A review by desireeslibrary
Song of the Magdalene by Donna Jo Napoli

4.0

I picked this up on whim at a thrift bookstore because the cover really intrigued me, but I had absolutely no idea it was a religious YA novel. I'm not religious at all so I did not expect to like this once I realized. But, babbbbyyy did I eat this up!! First of all, chef's kiss for the writing. Napoli did THAT. I was completely immersed in Miriam's world. I also love how Napoli combatted the erasure of Jewish culture in Catholicism and Christianity. She beautifully told the story of a Jewish woman with epilepsy who faced not only her own obstacles, but her community's prejudices and an entire world that was trying to erase her people. Napoli told the story of Miriam before following Jesus without demonizing any one culture (which, controversial opinion, I feel is so rare in biblical stories). Overall, this was a breathtakingly beautiful story about two outcasts finding solace in each other, and learning that their afflictions aren't what's important.

I sang. Songs of morning and noon and night. Songs of juniper trees and mimosa and dates. Songs of the hawk and the sparrow, of the ox and the camel. Songs of the women working together. Songs of men and women loving one another. Songs of mother and child. And I kept those songs in my mouth, always ready, for there were many souls to heal"