Nice Jewish Girls

by Julie Merberg

Thirty-six mini biographies of groundbreaking, outspoken, odds-defying Jewish women explore their fascinating lives, as well as the ways in which they were shaped by their heritage.

Probing the lives of historic icons like Anne Frank and Emma Goldman to contemporary heroines such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Janet Yellen the book also provides an overview of modern Jewish history. Subjects ranging from Anna Freud, the founder of psychoanalytic child psychology to fashion mogul Diane von Furstenberg to comedian Sarah Silverman offer a fascinating window into the ways Jewish women have approached their fields and embraced their identities. The captivating stories of luminaries from the worlds of politics, literature, activism, the arts, business, science, and more show how these women—in many cases—overcame the obstacles of being both Jewish and female to make their unique mark, and how being Jewish impacted their journeys.

160 pages, Hardcover

Published September 15, 2021

Reviews

[Rita (RitaReadsTrash) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me remind you, nonfiction does not need to be a hundreds of dense pages brick, to "count." Children's nonfiction is bright, easy to absorb, fast, and a great springboard to deeper research.

That being said, I learned so much from this book. I already knew a lot of the names and faces, but I quickly realized I barely knew them. Like, Diane Von Furstenberg was married to a prince! Dr. Ruth was a sniper! The Wojcicki family is a juggernaut of brilliance.

There is a massive trigger warning for all, of Holocaust atrocities. I know we are all very aware it was not that long ago, but it's easy to forget what that means, as a non-Jewish person. Every story in this book was deeply impacted by it. So, give yourself grace to breathe between stories.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting concept and I enjoyed learning about many individuals I did not know were Jewish. However, the liberal bias in this book detracted, in my opinion, from the very purpose of introducing us to 36 extraordinary and fascinating Jewish women. And for the record, Bella Abzug was head and shoulders above AOC, especially intellectually.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of collective bios for kids, and this one stood out for a couple of reasons. First, although it contains a lot of the usual names you’d expect to find in a collection about Jewish women who left their mark on the world (Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Anne Frank and Gloria Steinem, for instance), Merberg includes biographical details that aren’t as commonly known and that made me feel closer to those subjects.

While some children’s nonfiction books gloss over historical atrocities or offer a shallow and simplistic portrait of their subjects, Merberg goes much deeper. She doesn’t shy away from the Holocaust, the pogroms in Russia and domestic abuse but presents them in a matter-of-fact, kid-accessible way. She also doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that some of these women had complicated relationships with Judaism or may have held opinions that would deemed be problematic by today’s standards. Presenting these nuances help readers can appreciate the subjects in all their complexities. Rucker’s lively illustrations help break up the text and make these women’s personalities jump off the page.

[Jane Hillson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in the children’s section of the library while looking for something to read in my volunteer position at an elementary school. I used to joke around that reading a biography from the young adult section was easier than tackling the voluminous tomes that are available in the non-fiction section of the adult library. I really enjoyed the readability and lightheartedness of this book.

[Paulatics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of Jewish women whose lives are highlighted in brief, but informative bios. There were many I had never heard of before. I originally bought this for my granddaughter’s birthday. But, I decided to keep thus copy for myself as a reference.

[Nora Maya M Kachaturoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helped me understand some liberal points of view that I still find highly objectionable. Time to realize we stand on the shoulders of giants, and to remember the past, but leave victimhood behind.