It's got that special Christopher Paul Curtis vibe of hard things happening, but offset by wry narration. Maybe they'll fix it on the next reprint. I blame the title! It's boring! Let's fix it! I think these would be better:ĭAVE CAROS AND THE GREAT ORPHANAGE BREAKOUTĪ RASCAL, A FLOWER, A GONIFF, AND MR. This book is rad! But no one reads it! Why? Maybe it didn't win the right medals.

Further inquiry into the lives of these historical personalities would add a rich dimension to the study of this novel, especially if the reader investigated the poetry of Langston Hughes. In my opinion, the most fascinating aspect of the book is the subplot featuring the people that Dave meets in Harlem, such as a wealthy African-American patron of the arts and her adopted daughter, W.E.B. I would describe it as a kind of 'Annie' for boys, in which a likable, strong, clever, neglected, but hopeful orphan overcomes enormous obstables in order to realize his dreams and find a place to belong. Colorful, well crafted characters, a well defined sense of time and place, and several cliff-hangar chapter endings make it an engaging read. This is a great choice for capable 4th or 5th grade readers. A riveting plot and strong character development make this a fascinating read for upper elementary students. He meets a strange character named Solly the Gonif who introduces him to the surreal nightlife of Harlem.

There he suffers under the despotic rule of the headmaster, Mr.Bloom, but develops a close bond with his buddies, who protect each other from the abuse of the older bullies. The sudden death of his father leaves David Caros orphaned and abandoned by his uncaring stepmother, so he is taken to the Hebrew Home for Boys, an 'asylum' with a dubious reputation.

This engaging story by the author of Ella Enchanted transports us to 1926 Manhattan, from the teeming immigrant neighborhoods of the lower east side to the artistic Renaissance evolving uptown in Harlem.

Gail carson levine new book