Yeshiva Girl Stories by Perle Besserman

I received this book from Homebound Publications in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Yeshiva Girl Stories by Perle Besserman is a collection of short stories in a time-progressing order.  The stories are about Pnina, a Modern Orthodox Jewish girl who is ready to break out of the mold. . . mostly.  Pnina starts off at a religious school, called a yeshiva, and begins to break some Jewish rules under the guide of her friend Nelly and her Uncle Harry.

As she gets older, Pnina struggles between the secular (non-religious) and religious world of Orthodox Judaism.

The stories were great, and I loved how Pnina aged through the stories, but was still only a teenager at the end of the novel.  So many books go through the entire coming of age process, and I like the uncertainty of Pnina’s religious future kind of hanging in the breeze.

My favorite story was The Sackman Street Boys, where after Pnina joins a “summer gang” (think a young, Jewish West Side Story with no weapons).  After injuring one of the boys, Freddie, her father forces her to apologize.  What happens after that is touching, and real.

I also liked Wages of Sin, which is where Pnina goes with her Aunt and Uncle Harry to a cheesy hotel (think of the resort from Dirty Dancing).  She gets into some trouble, being 16 and drinking everyone under the table, and then makes a not-so-wise choice.

Pnina is relatable for those of any religion, because she’s a teenager who wants to go against the grain, as all teenagers are known to do.  And at exactly 150 pages, this novel gives you just the right amount of story.

Are you a short story fan?  Share your fav collection!

Interested in getting your own copy? Check it out on Amazon. I get a small percentage if you purchase from that link, and it doesn’t cost you any extra.