The cozy tranquility of the Friedler household is broken by a sudden knock at the door. A moment later, a desperate fifteen-year-old runaway has entered their lives, seeking their aid and challenging their courage. A struggling baalas teshuvah, Estelle Ross has fled the wealthy home of her angry parents in her quest for Yiddishkeit. To her surprise, she discovers that her battle is not over after leaving her family. She must now overcome her own impulses that threaten to draw her back, like a magnet, to the non-religious life she has abandoned. It is up to the Friedler family to help her. The Friedler children are lively Yeshivah youngsters. Miriam, who is the same age as Estelle, would never betray a friend or tell a lie. Should the whole family now plunge into a world of danger and deceit, dodging police deectives and risking criminal charges for the sake of a lonely stranger? Undaunted by these dark possibilities, Mr. Friedler and his family decide to keep the secret of Estelle's identity, even from their closest friends and the prying eyes of a nosy neighbor. In the months that follow, they must use every bit of daring and wisdom they possess to protect her and ultimately help her face her parents again. It is not until after a deadly disease strikes her brother and an astonishing courtroom scene takes place that Estelle is reconciled to her family. In the process, she learns firsthand how the truth of Torah can pierce even the most impossible situations.
by Eva Vogel