Aviva vs. the Dybbuk

A story of friendship, community, grief, and healing, Aviva vs. the Dybbuk is a suspenseful novel, intended for students in grades 6-8, about a girl finding her footing after the death of her father. Aviva continues to experience loss, including the breakdown of her closest friendship and the absence of her once vibrant mother, who now struggles to leave her bed some days.

Students follow Aviva’s journey as she is visited by a ghostly dybbuk – a figure from Jewish folklore described as a restless spirit inhabiting a living person – whose mischief and mayhem are blamed on Aviva.

Along the way, students gain insight into the antisemitic experiences faced by Aviva’s Orthodox Jewish community, including acts of vandalism such as a swastika carved into newly poured concrete outside the synagogue. They also explore the social tensions between Aviva, her former best friend, and other girls at their school. Ultimately, the novel highlights how steadfast community support can foster spiritual and emotional healing.