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.”
“A fresh new voice, Abby White delivers the perfect dose of humor and heartbreak with her debut D.J. Rosenblum Becomes
the G.O.A.T. Readers will root for D.J.
as she navigates a new home, friends,
even a crush, with such insight and
truth. A standout especially-young adult from an exciting new voice!”
“A poignant mystery exploring coming-of-age themes [...] 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.”
“Voicey and full of character, yet also layered with grief and accountability and how tragedy can affect us all in different ways. [. . .] White does such a phenomenal job demonstrating that grief is not always tears, that death can feel like utter betrayal, that friendships are not always supportive but can call us in and call us out when obsession brings out the worst in us. This book is going to be powerful for young readers.”
—— Deke Moulton, Award-Winning Author of Benji Zeb is a Ravenous Werewolf
A “powerful debut novel.” ——Booklist
“Such a fun read!” ——Rick Riordan
“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.”
Coming out August 5, 2025!
“It’s such a fun read! . . . Looking for Alaska + You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah [is] about right!”
—— Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times-Bestselling Author and Abby’s Childhood Hero
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.
“This powerful debut novel showcases D.J.’s humorous observations about life and family as well as her pain surrounding Rachel’s death [. . .] The ending is hopeful, tying things up in a neat book-ended way without answering every question raised. An in-depth study of trauma told from an adolescent point of view; D.J. does indeed become a ‘goat,’ but in different ways than anyone expects.”
—— Booklist
