Things That Shimmer

In Things That Shimmer, author Deborah Lakritz paints a vivid portrait of adolescence during a pivotal moment in American and Israeli history. The book captures new beginnings. Set in the early 1970s, the story follows twelve-year-old Melanie Adler as she tries to navigate the confusing waters of junior high friendships, family tensions, and shifting cultural values. Her world takes a meaningful turn with the arrival of Dorit Shoshani, an Israeli girl whose presence introduces Melanie—and readers—to a much broader historical landscape. The novel delicately blends everyday middle school dilemmas with larger global events,  creating a story that is both intimate and far-reaching in its impact.

Dorit is not just a new face in Melanie’s suburban Milwaukee school; she embodies the struggles of Israeli immigrants trying to establish new roots in unfamiliar soil. Her father, a veteran of multiple defensive wars in Israel, brings with him psychological wounds that the family must silently carry as they try to adjust to American life.

At its core, Things That Shimmer is a story about loyalty—to friends, to family, and to one’s own inner truth. Melanie is pulled between the desire to be part of the popular crowd and her growing bond with Dorit, who challenges her to think beyond shallow appearances and popularity. Through Dorit’s journey as an Israeli immigrant and Melanie’s own growth, the story invites readers to consider what it means to belong. Lakritz offers not just a coming-of-age tale, but a reflection on the quiet strength of those who, as immigrants, carry their homeland with them into new and uncertain places.

–Reviewed by Jany Finkielsztein/July 16, 2025