The Judgment of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum

Yoyo Gold has always played the role of the perfect Jewish daughter. She keeps kosher, looks after her siblings, and volunteers at the local food bank. She respects the decisions of her rabbi father and encourages her friends to observe the rules of their Orthodox faith. But when she sees her best friend cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors’ hypocrisies for the first time. And what she sees leaves her shocked and unmoored.

As Yoyo’s frustration builds, so does the pressure to speak out, even if she can only do so anonymously on TikTok, an app that’s always been forbidden to her. But when one of her videos goes viral—and her decisions wind up impacting not only her own life but also her relationship with the boy she’s falling for—Yoyo’s world is thrown into chaos. She is forced to choose which path to take, for her community, for her family, and most importantly, for herself.

Award-winning author Isaac Blum returns with a new novel that asks what it really means to be part of a community—and what it means to break free.

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The Judgment of Yoyo Gold by Isaac Blum offers a compelling glimpse into a world rarely explored in young adult literature—a deeply Orthodox Jewish community. I’ve read books about breaking free of societal expectations before, but never one so deeply entrenched in Judaism. It was fascinating to explore a faith I only had surface knowledge of, while also recognizing that Yoyo’s struggles are familiar to any teenager.

The religious aspect adds another layer to Yoyo’s journey, but her frustrations with her community, her desire to fit in, and her need to find her own voice are universal. What really struck me was how nuanced the portrayal of her world is. Most people aren’t villainized—even though there are a few who hide behind performative religion. Instead, Blum shows us a community where most people mean well, even when their intentions miss the mark. Yoyo’s father, for instance, is more concerned with his congregation than his family, and the boy she falls for genuinely loves the Torah and finds joy in studying it. Their different paths—one based on responsibility and the other on love of tradition—offer a balanced view of faith in the novel, and that makes Yoyo’s struggle all the more complex.

It was a clever touch by Blum to present the religious characters in this way, allowing readers to understand Yoyo’s frustrations without turning her world into a caricature of strictness and control. Yoyo’s use of TikTok as a form of rebellion also feels very modern, showcasing how teens today navigate between tradition and modernity.

Overall, The Judgment of Yoyo Gold is a thought-provoking look at community, identity, and the courage to speak out. It will resonate with readers who’ve ever felt trapped by societal expectations, whether religious or otherwise.

Recommendations:

• Book: Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu – For its strong edge of fighting oppressive gender expectations, which mirrors Yoyo’s fight against restrictive societal norms in her community.
• Movie: Lady Bird – A coming-of-age story about finding your own path and struggling with parental expectations, much like Yoyo’s journey of self-discovery.

The Judgement of Yoyo Gold publishes on the 15th of October, 2024. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.