Written by a Hassidic women too timid to use her real name and based on a true story, Hush is about the rape and subsequent suicide of a nine-year old girl. The book goes back and forth between actual events and nine years later when her best friend comes of age, gets married, and finally deals with the emotional trauma. Seldom seen views of the very religious Hassid Jewish community. ( )

In this novel, the author uses the unique voice of a young Jewish girl to address a shameful incident which is subsequently covered up by the close-knit religious community in which she lives. Through flashbacks, letters, and narrative, seventeen-year-old Gittel describes the guilt she feels over the death of her friend Devory at age nine, and the events which led up to and followed it. As Gittel finishes school and prepares for her marriage, she becomes increasingly haunted by her childhood friend, who will never have the experiences that Gittel is. The novel moves swiftly towards an end as Gittel attempts to find a way, any way, to put to rest the guilt and shame she feels.

Although the abuses in the Catholic church have been exposed and discussed in mainstream media, those in other religions have not been widely known. The author of this book, an anonymous Jewish woman, writes from her personal experiences and knowledge of the community and the culture which encompasses, and hides, it. In the author’s note, she writes, “We built walls, and built them high. The walls would keep the gentiles and their terrifying world far away. The walls would protect us and shelter us — and as we built them higher, thicker, wider, we forgot to look inside. We forgot that the greatest enemies always grow from within” (342). This is a message that crosses cultures and generations, and this particular novel is a well-written example of what it looks like this particular setting. An excellent companion to “Speak” and other novels of the type. ( )

3.5 for me , review to come. ( )

3.5 for me , review to come. ( )

A powerful book of secrets in a Hassidic Jewish community where one young girl is caught between the truth of what her friend endured which led to tragedy, and the voices of all who she trusted warning her not to be true to herself - on one level this was a courageous book - acknowledging the truth of what occurs in all communities yet is not spoken of, and on another level the suffering and long lasting effects of being muted from dealing with grief, pain, confusion and guilt -

I was impressed with the story but even more so with the subject matter so effectively dealt with by the author - ( )