What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unfinished Corner
Twelve-year-old Miriam doesn’t know much about Jewish mythology. She’s not even sure she wants to be Jewish. So, imagine her confusion when a peculiar angel whisks her off to finish the mythological Unfinished Corner, a place full of monsters and mystery.
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD MIRIAM IS FULL OF QUESTIONS, BUT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS COUNTING ON HER FOR ANSWERS.
Jewish mythology has it that when God created the universe, one corner of it was left unfinished. Opinion is divided on why, but everyone agrees that the Unfinished Corner is a dangerous place full of monsters. Twelve-year-old Miriam neither knows nor cares about the Unfinished Corner. She's too busy preparing for her Bat Mitzvah, wrestling with whether she even wants to be Jewish--until a peculiar angel appears, whisking her, her two best friends, and her worst frenemy off to this monstrous land with one mission: finish the Unfinished Corner.
An original graphic novel.
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD MIRIAM IS FULL OF QUESTIONS, BUT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS COUNTING ON HER FOR ANSWERS.
Jewish mythology has it that when God created the universe, one corner of it was left unfinished. Opinion is divided on why, but everyone agrees that the Unfinished Corner is a dangerous place full of monsters. Twelve-year-old Miriam neither knows nor cares about the Unfinished Corner. She's too busy preparing for her Bat Mitzvah, wrestling with whether she even wants to be Jewish--until a peculiar angel appears, whisking her, her two best friends, and her worst frenemy off to this monstrous land with one mission: finish the Unfinished Corner.
An original graphic novel.
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2021
8 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 5, 2022
4.5 but rounding up just because.
This was a really fun read. So many touchstones for Judaic history, mythology, and folklore. There were a few times that the story felt like it jumped ahead rather suddenly. It felt a little jarring. I kept checking for stuck pages. But other than that, I was absolutely in for the ride.
Two things hit close to home. First, there was a moment a few pages in where I realized that the high gates and protestors outside their school didn't register as off until it was pointed out. I have attended my fair share of services behind security gates with armed guard houses. When they first went up in my city, I was despondent. The feeling of isolation compounded with already being Othered is not a fun feeling. However, realizing that I've been desensitized to their appearance over the years was just as upsetting. Second, there was one major tear jerker of a moment. As an individual of the Jewish faith, I too have asked these questions and felt the same bitterness. Funny how quickly tears of frustration can turn soothing. #iykyk
This was a really fun read. So many touchstones for Judaic history, mythology, and folklore. There were a few times that the story felt like it jumped ahead rather suddenly. It felt a little jarring. I kept checking for stuck pages. But other than that, I was absolutely in for the ride.
Two things hit close to home. First, there was a moment a few pages in where I realized that the high gates and protestors outside their school didn't register as off until it was pointed out. I have attended my fair share of services behind security gates with armed guard houses. When they first went up in my city, I was despondent. The feeling of isolation compounded with already being Othered is not a fun feeling. However, realizing that I've been desensitized to their appearance over the years was just as upsetting. Second, there was one major tear jerker of a moment. As an individual of the Jewish faith, I too have asked these questions and felt the same bitterness. Funny how quickly tears of frustration can turn soothing. #iykyk
August 12, 2024
A somewhat uneven fantasy romp of four twelve year old who are tasked with finishing the creation of the universe. Their journey to find the corner is episodic, with certain adventures more fun than others. I thought Avi shouting he would not die because of a translation pun was very humorous. Same with the Lion of Judah stopping mid-flight because of directions. Other times are more tense, like the makeover challenge with Azazel that showcases character growth and plot momentum.
The story is also dark at times, and in some ways it feels like the pacing has to stop to accommodate it. The payoff of the Golem makes the Holocaust references understandable and not overshadow their journey. But other instances don't entwine with the personal motives as well as they should, such as David's immediate hatred of Lilith and blaming her for his sister's death, only to hold hands with her four pages later to finish the corner.
Another thing would be the editor notes being out in the back for later, as they were more of a hindrance than help. Especially the repeated ones like two separate notes for a shofar being blown on Rosh Hashana having two separate notes when "A ram's horn blown on Jewish New Year" would suffice.
Still, this is a great introduction to Jewish mythology for those with no prior knowledge or a lot.
The story is also dark at times, and in some ways it feels like the pacing has to stop to accommodate it. The payoff of the Golem makes the Holocaust references understandable and not overshadow their journey. But other instances don't entwine with the personal motives as well as they should, such as David's immediate hatred of Lilith and blaming her for his sister's death, only to hold hands with her four pages later to finish the corner.
Another thing would be the editor notes being out in the back for later, as they were more of a hindrance than help. Especially the repeated ones like two separate notes for a shofar being blown on Rosh Hashana having two separate notes when "A ram's horn blown on Jewish New Year" would suffice.
Still, this is a great introduction to Jewish mythology for those with no prior knowledge or a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 9, 2022a really fun look into aspects of Judaism, growing up and friendship
November 7, 2022
Let me start by saying that my 9 year old son loved this graphic novel. He also liked that there was Jewish content, but that it wasn’t forced Jewish content.
I don’t agree with him, but it’s important to know what the target audience thinks!
I was a little confused by the book. The graphics and the story telling felt infantile. But it touches on deep subjects and there’s a lot of Jewish content (some of which my son wouldn’t recognize because his Jewish literacy level is different than mine). And it’s important to know that my son wasn’t disturbed by the deep subject/moments. I think kids absorb what they can and don’t notice the rest.
Finally, it kind of felt like the book was trying to do and be too much: be engaging to a younger audience, but attract those with a high Jewish literacy as well, and address serious and in-depth subjects. It doesn’t quite work for me. But 2nd through 4th graders will likely enjoy it.
I don’t agree with him, but it’s important to know what the target audience thinks!
I was a little confused by the book. The graphics and the story telling felt infantile. But it touches on deep subjects and there’s a lot of Jewish content (some of which my son wouldn’t recognize because his Jewish literacy level is different than mine). And it’s important to know that my son wasn’t disturbed by the deep subject/moments. I think kids absorb what they can and don’t notice the rest.
Finally, it kind of felt like the book was trying to do and be too much: be engaging to a younger audience, but attract those with a high Jewish literacy as well, and address serious and in-depth subjects. It doesn’t quite work for me. But 2nd through 4th graders will likely enjoy it.
December 15, 2021
I really liked this! It was refreshing and exciting! There are some points that I can only talk about indirectly.
Jewish Mythology
That's a new one for me. I really have to brush up on what is Jewish mythology, but from what is mentioned in the graphic novel it is stuff that is not strictly in scripture or canon. It sounds like it is gray area or unconfirmed, but this is coming from someone from a Christian perspective. With that said, I have heard of some of the names, but that is about it.
Avi and the (Spoiler)
Avi has this really heartrending part where he is arguing with the (Spoiler). The quote that comes after this part is really touching.
Page 216
This was so cringey for me, but maybe that is the reason for the Unfinished Corner. It was a test and if it was a test then I think Miriam passed it with her quote on page 213: "I don't have an image. Not yet. I have...opportunities. And CHOICES. And amazing friends who are going to help me figure it out. But I can't be another Hashem. I'm still figuring out how to be me."
Page 192
This struck a chord for me. While it was said in terms of a Jewish context, I think this relatable to a lot of people.
Humor
While it did get heavy at times, there was some humor. I loved the bit with the lion!
Jewish Mythology
That's a new one for me. I really have to brush up on what is Jewish mythology, but from what is mentioned in the graphic novel it is stuff that is not strictly in scripture or canon. It sounds like it is gray area or unconfirmed, but this is coming from someone from a Christian perspective. With that said, I have heard of some of the names, but that is about it.
Avi and the (Spoiler)
Avi has this really heartrending part where he is arguing with the (Spoiler). The quote that comes after this part is really touching.
Page 216
This was so cringey for me, but maybe that is the reason for the Unfinished Corner. It was a test and if it was a test then I think Miriam passed it with her quote on page 213: "I don't have an image. Not yet. I have...opportunities. And CHOICES. And amazing friends who are going to help me figure it out. But I can't be another Hashem. I'm still figuring out how to be me."
Page 192
This struck a chord for me. While it was said in terms of a Jewish context, I think this relatable to a lot of people.
Humor
While it did get heavy at times, there was some humor. I loved the bit with the lion!
November 14, 2021
Amazing story and use of dialogue.
Art was pretty great.
Phenomenal book.
Highly recommended if you want a book about Jewish culture and adventure
Art was pretty great.
Phenomenal book.
Highly recommended if you want a book about Jewish culture and adventure
June 23, 2025
So fun and enjoyable. Jewish mythology that’s accessible even to non Jews- and a beautiful story for those who don’t belong in the world and still search for a place to belong. Plus the character Avi reminded me a lot of my own character Benji
November 7, 2021
My daughter and I both loved this charming, beautifully told & illustrated story. Neither of us are familiar with Jewish lore so it was totally new and engrossing material for us (& the author did a fantastic job of subtly folding in definitions & explainers so know-nothings like us could catch up!) Fantastic book ❤️
November 16, 2021
This book was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. As someone who’s family is Jewish but isn’t too familiar with Jewish mythology, this was SUCH an enjoyable read. I can’t wait to make sure my library orders this book—I’m sure glad I preordered it. I’m a huge fan of Vault Comics and I’m sure their Kids/YA imprint is gonna do some great stuff!
January 10, 2023
I had the pleasure of meeting the writer for this comic at a local comic con, and they described "The Unfinished Corner" as "Percy Jackson but with Jewish mythology." Having not read Percy Jackson myself (shame, I know...) I can't judge whether this comparison is accurate, but it's still a very fun graphic novel. It describes aspects of the Jewish religion and mythos that I'd never known existed, and has great artwork, an entertaining story, and great characters.
Miriam is preparing for her Bat Mitzvah, while also trying to tell her friends that she made it into a prestigious art school and that she's struggling with her Jewish identity. On a trip to Washington with three of her classmates, however, they're swept away by a literal angel disguised as a rabbi, who tells Miriam that she has been chosen to finish creating the universe! Apparently, when G-d created the universe, he left one corner unfinished... a corner where demons and monsters dwell. And as Miriam and her friends encounter demons, fallen angels, golems, and other beings, they come to a better understanding of their faith and culture... and realize what finishing the universe actually means.
The art in this series is fantastic! I loved seeing the unique designs of the various creatures -- even the golem, which is usually just depicted as a giant clay figure, is made unique in this book. The colors are warm and vibrant without being oversaturated throughout, and the landscapes are bleak but beautiful in their own way.
The story itself is a lot of fun, and I enjoyed getting to know each character and seeing what drives them on their journey. And I learned quite a bit about Jewish culture, religion, and mythology along the way. The book also takes time to reflect on the troubled history of the Jewish people, the hardships they continue to face, and the fact that history is all too often written by the powerful... and the oppressed are often cruelly maligned even further as a result.
"The Unfinished Corner" is a fantastic graphic novel, and I hope to see more by this author. Perhaps she won't continue this as a series (though I'd love to see more of Miriam and company), but it'll still be fun to see where she goes next.
Miriam is preparing for her Bat Mitzvah, while also trying to tell her friends that she made it into a prestigious art school and that she's struggling with her Jewish identity. On a trip to Washington with three of her classmates, however, they're swept away by a literal angel disguised as a rabbi, who tells Miriam that she has been chosen to finish creating the universe! Apparently, when G-d created the universe, he left one corner unfinished... a corner where demons and monsters dwell. And as Miriam and her friends encounter demons, fallen angels, golems, and other beings, they come to a better understanding of their faith and culture... and realize what finishing the universe actually means.
The art in this series is fantastic! I loved seeing the unique designs of the various creatures -- even the golem, which is usually just depicted as a giant clay figure, is made unique in this book. The colors are warm and vibrant without being oversaturated throughout, and the landscapes are bleak but beautiful in their own way.
The story itself is a lot of fun, and I enjoyed getting to know each character and seeing what drives them on their journey. And I learned quite a bit about Jewish culture, religion, and mythology along the way. The book also takes time to reflect on the troubled history of the Jewish people, the hardships they continue to face, and the fact that history is all too often written by the powerful... and the oppressed are often cruelly maligned even further as a result.
"The Unfinished Corner" is a fantastic graphic novel, and I hope to see more by this author. Perhaps she won't continue this as a series (though I'd love to see more of Miriam and company), but it'll still be fun to see where she goes next.
February 22, 2023
Art - 5 stars
Plot - 3 stars (lost me at the end)
Miriam Feigenbaum de doce años esta a punto de celebrar su Bat Mitzvah, y de ir a la escuela de arte dejando atrás a sus amigos de la escuela Avi y David.
Pero de pronto se ve 'reclutada' en una gran aventura junto a ellos para terminar la "Esquina Inconclusa" de la Creación. Ángeles, demonios, nephilims, y personajes de los mitos y leyendas judías aparecen en medio de paisajes llenos de color.
Al inicio la historia me recordaba por su imaginería colorida a la obra de Madeleine L'Engle "A Wrinkle in Time", pero más que familia es acerca de amigos , respondiendo además a varias preguntas de los chicos acerca de su religión y el mundo , acerca de sus miedos, de lo importante que son las palabras en su mundo, pero... al final me termina perdiendo con ese final en que ciertamente no quiere tener conflictos y ese
¿El poder de la amistad lo puede todo? Aquí el viaje era más interesante que el final, en mi caso.
https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/juda...
Y de paso aprendí un par de cosas de Istahar y de Lilith.(mitos sumerios)
Plot - 3 stars (lost me at the end)
Miriam Feigenbaum de doce años esta a punto de celebrar su Bat Mitzvah, y de ir a la escuela de arte dejando atrás a sus amigos de la escuela Avi y David.
Pero de pronto se ve 'reclutada' en una gran aventura junto a ellos para terminar la "Esquina Inconclusa" de la Creación. Ángeles, demonios, nephilims, y personajes de los mitos y leyendas judías aparecen en medio de paisajes llenos de color.
Al inicio la historia me recordaba por su imaginería colorida a la obra de Madeleine L'Engle "A Wrinkle in Time", pero más que familia es acerca de amigos , respondiendo además a varias preguntas de los chicos acerca de su religión y el mundo , acerca de sus miedos, de lo importante que son las palabras en su mundo, pero... al final me termina perdiendo con ese final en que ciertamente no quiere tener conflictos y ese
¿El poder de la amistad lo puede todo? Aquí el viaje era más interesante que el final, en mi caso.
https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/juda...
Y de paso aprendí un par de cosas de Istahar y de Lilith.(mitos sumerios)
December 12, 2025
This book definitely felt like it was trying to do too much and just couldn’t carry the weight of itself. It’s a friendship story, a journey narrative, and also a deep-cut dive into niche Jewish folklore.
I really, really understand wanting to make a book with Jewish elements, with Jewish characters, and with Jewish themes, but this entire world-building and plot device (Lilith and the unfinished corner) read overly convoluted to me, and also, maybe kinda heretical? Maybe a lot heretical. (Finishing the unfinished corner made Miriam "equal to HaShem." pg. 212) I dunno.
Which is why I really, really wanted to love this. I’m so starved for Jewish graphic novels/fantasy stories—but I just couldn't.
P.s. My one Jewish bone to pick, which always grinds my gears, is the mistranslation of "mitzvah," to "good deed." A mitzvah is not a good deed, but a positive commandment. Some are "good deeds," like giving charity, and honoring your parents, but others, like eating kosher, and wearing tzitit, just aren't. That's a very American Reconstructionist translation, and I hate it. It's wrong, and just wrong.
Ok, I'm all done now.
*Climes off my soapbox.*
P.p.s. While I generally love the tale of the Golem, I'm really not sure how I felt about the Golem Altneuschul scene. Was that supposed to be the voice of God? :-/ Feels heretical, lol.
.
.
TL;DR So, all in all, this was not my cup of tea, but I'm happy others enjoyed this Jewish fantasy. We need more Jewish stories!
2.5 stars.
I really, really understand wanting to make a book with Jewish elements, with Jewish characters, and with Jewish themes, but this entire world-building and plot device (Lilith and the unfinished corner) read overly convoluted to me, and also, maybe kinda heretical? Maybe a lot heretical. (Finishing the unfinished corner made Miriam "equal to HaShem." pg. 212) I dunno.
Which is why I really, really wanted to love this. I’m so starved for Jewish graphic novels/fantasy stories—but I just couldn't.
P.s. My one Jewish bone to pick, which always grinds my gears, is the mistranslation of "mitzvah," to "good deed." A mitzvah is not a good deed, but a positive commandment. Some are "good deeds," like giving charity, and honoring your parents, but others, like eating kosher, and wearing tzitit, just aren't. That's a very American Reconstructionist translation, and I hate it. It's wrong, and just wrong.
Ok, I'm all done now.
*Climes off my soapbox.*
P.p.s. While I generally love the tale of the Golem, I'm really not sure how I felt about the Golem Altneuschul scene. Was that supposed to be the voice of God? :-/ Feels heretical, lol.
.
.
TL;DR So, all in all, this was not my cup of tea, but I'm happy others enjoyed this Jewish fantasy. We need more Jewish stories!
2.5 stars.
December 17, 2022
Being a middle-grade graphic novel, this isn't my normal fare. But I enjoyed it. In my head, I'd sketched out a whole review in which I said how much I liked it while acknowledging that as a non-Jew, I probably had a different experience with it than someone who grew up in the faith. I, for example, liked that the angel and the king of demons were cordial, and I didn't know if this was indicative of the teachings of the Torah or just how the author chose to depict the interaction since it's a children's book. Or that I appreciated the little side-note translations of some of the Yiddish words, but a Jew probably wouldn't need that.
Then, I read a review of the book written by a person who is Jewish that excoriated it, calling it Jewish erasure and commenting that it obviously wasn't written by an own-voice author. And I had to re-evaluate how I feel about the book. Did I relate to it not because they did a good job walking the line of 'for Jews, but accessible to non-Jews,' or did I (as what the book would call a Goy) relate to it because it was written for non-Jews using Jews, the Jewish history and faith as plot-fodder? That's a giant difference.
I don't think I can know the answer to this, but I'm inclined to take the word of the practicing Jew over anyone else. Regardless, I very much liked the art, and, If I take the questionable representation out of the grading matrix (a privilege not everyone has, I acknowledge), I liked the story itself.
Then, I read a review of the book written by a person who is Jewish that excoriated it, calling it Jewish erasure and commenting that it obviously wasn't written by an own-voice author. And I had to re-evaluate how I feel about the book. Did I relate to it not because they did a good job walking the line of 'for Jews, but accessible to non-Jews,' or did I (as what the book would call a Goy) relate to it because it was written for non-Jews using Jews, the Jewish history and faith as plot-fodder? That's a giant difference.
I don't think I can know the answer to this, but I'm inclined to take the word of the practicing Jew over anyone else. Regardless, I very much liked the art, and, If I take the questionable representation out of the grading matrix (a privilege not everyone has, I acknowledge), I liked the story itself.
March 13, 2022
A solid 5 stars based on plot, realistic-feeling characters and development, excellent art, and easy to read panels and layout. Caveat - I'm Catholic, not Jewish, so I'm far from an expert regarding the subject matter from this perspective. It was really cool, though! And I definitely seemed like the authors knew their stuff.
Particular shout-out to the importance of semantics. That was a through-line that I appreciated.
I also loved the fact that the kid who wasn't as seemingly traditionally "devout" as the others was still able to claim her identity as a Jew just as strongly as the other kids were, and had that identity vindicated. That felt really important to me. The several blows against institutionalized sexism (in society in general) was also an excellent touch. The anti-bias themes were handled exceptionally well, without being heavy-handed or feeling out of place.
The book works very well as a stand-alone, but I would read more about the characters, or more works by the creators. I think kids who enjoy action stories and books that take place in magical lands will eat this up. I would suggest it to kids who like Rick Riordan, and if they learn about a common religion in the process, that's all to the better.
Particular shout-out to the importance of semantics. That was a through-line that I appreciated.
I also loved the fact that the kid who wasn't as seemingly traditionally "devout" as the others was still able to claim her identity as a Jew just as strongly as the other kids were, and had that identity vindicated. That felt really important to me. The several blows against institutionalized sexism (in society in general) was also an excellent touch. The anti-bias themes were handled exceptionally well, without being heavy-handed or feeling out of place.
The book works very well as a stand-alone, but I would read more about the characters, or more works by the creators. I think kids who enjoy action stories and books that take place in magical lands will eat this up. I would suggest it to kids who like Rick Riordan, and if they learn about a common religion in the process, that's all to the better.
February 10, 2022
Alternate reality, fantasy or a combination of both? Wikipedia defines fantasy as “a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore,” and alternate history as “a genre of speculative fiction of stories in which one or more historical events occur and are resolved differently than in real life.” The three young adult novels in this review don’t fall neatly into either of these genres. Real history is combined with a fantasy element in one, the next contains religious ideas that could be defined in a variety of ways and, while the third might be easily considered alternate history, it also has a mystical/religious aspect. That’s what made reading these works so interesting: the different elements add depth to the stories.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/past...
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/past...
March 23, 2023
The drawings are clean, but detailed. I also enjoyed the adventure and little story references of mythological creatures that are in Jewish mythologies. What I confused me was the whole journey though. They weren't shown any kind of map or outline of what the mission will be like. Perhaps I might have missed the point of it being that you are supposed to be enlightened at every step, but towards the end when Miriam finally draws the world for the Unfinished Corner, they were transported back to the real world? So what was the conclusion really? What was the whole point of the journey? The lesson (if any) wasn't so clear to me, even as an adult so let alone a child.
I think what would make the story better would be some sort of map presentation because it seems like the story was led with the impression of "you wing until you make it" and I don't think that's a very good story structure. It would seem like the Jewish mythology references that were used were just randomly organized, making this book a meaningless read.
I think what would make the story better would be some sort of map presentation because it seems like the story was led with the impression of "you wing until you make it" and I don't think that's a very good story structure. It would seem like the Jewish mythology references that were used were just randomly organized, making this book a meaningless read.
December 22, 2022
The Unfinished Corner is an interesting middle grade graphic novel to read. I have never read about Jewish Mythology before. I was intrigued with this fantasy. I thought it was a pretty good book to read and a unique plot concept. They are some valuable lessons that can be learned from within the pages. I liked it.
The Unfinished Corner is beautifully illustrated by the talented Rachel “Tuna” Petrovicz. I adored seeing the vivid pictures as I read the story. They were a perfect addition to the book.
I am giving The Unfinished Corner four stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading fantasy and graphic novels. I am interested in reading more by this author in the future.
I received a paperback copy of The Unfinished Corner from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
The Unfinished Corner is beautifully illustrated by the talented Rachel “Tuna” Petrovicz. I adored seeing the vivid pictures as I read the story. They were a perfect addition to the book.
I am giving The Unfinished Corner four stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading fantasy and graphic novels. I am interested in reading more by this author in the future.
I received a paperback copy of The Unfinished Corner from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
March 16, 2025
2.5/5
An angel comes to recruit a Jewish artist to complete the unfinished area of creation where demons dwell. She's accompanied by her friends from school.
This made me think of those Bible adventure shows that had modern kids time travel into stories. It has a bit of a cheugy religious tone, but I'll give anything a nod if it shows boys and girls are capable of friendship and can do something without falling for eachother.
I'm not super knowledgeable on Judaism, but it seemed to try to be intersectional with regards to how to Jew right. My only nitpick is that I'm never sure why the Lilith as Adam's first wife thing crops up so frequently (as opposed to the Babylonian goddess/demon/succubus that hunts newborns) when, to the best of my knowledge, that wasn't a thing until the middle ages from a book of sermons that was never canon to anyone.
An angel comes to recruit a Jewish artist to complete the unfinished area of creation where demons dwell. She's accompanied by her friends from school.
This made me think of those Bible adventure shows that had modern kids time travel into stories. It has a bit of a cheugy religious tone, but I'll give anything a nod if it shows boys and girls are capable of friendship and can do something without falling for eachother.
I'm not super knowledgeable on Judaism, but it seemed to try to be intersectional with regards to how to Jew right. My only nitpick is that I'm never sure why the Lilith as Adam's first wife thing crops up so frequently (as opposed to the Babylonian goddess/demon/succubus that hunts newborns) when, to the best of my knowledge, that wasn't a thing until the middle ages from a book of sermons that was never canon to anyone.
July 21, 2022
This is a fun romp about a group of Jewish kids who get kidnapped by an angel and taken to the Unfinished Corner -- the single piece of the universe that God did not develop when he created the world. If you believe Jewish mythology. Which Miriam isn't sure she does, as she approaches her Bat Mitzvah. The story has a bit of the Jumanji about it -- each of the kids has some special gift or talent that helps them complete the mission. And there is some big mysticism here along with a pretty grounded foundation -- the kids are clearly Millennials (or whatever comes after them), people of their world, but they cope with their adventure pretty admirably. I do love a story with that blend of reality and fantasy.
December 9, 2022
This is a fun and educational face-paced adventure. While it could be a bit heavy on the explanations from time to time, I see how that would be helpful for children who have no exposure to Judaism to better understand the plot and language being used. The story feels a bit rushed at times, with a lot of information to process, but does manage to wrap up nicely in the end. The story also does an excellent job of talking about the experiences that Jewish children attending Jewish day schools experience just trying to live their life each day. All in all, a lovely story that many Jewish children can see themselves in and a great window for non-Jewish children to see a different culture and life experience.
December 29, 2021
Totally amazing. Great story. Great artwork. A vision quest for Miri has she comes bat mitzvah and finishes the unfinished corner. So many Jewish elements - Talmudic logic, Kabbalah, folklore, the prayer for travelers.
So edgy and funny. The "demonic makeover challenge" reminded me a little of Mirka and her knitting competition against the dragon. I loved little sister singing from the Mikado. So many subtle lessons about friendship and tikkun olam. Love how the Altneuschul became a Golem transformer. Just so creative in every way.
So edgy and funny. The "demonic makeover challenge" reminded me a little of Mirka and her knitting competition against the dragon. I loved little sister singing from the Mikado. So many subtle lessons about friendship and tikkun olam. Love how the Altneuschul became a Golem transformer. Just so creative in every way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2022
I enjoyed the story and felt like I learned a little about Jewish stories. The plot was fast paced and I wanted to find out what was going to happen next throughout the entire book. There were some parts that seemed like something was missing, almost like when a CD skips or if you’re watching television with an antenna during a storm. It didn’t ruin the story, but it was noticeable and took the tiniest bit away from it. On a happy note, I really enjoyed the ending and epilogue. The characters really grew on me quickly and I was happy with the way things were wrapped up.
August 3, 2021
This was a fantastic book. I loved the illustrations. I loved the characters. I loved every aspect of this book. The character development was phenomenal. This book was funny and emotional and filled with adventure. There is a lot of things to learn from this book and a lot of things to think about. This book was filled with everything that I want out of a book.
I would like thank Wonderbound Books for providing me with an ARC.
I would like thank Wonderbound Books for providing me with an ARC.
December 15, 2021
I really, really enjoyed this! This is a pretty much perfect graphic novel - good world building, a vibrant mythology to draw from, great characters and character development, beautiful artwork, and a cool story. I learned some interesting things about Judaism, and went on an exciting adventure with a side of bildungsroman. The story is pacy, with a good blend of feels and fun, and I definitely want to learn more about Jewish mythology and folklore now!
February 8, 2022
Wow, this was very intriguing and it was really interesting to have elements of Jewish religion, mythology, and culture mixed in. The illustrations and text were great.
Coming from a Christian perspective some of the theology and implications are...interesting but it was still a wonderful adventure about self-acceptance, learning who you are, and learning to rely on others' strengths when theirs matches the situation much better than your own. Go teamwork!
Coming from a Christian perspective some of the theology and implications are...interesting but it was still a wonderful adventure about self-acceptance, learning who you are, and learning to rely on others' strengths when theirs matches the situation much better than your own. Go teamwork!
November 19, 2022
4.25. This was a great graphic novel! It had some seriously arresting illustrations to the point where I would audibly gasp or say “woah” out loud. It was incredible learning about Jewish folklore and beliefs, especially about all the fantastic creatures. The novel also delves into Jewish history which was emotional and moving. Furthermore, the story was action-packed. It was always hitting the next plot point or character development milestone so I was super engaged throughout. Unfortunately, the ending did feel quite rushed and I felt like Miriam’s character development didn’t end up going anywhere. But overall, this was still a great read.
January 2, 2023
The comic plot is driven by the fantasy adventures of four teenagers Miriam and her friends Avi, David, and Judith. The story is mostly grounded in the Jewish history and community. As the title suggests Miriam has been selected for finishing up the unfinished corner of the world but somehow her friends also gets involved in the task and from there on these characters go on a journey where they are exposed to a lot of revelations about themselves individually and also collectively. The narration is good and easy flowing. Illustration are good. Simple and quick read.
January 3, 2022
Disclaimer: I am not of Jewish faith or ethnicity
A refreshing, exciting adventure into the perils of life on the outskirts of American culture and the complex meanings of inherited identity. A beautiful and at points gut-wrenching portrayal of the burdens minority children face, and the turning point of taking up a cultural mantle on your own terms.
A refreshing, exciting adventure into the perils of life on the outskirts of American culture and the complex meanings of inherited identity. A beautiful and at points gut-wrenching portrayal of the burdens minority children face, and the turning point of taking up a cultural mantle on your own terms.
May 7, 2022
Reviewing this the best I can word...I thought it was rich in Jewish culture and lore, putting me in a somewhat similar philosophical + scholarly mindset/instinct when I read old Jewish + rabbinic texts and stories. Thought it was enjoyable, beautiful illustrations and accessible to many; Jew or Gentile.
October 15, 2021
I really enjoyed the story and the art. As a non-Jewish person I was a bit confused with some of the history and customs but it was pretty easy to decipher for the most part. I would definitely read more adventures of these friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews