Grandma doesn't think Penina should do the assignment. It's a matter of principle. It's a matter of strength. It's a matter of five thousand years of history, four cups of wine, and a couple dozen hard-boiled eggs.

Genres: Jewish

176 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2007

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penina Levine is unhappy when her teacher in public school requires her to participate in an Easter activity. After a Passover visit to her grandparents, Penina is ready to stand up for her beliefs. While not ideal for a religious audience due to the public school setting and friendship with a boy, this is an impotant story about Jewish identity. Penina's relationship with her younger sister adds humor to the story.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago, loved it, but forgot the title. I was really excited to find this in the library again, and it was still enjoyable to read. I'm also happy to now know there's another book!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when it first came out, and again after reading the sequel (or prequel?) Penina Levine is a Potato Pancake. Although I didn't think this plot was as strong as that one, which I suppose shows growth as a writer, I found the main character sympathetic and engaging, and I think she should appeal to Jewish readers at least, if not to all readers, while providing a good introduction to the Jewish religion and the distinctive issues of contemporary Jewish life. Penina is the only Jewish child in her public school class, and although her family might be a bit more religious than the average American Jewish family, they're likable, and neither parochial nor stereotypical. Books like this can help narrow any cognitive divide between Orthodox Jews and mainstream American children.

I agree with the other two reviewers thus far about some of the weaknesses of the plot, plus the reduced appeal this book might have for the very religious, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it. The two Penina Levine books complement each other and can help build a better understanding of Jewish religion and culture for the unfamiliar. I would like to see a third, and perhaps even fourth Penina Levine book to round out the holiday cycle and perhaps resolve some of Penina's major personal issues.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since All of a Kind Family, I've don't remember reading a book about a Jewish family. Especially a contemporary Jewish family with a pre-teen girl who seem so real and truthful (and boy does Penina get whiny and mad a lot - that's truthful for a middle schooler!) I wish I had known Penina when I was in elementary and middle school.

[Congregation Beth-El Zedeck Library]

A story about a Jewish girl dealing with the real-life issues of being Jewish in a public school where the teacher gives an assignment to write letters from "the Easter Bunny" to Kindergarten students. Appears to be a good discussion of diversity and standing up for yourself. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

[Readersaurus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one. There's a steady narrative with a problem and a conclusion, and the family pulls it together a little better. the illustrations are still a mismatch.