Naomi Teitelbaum Ends the World

Naomi Teitelbaum doesn’t intend to end the world, but when she receives a tiny Golem as an anonymous bat mitzvah gift, chaos ensues. The Golem needs tasks to keep him busy, but he grows with each job he finishes, and it becomes increasingly difficult to hide him from Naomi’s sister and moms. Additionally, Naomi’s started seeing mysterious beings around her L.A. neighborhood, none of whom appear quite human. She enlists best friends Eitan and Becca, also preparing for their own bar and bat mitzvahs, who opt to give the Golem a meaningful task that’s likely take a long time: improving the world by mitigating gun violence, saving wilderness areas, and assisting unhoused individuals. Linking the Golem tradition with a varied array of Jewish folktales, debut author Shanker gives Naomi and her friends—who draw on their varied skill sets and faith in each other—problems to solve, challenges to overcome, and unexpected sources of counsel. Despite a few loose ends, the three tweens are stubbornly realistic even as they grapple with creatures from legend and folklore, and the eventual solution comes from Jewish ethical precepts, as befits those tasked with taking on their roles as adults in the Jewish community. Protagonists cue as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephanie Hansen, Metamorphosis Literary. (Sept.)