Aces Wild by Erica S. Perl (review)

Following their debut in When Life Gives You O.J. (BCCB 9/11), eleven-year-old Zelly Fried and her irrepressible, Yiddish-speaking, quote-spouting, retired judge of a grandfather, Ace, are back. After working hard to get a dog, Zelly finds yet another challenge in training the boisterous new puppy, named Ace after her grandpa. She's also still adjusting to her new home in Vermont, and her pal Allie convinces her that the best way to make more friends is to have a sleepover. Zelly's parents refuse to allow the event, however, until Ace is properly trained, a daunting prospect. Zelly's middle-grade friendship angst, her embarrassment at her larger-than-life grandfather, and her gentle flashes of grief for her late grandmother are deftly and believably expressed. Ace himself is a charming (if at times frustrating) scene-stealer, whose Yiddish-laced dialogue is effectively printed in all caps: "LOVE TO STAY AND CHAT,' he said, 'BUT MERENGUE WAITS FOR NO MAN. HASTA LA VISTA, SHALOM, AND GOOD NIGHT.'" Perl is additionally adept at naturally incorporating elements of the characters' Jewish faith while keeping Zelly's broader experiences firmly on the foreground. The writing is smart, funny, and perceptive, and it lends itself to reading aloud; readers who meet Zelly and the two Aces in these pages won't soon forget them. Notes on puppy training and a Yiddish glossary are included.