About this title: During the 1920s, Dave is 11 years old. After his father dies, he must cope with being abandoned by his terrible stepmother, who doesn't feel like taking care of him anymore. She leaves him at the Hebrew Home for Boys--a dark, chilling place where the superintendent thinks that the boys in the home are worthless human beings. Dave's only solace is sneaking out at night, when he meets plenty of loving, caring people that like him, too. Together, they just might make it through the tough times.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date Published: 09/1999
ISBN-13:9780060281533ISBN:0060281537
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 288 p. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date Published: 10/1999
ISBN-13:9780060281540ISBN:0060281545
Description: Good in good dust jacket. Good, In good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 288 p. Contains: Illustrations. Ex-Library expected imperfections. read more
"This is so different from Gail Carson Levine's other books. She usually rewrites fairy tales, but this was about an orphan boy in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance. I listened to a recording, which included an afterward by the author. In it she revealed that the idea was based on her own father's experience as an orphan in that same area. It was witty, fun, and adventurous. I loved it!"
"This novel based very loosely on Levine's grandfather's experience is aimed at upper elementary/middle school readers, but the novel is engaging enough to be read by junior and high school lower readers with some success. The story: Dave's Jewish immigrant father dies after his mother has been dead for some time. None of his relatives want the responsibility of raising this "bad boy," so they take him to a Jewish orphanage not too far from his New York City neighborhood. The superintendent is the stereotypical crooked bad guy (shades of Oliver Twist) dishonest with home finances and violent with the boys. The protagonist succeeds with his "street smarts" in outsmarting the superintendent and the home's bullies. He is a dynamic character, learning to love and sacrifice for the other boys. The positives: a good picture of Jewish immigrant life and culture in the 1920's and a glancing picture of the Harlem Renaissance when Dave meets a black upper class woman who hosts most of the literary and artistic figures of the time in parties Dave escapes to attend."
"i really liked this book. it was different than most of gail carson levine's books. i love all of her books and they're usually love stories and remixeds of classics. like ella enchanted was partially cinderella and fairest was somewhat like snow white. i really liked this book although it wasn't like most of her fantasy books! still really good! i really like it!"
"Gail Carson Levine is well known for her stories about magic. This however is about about an ordinary boy living in pre WWII Harlem who does nothing extrordinary. Unless; Scaring the bullies, making friends with a rich girl, ridding the orphanage of a cruel director named Doom, regaining his stolen property and finding people who want him in the midst of all the ones who don't, could be called extrordinary. I think they could and that is what makes this an amazing book. Daves adventures told in Levine's enchanting voice make this a must read. it proves that you don't always need magic to make everything work out right."
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