"An instant classic.... With echoes of Scout Finch, the feisty Menuchah guides readers on an unforgettable journey." --Leah Vincent, author ofCut Me Loose.

In this tender and hilarious memoir of an ultraorthodox girlhood, Judy Brown reveals a closed world, a loving family, a troubled brother, and the lore and faith that have sustained her people for generations.

But what happens when a young woman in this community starts asking questions: Why isn't she supposed to talk to gentiles? Why should a nice girl never wear denim? And if God performed all those miracles in the desert, why can't He cure her brother of his strange and frightening affliction?

With warmth, honesty, and razor-sharp humor, Judy Brown tells the story of a family whose faith and fierce love for each other pulls them through their darkest time.