About the Book Of her two granddaughters, Grandma Yvette clearly prefers Ruby Taylors perfect--and perfectly Jewish--cousin, Sarah. They do everything together, including bake cookies and have secret sleep overs that Ruby isnt invited to. Twelve-year-old Ruby suspects Grandma Yvette doesnt think shes Jewish enough. The Jewish religion is matrilineal, which means its passed down from mother to child, and unlike Sarah, Rubys mother isnt Jewish. But when Sarah starts acting out--trading in her skirts and cardigans for ripped jeans and stained t-shirts, getting in trouble at school--Ruby cant help but be somewhat pleased. Then Sarah suddenly takes things too far, and Ruby is convinced Sarah is possessed by a dybbuk, an evil spirit... that Ruby may or may not have accidentally released from Grandma Yvettes basement. Ruby is determined to save her cousin, but a dybbuk can only be expelled by a pious Jew. If Ruby isnt Jewish enough for her own grandmother, how can she possibly be Jewish enough to fight a dybbuk? Book Synopsis Funny and poignant, Amanda Panitchs new middle-grade novel The Two Wrong Halves of Ruby Taylor is an exploration of mixed families, identity, hundred-year-old curses, and the terrifying challenge of standing up for yourself against your loved ones. Of her two granddaughters, Grandma Yvette clearly prefers Ruby Taylors perfect--and perfectly Jewish--cousin, Sarah. They do everything together, including bake cookies and have secret sleep overs that Ruby isnt invited to. Twelve-year-old Ruby suspects Grandma Yvette doesnt think shes Jewish enough. The Jewish religion is matrilineal, which means its passed down from mother to child, and unlike Sarah, Rubys mother isnt Jewish. But when Sarah starts acting out--trading in her skirts and cardigans for ripped jeans and stained t-shirts, getting in trouble at school--Ruby cant help but be somewhat pleased. Then Sarah suddenly takes things too far, and Ruby is convinced Sarah is possessed by a dybbuk, an evil spirit... that Ruby may or may not have accidentally released from Grandma Yvettes basement. Ruby is determined to save her cousin, but a dybbuk can only be expelled by a pious Jew. If Ruby isnt Jewish enough for her own grandmother, how can she possibly be Jewish enough to fight a dybbuk? Amanda Panitch writes with a humorous, irresistible, and authentic voice. This character-driven story with a magic twist about speaking up and finding your place in the world is for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Stacey McAnulty, and Greg Howard. Review Quotes This exciting story sensitively explores questions of identity and belonging in a Jewish context. A fun, thoughtful page-turner about exorcising the expectations of others to achieve self-acceptance. -- Kirkus Reviews The dybbuk adds new interest to a familiar theme, and readers who privately seethe over their own second best status will feel Rubys pain and approve her reconciliation. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books (BCCB) Through Rubys bluntly funny narration, which includes plentiful references to Jewish history, the novel deftly takes up themes of antisemitism, gender roles, feminism, and religious identity. -- Publishers Weekly About the Author Amanda Panitch spent most of her childhood telling stories to her four younger siblings, trying both to make them laugh and scare them too much to sleep. Now she lives in New York City, where she writes dark, funny stories for teens, kids, and the pigeons that nest on her apartment balcony. Her books for kids include The Trouble with Good Ideas and The Two Wrong Halves of Ruby Taylor .