Julia's Kitchen

Brenda A. Ferber

Jan 2015 · Sold by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

About this eBook

Cara Segal is a born worrier. She figures her worrying works like a whisper in God's ear - if Cara's concerned about car crashes, kidnappings, or murders, she lets God know, and he always spares her. But Cara never thought to worry about a fire. And one night while she's sleeping at a friend's house, her house catches fire, and her mother and younger sister are both killed. Throughout shiva, the initial Jewish mourning period, Cara can't help wondering about God's role in the tragedy. And what is her father's role in her life now? He walks around like a ghost and refuses to talk about the fire. Cara longs for her family and her home, where sweet smells filled the house as Cara's mom filled orders for her catering business, Julia's Kitchen. Then one day a call comes in for a cookie order, and Cara gets a wild idea. Maybe by bringing back Julia's Kitchen, she can find a way to reconnect with everything she's lost.

Complete with a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish terms and a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, this debut novel is a joyous tribute to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Julia's Kitchen is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Ratings and reviews

I found this book at a library book sale and was intrigued. After reading this book I have added it to my favorite heartfelt books to read. The story about Cara's journey from before loss to after loss is something that can truly tug at your heart strings. As a reader you can almost feel each step of mourning getting lighter as Cara learns lives may pass and change but love is never forgotten, and the way that love is expressed just changes form. As an adult I truly appreciated the words and story from the author, and I was even more excited when my friend's daughter asked me to read it to her. Julia's Kitchen will be a book that you will always carry with you.

About the author

BRENDA A. FERBER received the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award for Julia's Kitchen. She lives in Deerfield, Illinois.