For agents & editors

The Meaning of Zoe

A complete upper middle grade novel of approximately 66,000 words.

The story

One vegetable. Several terrible rules.

Zoe Lewe is twelve when she discovers that a celery stick tastes better than anything in Banzoville, a town devoted to garbanzo beans. When she publicly refuses garbanzo tea, the mayor exiles her family. Each place they try next has its own absurd way of demanding obedience. Eventually Zoe returns to face the mayor and the town that sent her away.

The book blends comedy and satire with a family story and Zoe’s growing sense of responsibility for other people. It is written for readers who like strange worlds, sharp humor, and a child with enough curiosity to get everyone into trouble.

Why I wrote it

I grew up in Israel with wars and tragedies close at hand. Watching people pushed out for what they believe, or for refusing to repeat what everyone else says, made me want to write about the pressure to belong. I chose an absurd, funny world because children can see the cruelty of a rule very clearly when the rule itself is ridiculous.

Author background

What I bring to the book

I read middle grade widely, spent a decade helping run a community library, organized children’s activities, and visited schools with my earlier books. My published work includes four English picture books in the Elphie series, Bear with Bear, and short fiction in Hebrew.

Working with a publisher

Meeting readers

I would be glad to take part in school and library visits, including virtual sessions, and to develop playful writing activities around Zoe’s world and its rules. I can also contribute interviews or essays about the experiences behind the novel, in coordination with a publisher’s team.