Reviews

The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel

mdevlin923's review

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3.0

Muriel and her family are struggling through the Great Depression in Washington D.C., and they know that their Passover Seder will not be the same as in previous years. Muriel is heading home when she notices a mysterious magician juggling. She gives the man her only penny, and hurries home. When the same magician shows up at their house, they invite him in despite having nothing to offer. Miraculously, a wonderful feast appears, which the family shares with everyone (although the magician has disappeared).

A lovely story about a family celebrating Passover.

lucyslibraryreviews's review

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5.0

I wasn't sure about this book until I read it. It's all so magical. The illustrations are phenomenal & enhanced by the fact that Kusel set the story in D.C. There is an illustration at the Lincoln Memorial with Lincoln watching on as the girl engages with the musician that is absolutely breathtaking.
I'm beginning to understand how Jews perceive time differently than those of using the Greek model of a timeline. When the Passover Guest states that anything can happen on Passover, I can imagine that's because God spoke power into that place in the timeline. It is very moving. Though this story is fiction, it's a good reminder that God shows up for those who show up for Him.
This book is a FAVORITE!!

scoobygirl93's review

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4.0

Read aloud to River

katiegrrrl's review

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4.0

Passover set during the great depression.

2022 YMA Sydney Taylor Book Award Picture Book winner

dylaurora's review

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5.0

This stands as one of my favorite Jewish-based picture books! The illustrations are gorgeous, and the message is even stronger without being too densely worded or sparse in meaning. Children and adults alike would benefit from this lovely tale!

pwbalto's review

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5.0

Congratulations, Susan, it is a wonderful book!! Although if you are reading this, get out of here! Goodreads is no place for an author <3
xo
:paula

michellest's review

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4.0

Pretty colors and pictures, but not super out of the box

abigailbat's review

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This is a touching, magical story about a Passover in 1933 when Muriel's family did not have money to buy food and wine for a seder. When Muriel gives her last penny to a mysterious magician on her way home, her family is blessed with a miraculous guest who provides a feast for their seder.

authorlibrarianrachel's review

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5.0

There are so few passover books and most of them are set in either the 21st century or ancient Egypt. Good to see a little more diversity.

stenaros's review

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3.0

Depression-era Washington D.C. is the setting for this very pretty Passover story.