Books coverage is supported by a generous grant from The Milton and Sophie Meyer Fund.
Historical fiction, a collection of short stories, a guide for parents navigating the middle-school years and a sweet picture book are among new books by local Jewish authors, a regular feature in J. You can purchase these at local bookstores, including Berkeley’s Afikomen Judaica, or online.
“Charlotte Salomon Paints Her Life”
By Pamela Reitman (392 pages, Sibylline Press)
Reitman’s historical novel is inspired by the life and work of artist Charlotte Salomon, who is known for her seminal work “Life? Or Theater?” a series of more than 700 paintings created while she hid from Nazis. The book follows Salomon as she pursues art above all else while struggling to come to terms with her family’s history of suicide and facing the constant threat of discovery by the Nazis. Reitman is a past director of Makor Or, the Jewish meditation center in San Francisco, and lives in Healdsburg with her husband.
“In Our Future We Are Free: The Dismantling of the Youth Prison”
By Nell Bernstein (288 pages, The New Press)
Journalist Nell Bernstein takes readers on a tour of youth prisons in the United States, profiling young people who have been leaders in improving the incarceration system — for themselves, and for others. The follow-up to Bernstein’s 2014 book “Burning Down the House” paints a picture of a better way forward and a path to dismantling the youth prison system. Bernstein is based in Berkeley.
“Like Human”
By Janet Goldberg (194 pages, Cornerstone Press)
Goldberg presents a collection of short stories centering on the impact of love. From a daughter coping with her father’s multiple sclerosis to a teenager desperate for attention, each character is someone loving or being loved. Goldberg lives in Berkeley and teaches in the English department at City College of San Francisco.
“Story Power!”
By Stephanie Wildman and Simon Wildman Chung (32 pages, 5-12 years, Lawley Enterprises LLC)
Brother-sister duo Flor and Roberto return with big brother Luis in this colorful picture book co-written by Wildman and her grandson. The siblings learn the power of storytelling as they devise a tale for their abuela. Curious young minds will also find a roadmap for creating their own stories at the back of the book. A Spanish-language version of this book is set to publish in April 2026. Wildman is based in San Francisco.
“The Rabbi’s Suitcase”
By Robert Kehlmann (374 pages, Koehler Books)
This historical fiction novel, set in the early 1880s, centers around the chance meeting of Zipora and Reuven on a voyage from Lithuania to the United States. The young lovers find themselves embroiled in conflicts, from politics to war to their own personal foibles, and eventually are swept up in the founding of Israel as Reuven becomes a close ally of David Ben-Gurion. Kehlmann is an author and artist based in Berkeley.
“Chaos to Context: A Parent’s Guide Through the Middle Grades”
By Jody Passanisi (216 pages, Routledge)
This book serves as a guide for parents, caregivers and educators of middle-school children. Readers will find knowledge and resources, along with practical strategies and tips for creating a nurturing and supportive environment for kids going through this often challenging phase. Passanisi draws on her experience as head of upper school at Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School in Palo Alto. She lives in the South Bay.