Rashi's Daughter

October 1, 2008
Grades 8-12 Based on heradult books about the daughters of Biblical scholar Rashi, Anton introduces Joheved and her sister, Miriam, who are living in eleventh-century France. Though the book spans years, readers come to knowthe sisters only superficially, and time and placeis all.Anton provides a detailed but never boring look at what life was like at the time for residents of Troyes in general andJewish girlsin particular. In some ways, its what one might expectkeeping religious holidays, making a homebut these sisters are also privileged and study theTorah (against their mothers wishes). Moreover, Joheved knows the family business, winemaking, and Miriam prepares to be a midwife. ThroughoutAnton does a masterful job of explaining the intricacies of medieval life, fromhow a grape is picked to the way paper is made, why certain amulets areused in childbirth, and the system of taxationon wine. With several important female characters besides the sisters, this beautifully shows the richdiversityof women and the lives they lead, even long ago.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)