Readers learn that as early as the 1790s, Jews were restricted to ghetto living in Prague. This protected the Jewish community from the animosity of the Gentile communities prevalent in Eastern Europe at the time. Living in the Jewish ghetto during this time was very different than ghetto living under the Nazis.

In the 1700s, the Jews of Prague were restricted to living within the walls of the ghetto, but they had their own apartments, their own government, and their own stores. They were free to live their own lifestyle. The Polish Jews practiced Orthodox Jewish rules. They ate particular foods, dressed very conservatively, and strictly followed Jewish traditions.

Girls were not allowed outside their homes alone. They were engaged to be married at 16 to mates chosen by their parents. And they were not allowed outside the ghetto walls at any time. Rivka's father, a very respected man, took Rivka outside once. She was astonished and wanted desperately to go outside by herself. Since boys had less restriction than girls, Rivka dressed as a boy, using the clothes of one of her brothers, and successfully fooled the gatekeeper four times. She loved the forest, trees, relative freedoms outside the ghetto walls. She was enchanted with her surroundings and very innocently met a Gentile boy, found work and in fact, helped the boy out of debtors' prison. Of course, she was eventually caught, but ultimately found contentment within the walls of the ghetto. - Cookie M. ( )

Rivka’s Way by Teri Kanefield

Available from Armon Books, reissued in 2011.

What a beautiful, magnificent story.

By beautiful, I mean well written with a flowing storyline that captures readers—especially those interested in the coming of age tales of young women in historic time periods.

And magnificent doesn’t mean what reviewers usually mean, that it’s full of action stuffed in there just for action’s sake. No, Rivka’s Way is magnificent for all the right reasons to call a book magnificent…because it moves you as a reader, because it takes you into a new world and a new time, because it conveys the world of the protagonists in a manner that creates emotional connections.

The story takes place in Prague in 1778. This is the Jewish quarter, a walled enclave. The wall both protects the community from those who would destroy it and separates members who wish to know about the wider world, the one where change is sweeping through at an ever faster rate.

When Rivka finds the daring to dress as a gentile boy and explore that world, her heart is drawn to many things. The city, its vibrant life, a gentile she meets…and the particular beauty of her own small home world.

This is a story that you won’t easily forget. I would love to see more from this author, and I’ll bet that you’ll agree after reading only a few chapters.

I received a free copy through Goodreads for review.

5 stars!

If you love beautiful and engaging prose, check out [b:The Family Made of Dust: A Novel of Loss and Rebirth in the Australian Outback|31692655|The Family Made of Dust A Novel of Loss and Rebirth in the Australian Outback|Laine Cunningham|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1472357358s/31692655.jpg|6308645]. ( )

This is a tale of a young girl named Rivka, recently engaged to a young man. She is just 15 living in the Jewish ghettos in Prague in the 1800s. She begins to grow nervous over her impending nuptials, as any young bride-to-be.

As she helps her mother day-to-day, she hears news of the outside world from her favorite older brother, Jacob. Jacob has left for Rabbinical studies but comes back to visit his family. These visits are something Rivka cherishes.

Soon Rivka starts longing to actually see the outside world, and she dresses as a boy to brave the unknown. She slips past the guards of the Ghetto, and wanders into the world of strangers to fill a longing and curiosity that she does not understand. Do the things she finds satisfy her curiosity and answer her questions for what lays outside, as well as what she must return to?

I enjoyed this book very much. This was intended to be a Middle School Book, but I found this book to be suitable for adults as well. I would highly recommend this book for all ages. I would advise all religious and ethnic backgrounds to read this book as well. There is a lesson to be learned by all.

*DISCLAIMER: I was given a free copy of this book to facilitate my review. ( )

Loved this book!
This is a book everyone could learn from. Shows that you should not judge a person. The characters are easy to relate to. The book gives great detail you can picture the scenes that are bro g described. I like a book that keeps you turning the pages saying just one more.
Can not wait to read more by Teri Kanefield. ( )

If you love historical fiction as much as I do then this is the book for you. Rivka is a fifteen year old girl who lives in the Jewish ghetto of Prague. The time period is the late 1800's. Unlike many of the other Jews in the ghetto, her family has it much better. You may be wondering why. Her father is a doctor and there for is considere upper class in the ghetto.

Rivka is best friends with her brother Jakob. She has grown up listening to his stories about the outside world. He has left Prague to go to school to become a Rabbi. Her mother just wants her to put foolish notions and stories away and prepare for her arranged engagement. I loved the fact that Rivka wanted to plant trees and other plants so much that she created a garden on the rooftop of her building. Having a garden isn't enough for her. She wants so much to see what is outside the ghetto that she dresses in boys clothing and travels around as a gentile boy. I loved her spunk. I am not sure, given the time period that I would have had as much courage as she had to do this. I would want the freedom, but I'm not sure I could pull it off.

This is a must read for all historical fiction buffs out there. You won't regret this one. Since this is considered a middle grade book I'll let you in on a secret. I'm not a middle grade kid and I loved it. This is a book to be loved by all ages.
I received a copy to facilitate my review, the opinions expressed heere are my own. ( )