Sheina Medwed knows that values and human interest are as much a part of a healthy family as cake and gefilte fish. In this book, she gives us some of her favorites -- all true, all good, all told with a flair.

These are not stories for children. They are about mature themes and the challenges of life. We'll meet people adjusting to new lands. Some of them discover Judaism for the first time. Others muster up the courage to survive tragedy and contribute to others.

All in all, this is a book that brings a great deal to the table, especially at a time in history when there is a shortage of the sort of stories that make one sit up and smile and say, “Maybe there's hope for the world after all!”

Readers of the manuscript have called it a new Maggid book, and that is very high praise indeed. Interesting characters, solid narratives, graceful writing, positive messages -- what more could one ask for in pleasurable reading?