Although it's summer and most teens are on vacation Hoodie, protagonist of Isaac Blum's The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, is in school learning about Jewish law. When he looks out a window he sees a girl dancing. Although he isn't supposed to look at gentile girls, he ends up being attracted to Anna-Marie. He starts a conversation with her. It's not long before they're friends, maybe with potential for more.
What can go wrong?
Hoodie is a member of a tight knit Orthodox Jewish community. His people are very observant. He and his family and a large part of their congregation have just moved into the largely non Jewish town of Tregaron. They've just opened a new synagogue and a new school. Hoodie's father is trying to understand why it's taking so long for him to get a permit to build an apartment complex to serve as affordable housing for less affluent congregation members who have been left behind.
Anna-Marie's mother is the reason. Many people in the town are very unhappy about the influx of Orthodox Jews. They claim that the new residents are going to ruin their way of life. They're putting up lawn signs that say "PROTECT TREGARON'S CHARACTER. SAY 'NO' TO DEVELOPMENT." And Anna-Marie's mother, the mayor, is leading the campaign.
An act of antisemitic violence deepens the split. The members of Hoodie's community including his family see Hoodie as a traitor and ostracize him.
With antisemitism on the rise The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen is a very timely read for the YA set.
On a purrrsonal note, my advisor won a Faculty Mentor Impact award. I nominated it her for it and must have written convincingly. She is very pleased with it and I am so glad I had a perfect opportunity to show my gratitude for all she's done for me. The awards luncheon was really special.
A great big shout out goes out to Leah, the best advisor EVAH!!!
Jules Hathaway
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