The town bully, Karl Leckner, threatens to nail her mouth shut. Her best friend says she has more sass than sense. Even her beloved zayde wishes she would hold her tongue and rise above. But thirteen-year-old Gittel Borenstein’s feet are planted stubbornly on the earth and her tongue is as sharp as Zayde’s chalef, the razor he uses for butchering chickens. She’s fed up with being called Geetle Beetle, or Jew girl, or worse. The Borensteins and twelve other Jewish families have left behind the deadly pogroms of Eastern Europe only to find life nearly as harsh in 1911 Mill Creek, Wisconsin. The winters are fierce, the farming is unfamiliar, and not everyone in Mill Creek accepts the Jewish settlers. A star student, Gittel takes refuge in school, where she longs to blend in with her gentile friends and dreams of becoming a famous writer—a far-fetched dream when eighth grade represents the last year of formal schooling available in Mill Creek and Karl Leckner is determined a Jewish girl will never blend in.

Praise for Gittel

“In Yiddish, gittel means good, but Gittel, the main character of this vibrant middle grade historical novel, is more than just good—she’s extraordinary. Set in the rural town of 1900s Mill Creek, Wisconsin, a place where love starts with cheese, Gittel arrives with her extended family, fleeing the horrors of the Kishinev pogrom targeting Jews. In Mill Creek, Gittel discovers that hate and bigotry live everywhere, but so do love and community. With her passion for Emily Dickinson and singing Christmas carols, Gittel surprises readers again and again with her daring wit, but most of all, her compassion. Gittel is a character both familiar and entirely new, who will teach readers what it means to be American while staying true to your roots and your own identity.”

—Sheela Chari, author of Karthik Delivers and the award-winning The Unexplained Disappearance of Mars Patel series

“Mazel tov for Gittel! Impulsive, brash and full of heart, she endures loss and prejudice without losing sight of her remarkable self. This story is a wonderful weaving of historical details and contemporary themes.”

—Kirby Larson, author of the Newbery Honor book Hattie Big Sky

“A moving coming-of-age story of family, friendship, feminism, and finding your own voice. Schneider’s Gittel will introduce readers to a little-known time in American Jewish history. Prepare to be inspired.”

—Sarah Aronson, author of Just Like Rube Goldberg

“Laurie Schneider’s stunning debut middle grade novel invites readers into a little-known piece of Jewish-American history through the eyes of smart, saucy, creative Gittel Borenstein for whom Emily Dickinson’s poems are spiritual texts. Kin to Anne Shirley and Jean Louise Finch, yet entirely herself, Gittel is a fabulous companion with an irresistible and unforgettable voice. The poetic, page-turner of a novel that bears her name is not to be missed.”

—Ona Gritz, author of August or Forever

“Gittel calls to mind Little House on the Prairie but through the lens of a Jewish girl. Gittel faces the harsh realities of settlement life as well as antisemitism—and she does it with humor, bravery, and the poems of Emily Dickinson. A beautiful story, beautifully told.”

—Amy Feller Dominy, author of OyMG, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens

“Living in a Wisconsin farming town, Gittel is taunted for being plain, smart, and Jewish. Will anyone ever appreciate her devotion to music, Emily Dickinson’s poetry and Jane Addam’s ideas for social reform? Gittel tries to carve out a place for herself, while seeing that wherever she might be, she’s rooted in love shown through Bubbe’s strudel, Zayde’s prayers, and her parents’ sacrifices to keep the family safe. I loved getting to know a little-known part of American history and cheering for Gittel all the way!”

—Jeannine Atkins, author of Hidden Powers: Lise Meitner’s Life in Science, a Massachusetts Book Award Honor Book

“A beautiful middle grade novel with a captivating hero, Gittel, who finds strength and hope in poetry and the power of her own voice.”

—Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of Sun Don’t Shine

“Gittel is a charming, fresh, beautifully told story. A pleasure to read.”

—Amy Goldman Koss, author of How I Saved Hanukkah, a Bank Street College Children’s Book of the Year pick

“Gittel’s coming of age story will ring true to readers who have ever struggled to stay true to themselves and their heritage. She and her family are Jewish immigrants who settle in early 1900s rural Wisconsin where Gittel doesn’t feel like she fits into small town life. A boy in her class won’t stop teasing her about her strange-sounding name. Her mother keeps insisting that Gittel tone down her sharp tongue. Gittel only wants to be herself in a world that feels like it’s conspiring against her. In the end it’s her strong character—her feistiness and her determination to fulfill her dreams—that enables her to become something more than what’s expected of her and to grow into the woman who she’s truly meant to be. Gittel’s entry into the world is a cause for celebration.”

—Bruce Black, editorial director of The Jewish Writing Project

“Readers fond of frontier narratives will delight in the story of Gittel Borenstein and her family, refugees from a pogrom, as they attempt farming in a primarily Christian community in Wisconsin. The Borensteins endure discrimination, bullying, and heartbreaking loss, but our heroine learns that love (and poetry) will help them survive the hardships. Young Gittel, both dreamy and prickly, is a very appealing heroine.”

—Sonia Gensler, author of The Revenant and Ghostlight

“Young readers will root for Gittel, hoping she’ll find a way to bust free from the hardships inflicted upon her and blossom into the best she’s capable of becoming. As a teacher and as a parent, this is a book I want to share widely with children. We need more stories like Gittel that remind us of the power of love, the far reach of kindness, and the simple pleasures of nature best shared with those around us, no matter their background or beliefs.”

—Kimberly Behre Kenna, author of Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade and Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm