Always an Olivia: A Remarkable Family History (Jewish Identity)

Summary of Book

An elderly black grandmother passes on the story of the family’s Jewish origins to her young granddaughter, Carol Olivia. As family members flee the Spanish Inquisition, are kidnapped by pirates and eventually sail to America, one daughter in each generation is given the name Olivia, from the Hebrew Shulamit meaning “peace,” to honor the Jewish part of their ancestry.

Author Biography

Carolivia Herron (born Carol Olivia Herron on July 22, 1947) is an American writer of children's and adult literature, and a scholar of African-American Judaica.

Illustrator Biography

Jeremy Tugeau graduated from Syracuse university with a degree in Illustration. He has illustrated many children's books including Always an Olivia and Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles. He lives in Ohio with his wife and children.