The Girl with 35 Names

“The Girl with 35 Names” is truly a timeless and thematically rich experience suited for readers of all levels, ages, and interests. While “The Girl with 35 Names” might categorically fall into more of a YA, family, or coming of age story, I can tell you that as a 37-year-old male (who usually only reads & enjoys data-driven non-fiction content) that this book has made me rethink how committed I am any literary category! Outside of the compelling and diverse themes that resonate throughout the book, what amazed me most was the impressive character development and the impact that each character ended up having in “Molly’s Journey.” In addition to the magical & action-packed storyline, I also found myself experiencing a deep appreciation for the poetic style of writing that author DJ Colbert deployed in this piece. This is the first time I have submitted any type of book review, but I am compelled to share my experience because it doesn’t seem right to keep the joy that this book brought me to myself! 🙂 – Andrew Bradigan

The Girl with 35 Names by DJ Colbert is a fictionalized biography of the author’s grandmother that weaves through the story of her life and times with an underlying thread that ties in mysticism and the clairvoyance of the protagonist. On the day of Molly’s birth in late 19th century Russia, parents Moriah and Ari select a name for their daughter. They settle on Malkah, shortened to Molly, until members of the village pour in with suggestions of their own. Soon, Molly has a total of 35 names, each belonging to a woman with whom she will soon discover stories of strength, resilience, and love. When she finds a seemingly innocuous pair of old glasses, Molly is empowered with the ability to move through space and time on a journey of self-discovery that shapes the decisions made in her own life as the decades of this coming of age novel blossom into life.