Make a Wish Molly

Molly #2

by Barbara Cohen

In Russia, Molly and her mother didn't celebrate birthdays the way they do in America. When Molly's invited to a birthday party, she's excited to be able to taste a pink and white cake. Then something happens at Emma's party that Molly won't ever forget. She knows it's the week of Passover and she knows she shouldn't eat the cake. What should Molly do?

Genres: Childrens, Jewish, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction

38 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1994

About the author

Barbara Cohen (1932-1992) was the author of several acclaimed picture books and novels for young readers, including The Carp in the Bathtub, Yussel's Prayer: A Yom Kippur Story, Thank You, Jackie Robinson, and King of the Seventh Grade.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: I didn't know about birthdays. In Russia we hadn't celebrated birthdays. But I learned once we came to Winter Hill. I had started school in the fall, and I'd hated it. But by spring I didn't hate it anymore. That's because I had a friend. Her name was Emma. Her desk was next to mine.



Premise/plot: Molly gets the chance to learn about birthdays--and birthday parties--in this early chapter book by Barbara Cohen. But perhaps more importantly she gets the chance to learn something about herself.



Molly sees a BEAUTIFUL decorated cake in a shop window. Her friend says she'll have a cake like that and her birthday party in a few weeks. Molly might get a chance to taste such a delectable cake for herself--it seems almost too good to be true.



Unfortunately, the birthday party takes place during Passover week. Molly does NOT want to take her own food to snack on--not while her friends are enjoying that incredible cake. Could she--should she--eat the cake anyway?



My thoughts: What a lovely little story! It's historical fiction--presumably early to mid-twentieth century. The family of our wonderful little heroine is Jewish--recently arrived from Russia. Their traditions are not the same as everyone else. Part of Molly longs to fit in no matter what. Coming-of-age novels address the question who am I? This does just that. I loved Molly's confidence by the end of the novel!

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 12494 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 3.4 - AR Pts: 1.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP

[Books Kids Like · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the spring of Molly's first year in America. Some of her classmates still poke fun every chance they get, but Molly doesn't care as much as she did. She has a good friend named Emma, and she is happy. One day, as Emma and Elizabeth walk Molly home, they pass the bakery. Molly sees her first birthday cake and learns of the strange customs of celebrating birthdays. When Emma invites Molly to her birthday party, Molly is ecstatic. She can't wait to taste the cake. Then, Molly's mother reminds her that it is Passover, and she won't be able to eat any. Molly goes to the party thinking that she will disobey, but she can't. Elizabeth tells everyone that Jews won't eat in Christian homes. She adds that when Christians eat at Jewish homes the Jews break the plates and throw away the silverware. Molly goes home in tears. A few weeks later, Molly faces her first birthday in America with great trepidation.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure that I should count this for my reading challenge as it is only about 35 pages long, but I'm going to anyway. ;)

Molly's Pilgrim is one of my absolute favorite books (I re-read it every year around Thanksgiving) and I had no idea until we were setting up our Passover display that there was another book about Molly. It's hard to say that I loved it as much as Molly's Pilgrim but it is definitely a worthy and wonderful sequel which was unfortunately published posthumously. I'm so glad to have one more Molly book to recommend, though I wish there could have been more from the wonderful Barbara Cohen.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book and it's about a girl. I like that it's about a girl and she keeps Pesach so she can't eat cake and somebody there says that Jews throw things on the floor so she runs out and she never went to a birthday party where she came from so this was the first birthday party she ever went to. And it's a really good book.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly, a young Jewish immigrant to the United States, is invited to a birthday party but is disappointed when she can't eat the cake because it is Passover. She learns that can incorporate her own traditions with new ones in her new country. I remember this book from my childhhood andf it holds up.

[Moushami · Rating 4 out of 5]

its awesome

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

2.6.1997

3.26.1999 Great story! The cover made it look like it was Molly's birthday but in the beginning of the book it wasn't. Alissa notices so many details.

[Margaret Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this book. It seemed like exactly the right choice to use for Birthday Shabbat in April with people having Passover birthdays. Molly is learning how to be an American. In the first book she is bullied because she doesn't quite fit in. But her mother assures her that just like the Pilgrims, they are religious pilgrims coming to America to find religious freedom. In this book, the bullying has slowed some but she is still being picked on for being Jewish. Molly attends her first American birthday party--with presents, and a dream of a cake that tastes like clouds. But it is Passover what can she eat? Her mother once again find a solution that works for everyone.