Looking for your next book to read? 

We asked our community to recommend some of their favorite Jewish fiction and nonfiction books, all with a Jewish lens. Here are their suggestions to get you reading this year. 

I also want to recommend her newest book, Good Grief.  It centers around a young widow trying to raise two children and make her way in a suburban D.C. Jewish community in the 60’s.  She gets a surprise from her mother-in-law, who, uninvited, decides to move in to “help out” on a long-term basis. We see these two women come to terms with each other and learn how their pasts and futures intertwine. Everyone can find a connection in this story—whether you are a child of the 60s, have had a close relationship with a strong grandmother, or negotiated parenting with a mother-in-law who knows best.   

February 

February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month. Jessica Fink, executive director of the Jewish Library of Baltimore suggests this picture book by local teen, Ava Perlin.  

One in a Milleon by Ava Perlin 

“The second I learned about this book, I knew it needed to be part of our collection. Told from Ava’s point of view, the story introduces her younger sister, Millie, a delightful child who loves to sing and dance and happens to have Down syndrome. One in a Millieon beautifully teaches the importance of kindness and inclusion, while encouraging readers to stand up, speak out, and love others exactly as they are.” 

March 

March 8 is International Women’s Day, a great time to read about a strong woman. Jessica Fink recommends The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters by Susan Page.

“The Rulebreaker by Susan Page tells the story of Barbara Walters, the most successful female broadcaster in television history, whose ambition and resilience helped shatter barriers for women in journalism. Drawing on extensive interviews and research, the biography reveals how personal struggles and a constant drive to succeed pushed Walters to redefine the television interview, dominate the field for decades, and create groundbreaking programs like The View, ultimately leaving a lasting mark on both media and American culture.” 

April 

Yom HaShoah is in April, and Emily Goodman, director of Holocaust and Countering Antisemitism programs for the Baltimore Jewish Council, has this recommendation. 

This fiction book, based on the author’s family’s real Holocaust experiences, is both a beautiful and heartbreaking read that chronicles some of the many different paths taken by individuals to flee and survive Nazi persecution. The book leaves you with the sense of ‘against all odds’ and is a strong example of Jewish resilience in the face of atrocity and racial antisemitism.  

There are parts of the story that are graphic and challenging to read, but it’s important that we witness the journeys of these characters, taken from real experiences Hunter’s family members faced. As we lose firsthand testimony from survivors even more so now with time, we must ensure that stories like We Were the Lucky Ones continue to be shared so the difficult but necessary lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. When you’re finished reading, you can watch the television adaptation that was released in 2024!  

May 

It’s Jewish America Heritage Month, a time to pay tribute to the Jews who shaped America. Check out this selection recommended by Jessica Fink. 

I’m excited to read one of our newer novels, Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar, for American Jewish Heritage Month because it explores the tension between tradition and individuality through a distinctly Jewish lens, capturing the warmth and complexity of community life. Each sister’s journey reflects a different struggle with love, identity and expectation, making their stories feel both intimate and deeply rooted in Jewish culture. Most of all, I’m drawn to how the novel weaves together Judaism, family and coming-of-age into a rich, heartfelt story about finding one’s own path.” 

June 

Rebecca King suggests The Covenant by Naomi Ragen. 
 
“An Israeli woman seeks the help of her American grandmother after her husband and daughter are kidnapped by Hamas. The story is woven with the grandmother’s survival of the Holocaust and the three women she survived with. It is part a story of our Jewish history while also being very relevant today.” 

August  

Last read of the summer. Randi Herzberg recommends The Paris Library which is based on the true story of the American Library in Paris during WWII. The novel follows Odile, a young librarian who joins the Resistance using books as weapons against Nazi occupation, only to face a devastating betrayal after the war. Decades later, in 1983 Montana, a lonely teenager uncovers her elderly neighbor’s hidden past, revealing a powerful connection shaped by love, jealousy, and shared longing. 

I enjoyed reading the story of how an “ordinary” person showed acts of “heroism” – resisted oppression through culture, knowledge, and compassion. The storyline shows that relationships—with people and with literature—help us understand ourselves, connect us across time and give significance to others’ lives. 

September 

Looking for a new recipe for your High Holiday menu? Jill Sapperstein, Grants Co-chair for the Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation suggests one of her favorite cookbooks, A Rainbow of Kosher Cuisine by Dayan Group Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah. “It has my favorite brisket recipe (brisket she Jerusalem), a combination of horseradish sauce with the tiniest touch of cinnamon. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and tangy.” 

October 

This year, it will three years since the horrific events of October 7. Take a moment to read this fascinating book about Israel today suggested by Will Minkin. 
 

“I recommend The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. It is an interesting analysis of Israeli culture and society and how Israeli’s prioritization of certain aspects of their lives has led to the country leading the world in many of the metrics designed to measure the health of a country.   

While we hear about things like scouts and universal service, the book helped me understand how these and other aspects of Israeli life, that we don’t necessarily get to see as tourists, have truly benefitted the country and are helping to ensure the strength of Israel.” 

November  

On November 9-10, 1938, the Nazis unleashed Kristalnacht (the Night of the Broken Glass) against Jewish businesses and homes. This act of antisemitism was one of the initial acts of terror against the Jews. 

This month, Rebecca Krasner, executive director of The Associated’s Center for Combating Antisemitism and Hate (associated.org/antisemitism) recommends reading recommend Antisemitism: An American Tradition, by Pamela S. Nadell. This is a  Wall Street Journal best book of October 2025 and one of Hadassah Magazine’s best books of 2025 

“From award-winning scholar Pamela S. Nadell comes a powerful, new narrative of the American past. Antisemitism, an American Tradition shows old ideas about “evil Jews” twinned to new, antisemitic conspiracy theories and lies circulating throughout American history from colonial times to today. To best understand and confront the antisemitism we are experiencing today, it is vital that we understand our past.” 

This book is a big hit in our house because it’s silly, funny and full of personality! My kids love that the latkes themselves are the stars of the story. Grandpa Latke tells the story of Hanukkah, with Macca Bees who fight giant Aliens! The Latke’s family dog, Applesauce sets the story straight. The playful humor and pictures keep them laughing while also introducing Hanukkah traditions in a way that feels fun and accessible.”