Written by Artie Bennett
Illustrated by Shira Neiss
Published by Holiday House
Mom's Review
Reading the true story, The Tenth Man, gave me goosebumps. The subtitle refers to the events in the book as a "miracle," and I would be hard-pressed to not see God's hand in bringing Alex to the men in the synagogue on the day the book begins. In grief, Alex walks past a synagogue that triggers a faint memory, decides to enter, and is welcomed by nine elderly men who need a tenth man for particular prayers and a strong person to remove the torah from its tabernacle. As a young, strong man, Alex fits the bill. As a lost soul, Alex is welcomed and loved. His revival is dependent on his integration into the small community just as its revival is dependent on his integration. A more mutually-beneficial relationship would be hard to find. The Tenth Man exemplifies the importance of a faith community in Alex's life and shines a light on how personally enriching it is to work toward the good of a community. Back matter offers more details about the community of Holocaust survivors who welcomed a young man to their ranks as well as Alex's life after the events of the book took place. The Tenth Man is a worthy addition to anyone's bookshelf.
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