Gravity by Leanne Lieberman

• ISBN: 978-1554690497
• Plot summary: Ellie Gold goes away to her grandmother's vacation cabin for the summer while her sister goes away to summer camp and her parents are in Israel. Even though she is away from home, she continues to maintain an orthodox Jewish lifestyle both in modes of dress (modestly) and diet (kosher only). Though her grandmother chides her for these minor reflections of devotion, Ellie is steadfast in her rituals and continues to find peace in her prayers and daily habits. That said, when it comes time to learn how to swim, Ellie gives in to the new swimsuit provided by her grandmother, and when she meets Lindsay, she feels her devotion give sway to her desires. She is more attracted to Lindsay than she should be and she knows her faith would never allow it. Still, when the summer is over, Ellie seeks out Lindsay's company and continues to struggle with her religious devotion. Why can't she hold out for her b'shert (her one true love that is male) and stop her feelings for Lindsay?
• Critical evaluation: Watching someone wrestle with their faith is so strange. One on hand, religion can be so soothing in times of need and guidance of life matters, but on the other hand, it can make people feel bad about themselves and the choices they are making. Even the choices they aren't making! In this instance, Ellie has feelings for Lindsay that she can't control, and because of her religious devotion, all she can think about is going to hell and how hurt her parents would feel if they found out. Ellie eventually decides that she can't worry about how her faith relates to her feelings for girls because it has failed so many other people in her life, such as her mother who is shunned from their temple for her enthusiastic singing, or her sister who has educational desires outside of the normal range of female duties. The turmoil felt throughout the novel by Ellie and the relief she feels at the end is wonderfully balanced.
• Reader's annotation: Ellie can't understand why everything about her faith serves her so well, except for when it doesn't.
• About the author: Leanne Lieberman lives with her husband and two sons in Kingston, Ontario.
• Genre: Fiction
• Curriculum ties, if any: none
• Booktalking ideas:
• Have you ever felt that your religious faith conflicts with your personal beliefs?
• Reading level/interest age: 15+
• Challenge issues: Sexuality
• Why was this item included? The novel was mentioned in the 2009 Rainbow List.