Topics

  • Jewish American Heritage
  • Jewish Identity

Summary

Tía Fortuna’s New Home by Ruth Behar, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, centers on Estrella, a young girl helping her beloved great-aunt pack up her longtime Miami apartment as she prepares to move. As they sort through objects, stories, and memories, Estrella reflects on her family’s Cuban and Jewish heritage, as well as the experience of migration and resettlement. 

The narrative introduces students to themes of displacement, cultural continuity, and intergenerational connection, highlighting how personal and collective histories are preserved through storytelling and ritual. The book provides opportunities for classroom engagement with questions of home, identity, and the emotional dimensions of change, particularly within the context of Jewish diasporic experiences.