D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. - by Abby White (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A fresh new voice, Abby White delivers the perfect dose of humor and heartbreak with her debut D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. Readers will root for D.J. as she navigates a new home, friends, even a crush, with such insight and truth. A standout especially-young adult from an exciting new voice!"
-- Lilliam Rivera, author of Barely Floating

"Such a fun read!" -- Rick Riordan

WHERE: Middle Woods, Briar, Ohio
VICTIM: Rachel Simon
HERO: D.J. Rosenblum
VILLAINS:

It's the beginning of the school year--and Briar's newest resident, D.J. Rosenblum, is not here for it. Ever since her cousin Rachel died, D.J.'s family has been a mess: Her aunt and uncle are catatonic. Her mom is even more scatterbrained than usual. She had to postpone her bat mitzvah a whole year. Worst of all, she and her mom had to move--leaving her best friend, Eva, behind.

Briar does have one redeeming factor, though: Here, in Rachel's hometown, D.J. can finally get to the bottom of her cousin's death. With the help of a chatty journalist and a queen-bee hacker, D.J. can fill in the last days of Rachel's life. And if she can just figure out her Torah portion--with help from her cute tutor, Jonah--maybe, just maybe, she'll be able to solve a bigger mystery.

For fans of Looking for Alaska and Never Have I Ever comes Abby White's debut novel, D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. It's a basket of matzo ball soup dumplings for anyone learning to chart their own path, navigate new friendships and crushes, and figure out how to love--and live--after loss.

Review Quotes

"An in-depth study of trauma told from an adolescent point of view; D.J. does indeed become a "goat," but in different ways than anyone expects."

"Such a fun read!"

"The engaging, emotionally moving narrative deftly highlights the different ways people navigate the grieving process. The work is steeped in Jewish lifecycle traditions, but readers of all backgrounds will easily identify with the exploration of middle school stresses and friend and family relationships. The core Jewish values of life, learning, and family are well represented and accessible to all readers. A poignant mystery exploring coming-of-age themes."

"What would have been a standard (though still appealing) whodunnit is elevated by the book's poignant exploration of grief and loss. White never exploits Rachel's death but masterfully delves into the different ways grief impacts people and how they respond... Readers will be initially intrigued by the potential mystery, but it's D.J.'s beautiful and painful growth that will stick with them."

About the Author

Abby White began to write as a child in Shaker Heights, OH, and never managed to put down her pen. She studied creative writing and American studies at Columbia University and is now an MFA candidate at the University of Nevada, Reno. Abby loves books, baking, LeBron James, and elephants-so much that she's willing to break an alliteration for them. Today, she lives in Washington, DC, with an extraordinary community of friends. D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. is her YA debut.