Books
D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T.
Cover Artist: Angie Kang
Reviews
“What would have been a standard (though still appealing) whodunnit is elevated by the book’s poignant exploration of grief and loss. White never exploits Rachel’s death but masterfully delves into the different ways grief impacts people and how they respond [. . .] Readers will be initially intrigued by the potential mystery, but it’s D.J.’s beautiful and painful growth that will stick with them.” —— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“...the engaging, emotionally moving narrative deftly highlights the different ways people navigate the grieving process. The work is steeped in Jewish lifecycle traditions, but readers of all backgrounds will easily identify with the exploration of middle school stresses and friend and family relationships. The core Jewish values of life, learning, and family are well represented and accessible to all readers. A poignant mystery exploring coming-of-age themes.”
“Written in warm, ebullient prose, D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. handily mixes the bouncy audacity of its main character with a gentle——but no less real——meditation on grief. Readers will be utterly charmed by D.J.’s tenacity and brightness as she navigates a new school, an upcoming bat mitzvah, and a somewhat-undercover investigation into her cousin’s unexpected passing. White’s debut is a beautiful, lovingly rendered tale of growing up and letting go.”
—— Traci Chee, Best-Selling & Award-Winning Author
Coming out August 5, 2025!
WHERE: Middle Woods, Briar, Ohio
VICTIM: Rachel Simon
HERO: D.J. Rosenblum
VILLAINS: …?
It’s the beginning of the school year——and Briar’s newest resident, D.J. Rosenblum, is not here for it. Ever since her cousin Rachel died, D.J.’s family has been a mess: Her aunt and uncle are catatonic. Her mom is even more scatterbrained than usual. She had to postpone her Bat Mitzvah a whole year. Worst of all, she and her mom had to move——leaving her best friend, Eva, behind.
Briar does have one redeeming factor, though: Here, in Rachel’s hometown, D.J. can finally get to the bottom of her death. With the help of a chatty journalist and a queen-bee hacker, D.J. can fill in the last days of her cousin’s life. And if she can just figure out her Torah portion——with help from her cute tutor, Jonah——maybe, just maybe, she’ll be able to solve a bigger mystery.
For fans of Looking for Alaska and Never Have I Ever comes Abby White’s debut novel, D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. It’s a basket of matzo ball soup dumplings for anyone learning to chart their own path, navigate new friendships and crushes, and figure out how to love——and live——after loss.
