Deborah Feldman

Deborah Feldman is the author and protagonist of the memoir. After her mother leaves the Hasidic community, Deborah grows up living with her grandparents, whom she calls Bubby and Zeidy. Because her father is mentally ill, her grandparents do not believe he is fit to raise her. Though Deborah lives with Bubby and Zeidy, her aunt Chaya takes charge of her upbringing. Chaya is often unkind, and Deborah resents her cold treatment.

As a young girl, Deborah is attached to her grandparents, feeling an especial kinship with Bubby. The two spend many hours in the kitchen together, Deborah watching and helping her grandmother cook. Her grandfather is quieter, a scholar, and Deborah is eager to please him.

Because of her atypical home life, Deborah often feels like an outcast. She has few friends, and feels detached from her faith. The only place she can find a...