In Betsy Aldredge’s second young adult novel, Eight Dates and Nights, Hannah Levin is forced to visit her grandmother in a small Texas town. Luckily, her plans will have her back in New York just in time to celebrate Hanukkah with her family and friends. But when an intense snowstorm hits, she ends up befriending the only other Jewish boy in town, Noah, and working at his family’s deli. As she panics about not going home and adamantly refuses to enjoy Hanukkah where she is, the nights pass, and she starts to realize that she is right where she’s supposed to be.
Hannah and Noah have many differences. Hannah is a big-city girl, while Noah embraces his small-town roots. Noah loves the magic of Hanukkah, while Hannah thinks it’s not that important. In Aldredge’s novel, opposites clearly attract, and Hannah begins to find magic in all the little things around her. Noah makes it his mission to spread the light of Hanukkah, and to help Hannah understand the holiday’s true meaning.
Eight Dates and Nights shows character growth through a Jewish lens. The book conveys the importance of Hanukkah without being didactic. Aldredge also depicts Jewish people showing up for each other. When Noah needs help running the deli, Hannah steps in to support a boy she barely knows.
Aldredge has written a book that moves quickly but is filled with meaning for those who look for it. This beautiful teen romance captures the essence of Hanukkah.
Elizabeth Slotnick works in the technology space but has a growing presence on bookstagram, where she reviews books spanning across all genres. She graduated from the University of Virginia and lives in Seattle, WA.
