Fun Books to Read During Hanukkah

Every year, the little girl in this book gets a shipment of oranges from her Nonna and Nonno in Florida, but not this year. Instead, this year, her family takes a road trip to visit them! Showcasing Sephardic rep, the family makes latkes and buñuelos, dance the salsa and play on the beach, and celebrate Hanukkah.

This early chapter book series is a fun series that follows Pinky Bloom, Brooklyn detective. In this book, an ancient Israeli coin is stolen from her synagogue. But as she’s trying to solve that case, weird things keep happening — is any of this connected to the menorah her neighbors have left in her family’s care? The menorah that’s supposedly magical? Pinky’s going to find out!

Looking for middle grade fantasy? Try this one. Sara’s kind of jealous of her friends that celebrate Christmas. When Sara gets a huge golden dreidel from a mysterious guest at her family’s Hanukkah party, she’s warned to be careful with it. When she spins it, she finds herself in a magical new world, full of characters inspired by Biblical stories and Jewish folklore — can she find her way back?

This middle grade novel isn’t about Hanukkah per se, but it is about family, food, friends, and culture — which are all part of Hanukkah. Sara and Elizabeth are very different: Sara is Pakistani American, and Elizabeth is white and Jewish. They’re taking a South Asian cooking class taught by Sara’s mom, and as they get to know each other, they learn more about what others might be dealing with but never show.

Milla and Honey have been best friends forever. Now that they’re at the same school, their friendship might be tested for the first time. Structured over the course of a school year/Jewish year, this is a heartwarming story about an Orthodox Jewish community, friendship, and family. It’s truly a celebration of Jewish joy, and that’s part of what Hanukkah is about.

I love this book with my whole heart. This anthology of stories covers a variety of holidays, festivals, and Jewish life. With a diverse cast of characters in the stories, it tackles issues like dating, questions about identity, friendship, and so much more. This is another book that completely embodies Jewish joy, which we need more of in dark times — making it perfect not just for Hanukkah, but any time things get rough.

When two boys, Jules and Jack, meet, both of them feel sparks. But both of them are hesitant: Jules is still figuring out what it means that he’s gay, and how out he wants to be, and Jack had a falling out with his best friend, so he’s still tender. But then a video that connects Jack to some trans vloggers is leaked to the high school, and suddenly the two boys have all eyes on them. Jules is Jewish, so there is Jewish rep — but this is also a story about being true to who you are, and resisting bullies, making it a great Hanukkah read.

This queer Jewish holiday romcom is everything you wanted, even if you didn’t know you wanted it. Set during winter break — and yes, over Christmas — the book retains its Jewishness on every page. Shani’s in D.C. for an internship over break when she runs into May. Literally, with her mom’s car. She’s still reeling from her first breakup, so when a dog-walking job puts her back in touch with May, she’s a little unsure at first. But as the two get to know each other, sparks fly — but is Shani ready? No matter what you celebrate this winter, this should be on your list.

Warning: don’t read this on an empty stomach. Twitty writes about foods and traditions of the African Atlantic and Jewish diasporas, describing how food, culture, and identity intertwine. But he also writes about being a Black Jew, and the intersections of communities. He writes about tough conversations and thought-provoking topics, including discrimination, oppression, and belonging. He also looks at how people impact the food, but also how food impacts people. Twitty combines research, memoir, and food writing in this timely and memorable book, and there are even recipes in the back — perfect for adding a new dish to Hanukkah meals.

While not specifically about Jewish themes or Hanukkah, who doesn’t love a novel about midlife crises of Manhattan parents? It’s a perfect book to read if you need an escape from a family gathering or the winter doldrums. In this entertaining novel, six fathers meet daily at a TriBeCa coffee shop after dropping their kids off at school. Over one school year, we learn more about what they always thought their lives would be like, what has transpired, and what their lives are actually like. It’s a compelling look at parenthood, relationships, and friendship.

If you’re looking for even more great Hanukkah books to read during the holiday, check out this suggested Hanukkah reading list of great Jewish books, or this post on Hanukkah picture books.

What will you be reading over Hanukkah?