Once More with Chutzpah

Ages 12 And Up

A smart, deeply felt YA debut about a Jewish teen grappling with her identity in the wake of a shocking accident.

When Tally and her twin brother head off on a weeklong exchange trip to Israel, she welcomes the distraction; Max might be trying to hide it, but she knows he’s still struggling after a tragic car crash injured him and killed the driver. Maybe this will help him get back on track and apply to college the way they always planned.

But as the group travels across the country, Tally realizes Max might not be the only one struggling with a major life turning point. Amid spiraling anxiety, new questions about her sexual identity, and a reexamination of where she fits in the country’s history and the wider Jewish diaspora, Tally grapples with even bigger thoughts about what’s next.

Debut author Haley Neil offers a fresh, relatable story about identity on the cusp of adulthood.

About the Author

Haley Neil is a recent MFA grad from The New School, where she specialized in Writing for Children and Young Adults. She previously obtained her Masters in Education while working full time as a preschool teacher. She loves school, teaching, and going to school to learn about teaching (as well as walking her rescue pup through her Massachusetts town and pretending she's on a home baking show). This is her first book. haleyneil.com • Twitter: @haleyeneil • Instagram: @haleyeneil