Book Review: All of-a-kind Family by Sydney Taylor

Genre: 
Historical Fiction, Jewish Fiction

Interest Level:
Ages 9-12

Reading Level:
Lexile 750, Grades 4 and up

Book Theme:
Jewish customs, family adventures, sister adventures

Books with Similar Themes:  
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Bibliographic Information:
Taylor, S. (1951). All-of-a-kind family. Chicago: Follett Publishing Company.

More Information About the Author: 
http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/taylor-sidney


Plot:  
All-of-a-kind Family is a story set in New York during the early 1900's. It' tell the story of five Jewish sisters, twelve-year-old Ella, ten-year-old Henny, eight-year-old Sarah, six-year-old Charlotte, and four-year-old Gertie, and their life with their family over the course of a year. The girls have all sorts of adventures, such as the mad search for a library book, Mama's creative game for dusting the house, preparing for the Sabbath, celebrating Jewish holidays like Purim, Passover, and Succos, shooting off fireworks on the Fourth of July, and much more! The sisters are all very close and obedient, rarely disobeying their parents. They love their parents dearly and their father's friend Charlie too, who they discover is looking for his lost love. The end of the book includes one final surprise that will change their family, one that little Gertie isn't too happy about unfortunately!

Review:  
All-of-a-kind-Family is a Little Women-like story that does a great job of depicting Jewish life in New York at the turn of the century. It also does a great job of explaining Jewish holidays and customs through the adventures of the five young sisters. The story is fun and the sisters are all loveable. This book falls more into the interest range younger tweens between 9 to 12. Like tweens in that age range the sisters are still young, carefree, and imaginative, but the older sisters do start to assert some independence from their families. It is still a story that some older tweens can appreciate too if they like feel-good books written with the feel of classic literature. This is a great book to introduce to both Jewish children and children who want to know more about Jewish customs. It's a great book for tweens to read alone or to read with their parents or teachers.

Notable Tweens:
Ella- Ella is twelve and the oldest sister. She has beautiful dark brown hair. Being the oldest she often helps her mother take care of the smaller girls. She develops a romantic interest in Charlie, a family friend, and is sad when she discovers his heart belongs to another woman.

Henrietta (Henny)- Henny is ten and described as the family's "wild one." Henny has beautiful blond curls and is very outspoken. She hates school and is jealous of her sister Sarah when she gets sick with scarlet fever and gets to stay home. Henny realizes being sick isn't so fun when all the sisters become ill, except her, and then she is all alone for Passover!