Marcella Pixley’s poetic prose novel, Neshama, is one of those books I would have loved as a kid and good for the 10 and up crowd. However, as an adult, there were a few bumps. The themes are good: being yourself, standing up for yourself and forgiveness, but first, I’ve read several middle grade readers and a lot of books with the theme so it was a bit repetitive. That is why if you’re new/newish to the middle grade coming-of-age story it works perfectly.
As someone who enjoys graphic novels and picture books, every so often I wanted an image or two that could “flesh out” who some people are or how Pixley sees them. However, the fact you get to use your imagination allows you to insert yourself into things. Our narrator/heroine is of the Jewish faith through her father, but he has put that aside over the years. The connection she has with her grandmother helps her find that piece of herself. And also have a safe place from school bullies and even ones at home.
The idea of the ghosts can be taken literally and figuratively. Does our character really see the spirits of dead loved ones (hers and others)? Or is it just her deep spiritualness that her grandmother sees in her. While some scenes are serious they are handled fairly well. However, a young or sensitive reader might have issues with the death of a child (years ago), the illness of the grandmother, and the idea of ghosts as well. Know your reader.
