Don’t Feed the Lion
Written by Bianna Golodryga
and Yonit Levi
Published by Arcadia Children's Books
Annie and Theo Kaplan have a family ritual: every Friday night they celebrate Shabbat with their energetic, immigrant grandparents. But this Shabbat, which happens to fall on Annie’s eleventh birthday, isn’t like the others. Thirteen-year-old Theo’s soccer hero—Wes Mitchell—has posted an antisemitic message that quickly goes viral, leaving his parents disgusted, his sister enraged, and Theo himself clobbered by a torrent of confusion, anger, sadness, and a deep desire to just ignore it.
Antisemitism quickly affects the entire Kaplan family in various ways. Theo’s teammates think Mitchell’s comments were no big deal, and Theo notices an uptick in anti-Jewish commentary around school. A rare act of rebellion draws Annie into the fray, and a new classmate shows that ignoring pain is no way to get through it.
Don’t Feed the Lion asks readers of all backgrounds: What will you do when it’s your turn to choose?
Primary ISBN:
Publication Date: November 2025
Available As: Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older
Community Represented: Israeli/Israeli American
Themes: Activism, Celebrations, Coming of Age, Cultural Empowerment, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Celebrations & Traditions, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Family, Cultural Empowerment & Joy: Identity, Discrimination: Microaggression, Discrimination: Religious, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Family Relationship: Parents, Family Relationship: Siblings, Generation: 2nd, Identity: Exploration, Mental Health, Own Voices/Lived Experience, Religious Background: Jewish, Sports
Setting: United States (Chicago IL)
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 2nd Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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