In pop culture, we're often presented with the Jewish Mother stereotype: a strong and overbearing yet adoring and grounding figure who dotes endlessly on her children. (Examples include Rachel’s mom in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, and Shirley Maisel in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, to name just a few.) To push back on this reductionist trope, I offer this Mother’s Day a list of books for readers of all ages who want to explore Jewish motherhood and its associated dynamics in all their complexity. 

Adult 

Mothers and Other Fictional Characters by Nicole Graev Lipson

Lipson’s memoir focuses on her experiences as a new mother, with reflections and flashbacks to her childhood and her relationship with her mother. Balancing both sides of the motherhood experience is not easy, but Lipson navigates this deftly by interweaving memories of growing up with raising her own children, reflecting on the parallels and contrasts. Most powerfully, Lipson writes candidly about the challenges of motherhood, and the inevitability of imperfection when it comes to raising children. I appreciated the insight into motherhood this book offered me, and have no doubt that one day as a mother, I’ll appreciate it for entirely new reasons. 

Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder

In this memoir, Feder explores her relationship with her Jewish mother from childhood to young adulthood, when her mother dies of cancer. Equal parts a story of love, loss, and honoring the time that we have with loved ones, this graphic novel is honest and unexpectedly funny. Readers witness Feder's changing relationship with her mother and with herself as she navigates this painful loss. References to shiva and other Jewish traditions normalize experiences of grief in a Jewish context. This book teaches readers that it’s okay not to be okay after loss, but that love will keep us moving forward. 

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast

Through humorous comics that poke fun at the concept of Jewish mothering, New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast reflects on the experience of navigating aging parents, and how the mother-daughter dynamic shifts over time, with children becoming caretakers and aging parents needing increasing assistance. At once poignant and funny, Chast carefully balances her own and her parents' voices within her story, and blends comics with photos to create a page-turning reflection on motherhood and caretaking. 

Young Adult

It’s a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes, and Other Jewish Stories Edited by Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman

This collection of short stories captures a range of mother-daughter relationships written by authors from a range of Jewish backgrounds. The snack-size stories are the perfect length for enjoying on the go or devouring on the beach. I especially enjoyed Laura Silverman’s story about a mother supporting her daughter with anxiety. It's a light, heartwarming testament to the strength of the mother-daughter bond.

The Rebel Girls of Rome by Jordyn Taylor

This book, which comes out in July, is well worth adding to your summer reading list for its complex portrayal of mother-daughter relationships and the dynamics of intergenerational trauma. The story is told through two parallel narratives unfolding at different points in time: one in modern-day Italy, and the other in Italy during the Nazi takeover. An action and historical fiction read all in one, the Jewish mothers portrayed in this book exist in two timelines, one as a mother desperate to save her children from the Nazis, and another as a recently-deceased mother who has left her daughter with the repercussions of having a family history entwined with the Holocaust. Taylor’s poignant portrayal of grief as an extension of the mother-child relationship is relatable for anyone who has lost a parent. 

Middle Grade 

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

It’s rare to see Orthodox Jewish characters in fantasy novels. Mirka is a brave Orthodox heroine who, with a sparkling imagination, encounters a range of creatures, from a hostile pig to a mystical witch, on her quest to find a dragon-slaying sword. Mirka has two maternal figures in her life: one, her deceased biological mother, who serves as the mobilizing force for her to embark on adventures that take her to the land of the dead; and her stepmother, still alive, who defies the archetype of evil step-mother, supporting Mirka’s adventures—even as she wishes her stepdaughter would approach sewing with the same zeal as adventuring.

No Vacancy by Tziporah Cohen

A heartwarming interfaith story of a Jewish family who buys a motel and must learn to set aside past prejudices to keep it running. Cohen’s story depicts a mother-daughter dynamic in which the learning goes both ways, and explores how mothers and their children navigate the thorny, painful reality of antisemitism in a way that is nuanced, not overblown. Though middle grade, this book will appeal to adults as well in its thoughtful plot and writing that defies genre boundaries.

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

Vera desperately wants to go to the classic, stereotypical summer camp. Her single mother has other plans. Unable to afford Vera’s coveted camps, her mom sends her to one that focuses on celebrating their Russian culture and heritage. As Vera navigates the middle-school-esque chaos of making friends and finding her place, her mother remains a steady source of support. This story offers a touching example of (re)engaging with one’s heritage and culture, and how that can bring parents and their children—even teenagers—together. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Jewish mothers and mother-figures out there!