Book description
The women's suffrage movement is in full swing in 1912 Portland,
Oregon-the last holdout state on the West Coast. Miriam desperately
wants to work at her father's printing shop, but when he refuses she
decides to dedicate herself to the suffrage movement, demanding rights
for women and a different life for herself. Amidst the uncertainty of
her future, Miriam's attention is diverted by the mysterious Serakh,
whose sudden, unexplained appearances and insistent questions lead
Miriam to her great-grandmother's Jewish prayer shawl-and to her
destiny. With this shawl, Miriam is taken back in time to inspire the
Daughters of Zelophehad, the first women in Biblical history to own
land. Miriam brings the strength and courage of these women with her
forward in time, emboldening her own struggles and illuminating what it
means to be an independent woman. Like Miriam herself, Blue
Thread interweaves elements of faith, history, and politics, but what I
loved most about this young adult novel was the even more powerful
element of family. From the dominant conflict and connection between
Miriam and her father to the more fantastical tie between the women of
the Josefsohn family, Ruth Tenzer Feldman does a beautiful job peering
into the bonds that bring us together, tear us apart, and allow us to
travel beyond ourselves Ruth Tenzer Feldman is the author of numerous
nonfiction books for children and young adults, including The Fall of
Constantinople, How Congress Works, and Don't Whistle in School: The
History of America's Public Schools. She began working on Blue Thread in
2008 when she discovered the story of the Daughters of Zelophehad in the
Torah. In an effort to bring historical authenticity to her characters'
worlds, Ruth conducted extensive historical and cultural research,
including spending time at a vintage letterpress print shop. Originally
from Long Island, New York, Ruth studied at the American University
Washington College of Law and has worked as a legislative attorney for
the U. S. Department of Education. She is a member of the League of
Women Voters, the Oregon Historical Society, the Institute for Judaic
Studies, Congregation Beth Israel, and Viva Scriva-a collective of
writers and artists. Ruth is currently a full-time author and resides in
Portland, Oregon, with her husband. Blue Thread is her first novel. For
more information, visit her website at www. ruthtenzerfeldman. com.
