There are a lack of Jewish novels. Aside from a couple here and there (
As a Driven Leaf, Murderer in the Mikdash and
The Chosen to name a few) There are certainly few and far between books to give our teenagers.
A Wolf in the Soul tries to begin to fill that void. Greg Samstag is a regular teenager who went to a cultural Jewish day school. Throughout the book, Greg's life turns on its head when he begins to think more and more like a wolf until his transformation is near complete. During this time, his connection to Judaism is what is able to counteract this beastly transformation.
A Wolf in the Soul has much of the same that you would find in a teenage novel., transformations, teenage angst, and family distress. In some ways, on a surface level, it even resembles
Twilight. Once you start reading you see so much more. Aside from an infinitely better writing style, Berkowitz adds in Jewish and Kabbalistic ideas (albeit sometimes thickly) throughout. The book was entertaining and enlightening at the same time.
A Wolf in the Soul takes what is popular and makes it valuable and transformative. In different ways we can all relate to Greg's struggle between body and soul, between what we want badly and what we know we need. Greg goes through this physically illuminating his existential crisis. In some ways, he is lucky. He is forced to confront his desires and must decide, rather than living on without real introspection. Reading through Greg's eyes we allow ourselves to confront our own issues in a positive and meaningful way.
While reading great literature in general has its place in understanding the human experience, there is a unique and important place for a book with a specifically Jewish edge. As I began, I hope this is only part of a trend.
It is a thick book and can be bought new on amazon
here for 12 dollars.
