A Ceiling Made of Eggshells

A young girl navigates danger and duty during the Jewish expulsion from Spain, torn between family loyalty and personal dreams.

3.7/5 Goodreads · 1,029 ratings

400 pages· 72,693 words· Est. 10 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

In 15th-century Spain, young Loma travels with her influential grandfather, Belo, who advises the king and queen. As they navigate a perilous world for Jews, Loma discovers the weight of her family's safety rests on her grandfather's shoulders. Yet, as she grows, so does her desire for independence and a life of her own. Will Loma find a way to balance her dreams with her duty to her people, or will her grandfather's shadow forever bind her? Journey with Loma as she faces the ultimate choice between personal freedom and familial loyalty.

From the publisher

In A Ceiling Made of Eggshells, Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine tells a moving and ambitious story set during the expulsion of Jews from Spain, about a young Jewish girl full of heart who must play her own role in her people’s epic history—no matter the sacrifice.

Surrounded by her large family, Loma is happy living in the judería of Alcalá de Henares, Spain, and wants nothing more than to someday have a family of her own.

Still, when her intimidating grandfather, her Belo, decides to bring her along on his travels, she’s excited to join him. Belo has the ear of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, and Loma relishes her adventures with him, adventures that are beyond the scope of most girls of the time. She soon learns just how dangerous the world is for the Jews of Spain, and how her grandfather’s influence keeps their people safe.

But the older Loma gets, the more she longs to realize her own dreams—if Belo will ever allow her to leave his side.

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