From Bomboloni to Bagel

This is the story of Jackie Semha, a young girl born in Tunisia to a loving family and community, yet one in which only boys are celebrated. Her journey from Tunisia, to France, Israel, Canada and finally the United States forces her to confront the disparity between the land of her birth and the land of her mature years. Her transition -- from a learning-handicapped tomboy sheltered in the womb of a loving community to a successful professional in a foreign land with an unfamiliar language and alien customs and values -- is heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. The words of her teacher, Madame Sabban: Si tu veux, tu peux -- If you want to succeed, you can succeed -- gave Jackie strength and inspired her to help others find the faith in themselves to achieve greatness. Jackie's story is brought to life through a collection of superbly written vignettes with the help of the writer Hillary S Liber.