The Mystics of Mile End

Sigal Samuel's debut novel, in the vein of Nicole Krauss's bestselling The History of Love, is an imaginative story that delves into the heart of Jewish mysticism, faith, and family.

"This is not an ordinary tree I am making.

"This," he said, "this is the Tree of Knowledge."

In the half-Hasidic, half-hipster Montreal neighborhood of Mile End, eleven-year-old Lev Meyer is discovering that there may be a place for Judaism in his life. As he learns about science in his day school, Lev begins his own extracurricular study of the Bible's Tree of Knowledge with neighbor Mr. Katz, who is building his own Tree out of trash. Meanwhile his sister Samara is secretly studying for her Bat Mitzvah with next-door neighbor and Holocaust survivor, Mr. Glassman. All the while his father, David, a professor of Jewish mysticism, is a non-believer.

When, years later, David has a heart attack, he begins to believe God is speaking to him. While having an affair with one of his students, he delves into the complexities of Kabbalah. Months later Samara, too, grows obsessed with the Kabbalah's Tree of Life--hiding her interest from those who love her most-and is overcome with reaching the Tree's highest heights. The neighbors of Mile End have been there all along, but only one of them can catch her when she falls.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Published: 10/13/2015
ISBN: 9780062412171
Pages: 320
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 7.80h x 5.00w x 0.90d

Review Citations: Library Journal 07/01/2015 pg. 81
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2015
Booklist 09/01/2015 pg. 42
Shelf Awareness 10/23/2015
Publishers Weekly 10/26/2015