Playing With Matches

July 15, 2014
An unforgiveable email prank involving an elderly teacher forces 16-year-old Raina Resnick's expulsion from her New York Jewish high school and banishment to Toronto to live with her strict aunt.Poor school behavior and a knack for thoughtless action have fostered Raina's negative reputation. She is somewhat unjustly blamed for her sister Leah's broken engagement, and when she tries to make amends with a series of well-intended efforts, all seems to go awry. Somehow, this arrogant teen does have one positive, unusual talent for her age-matching hopelessly older singles clueless about dating protocol. In an attempt to drum up new prospective-husband material for Leah and repair their relationship, Raina creates an anonymous matchmaking website, Matchmaven. She secretly nurtures relationships and doles out advice for her tight-knit community, "where there's only 1.1 degrees of separation," which includes a financial consultant, an elderly widower and even her dragon lady of a school principal. This dual life, as the double-entendre title implies, ignites late-night escapades, failing grades and much scrutiny from school officials and family. Jewish readers attuned to the matrimonial expectations for observant youth will relate to Rosen's cleverly metaphoric middle-class descriptions while chuckling at the often improbable, fast-paced shenanigans of her protagonist.Fizzy, funny and ultimately redemptive. (Fiction. 13-16)

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August 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-Sixteen-year-old Raina Resnick cannot catch a break. After two years as Queen Bee in her Manhattan private school, she is unceremoniously "counselled out" (read: expelled) and sent to live with her strict Aunt Mira. Her new life in a tight-knit Jewish community in Toronto is hardly the fresh start she was hoping for. Between a headmistress who is constantly scrutinizing her every assignment and an older sister (former BFF) who won't speak to her, Raina is desperate to find her niche. A chance meeting on the bus with young, single Jewish woman helps unveil a hidden talent: matchmaking! After her success matching Tamara and Jeremy, Raina sets up the anonymous MatchMaven account and is ready for business. Things get really complicated when her sister Leah turns to MatchMaven for help finding The One after her broken engagement-a breakup for which Raina is blamed. But the more she tries to help others find love, the less her friends and family love her. With sinking grades and constant fatigue, the teen struggles to keep up the maddening pace. Raina is well drawn, and supporting characters all add humor and poignancy to the story. Of particular note are the relationships the teen forms with the older characters, Bubby Bayla, Professor K, and Esther. These characters play an important role in light of Raina's absentee parents. This charming story of growing up and owning up, will ring true with readers, particularly those who share her cultural traditions.-Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service

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