Aviva vs. the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe, © 2022; Levine Querido, China; ISBN: 9781646-141258; 166 pages plus glossary and acknowledgements; PJ Our Way.
By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
In Aviva vs. the Dybbuk, Mari Lowe blends Jewish folklore, friendship, mystery and the challenges of growing up into a heartfelt story about grief, belonging and the importance of community.
Eleven-year-old Aviva has struggled to find her place since the death of her father. She and her mother, Ema, now live in a small apartment above the community mikvah, where Ema works. Once outgoing and popular, Ema has become withdrawn, leaving Aviva to navigate much of life on her own. Her relationship with her former best friend, Kayla, has also fallen apart, making an already difficult time even lonelier.
Adding to Aviva’s troubles is a mischievous dybbuk, a spirit from Jewish folklore that only she can see. The mysterious visitor causes problems around the mikvah, and Aviva frequently gets blamed for the resulting chaos. When she and Kayla are assigned to work together planning their school’s annual Bas Mitzvah Bash, the girls must put aside their differences and begin rebuilding their friendship.
Meanwhile, the Orthodox Jewish community faces its own challenges as antisemitic vandalism, including a swastika carved into newly poured concrete near the synagogue, raises fears and brings painful memories to the surface. As the mystery surrounding the dybbuk deepens, Aviva begins confronting questions about her father’s death and the events that changed her family.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of everyday Orthodox Jewish life. Hebrew and Yiddish expressions, synagogue traditions, the mikvah, Shabbat and Jewish community activities are woven naturally into the story. Rather than treating Judaism as a backdrop, Lowe makes Jewish culture an essential part of the characters’ identities and experiences. A glossary at the end helps readers unfamiliar with some of the terminology.
Aviva is a particularly engaging protagonist. She is determined, competitive and sometimes quick-tempered, but beneath her strong personality is a young girl trying to understand loss, repair friendships and find her place in a community that does not always know how to help her. Her relationship with her mother is especially moving, illustrating how grief affects family members differently and how children sometimes carry responsibilities beyond their years.
Lowe also handles the more difficult subjects of depression, antisemitism and unresolved grief with sensitivity. The supernatural element adds suspense and a touch of fantasy, while the deeper mystery gives readers a reason to keep turning the pages.
Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, Aviva vs. the Dybbuk is ultimately a story about healing and the strength that comes from allowing others to help. It reminds readers that friendship can be repaired, communities can come together in difficult times, and even after profound loss, there is room for hope.
Written primarily for middle-grade readers, the novel also offers adults an engaging look at the complicated emotions of childhood and the importance of Jewish identity, tradition and community. Lowe has created a memorable character in Aviva and a thoughtful story that combines Jewish folklore with very real experiences.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.