Jewish Book Festival: Missouri’s Own Panel

Celebrate a beloved festival tradition! Missouri’s Own brings together a special panel honoring the unique voices and stories with local ties who continue to make St. Louis a city of literary acclaim.

Gail Benick: In The Courts of Maple Drive, a spirited widow in her seventies takes up pickleball to reclaim her independence, only to find herself caught between her Holocaust-survivor mother’s fading past and the unexpected consequences of a tense summer night on the court.

Ron Gieseke: Baseball Bench Coach is a heartfelt celebration of America’s pastime, blending personal stories, historical insights, and thoughtful commentary from a passionate fan who’s been sharing his love for the game through a popular weekly blog for seventh seasons.

Francess Levine: Crossings: Women on the Santa Fe Trail, authored by the former president and CEO of the Missouri Historical Society and Missouri History Museum, offers a compelling exploration of the Santa Fe Trail through the personal stories of women who journeyed its route, revealing their vital roles and experiences in a history often dominated by commerce, military expansion, and adventure.

Max Levin: Under the Stretcher offers an intimate and gripping account of the 2014 Operation Protective Edge through the eyes of Max Levin, an American-born Israeli soldier who immigrated in 2012 to join Israel’s special forces unit, Palchan Tzanhanim. The book follows Max’s challenging journey—from learning Hebrew and enduring rigorous training to fighting alongside his new comrades in a brutal conflict—and explores the emotional aftermath as he transitions from wartime soldier to peacekeeper in the volatile West Bank.