Gideon's People [Hardcover]

Carolyn Meyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 22, 1996 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Jews don’t eat meat from a pig. Amish don’t wear buttons. But two boys from extremely different cultures discover how similar they really are. “The story is fascinating as an in-depth examination of two disparate cultures that-the boys dis-cover-share many of the commonalities of the human experience; it’s also a great coming-of-age novel, inhabited by people who may dress and speak differently from many readers but whose actions are entirely understandable.”-Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9?In this novel set at the turn of the century, two boys?one Orthodox Jew and the other Amish?are brought together by chance. When Isaac Litvak, 12, is injured on an Amish farm, his Jewish peddler father leaves him behind to recuperate with the whispered reminder, "Remember who you are." Though kind and well-meaning, the foreign-speaking family's eating habits and religious laws are strange. Also, Isaac senses anger and tension. Gideon Stolzfus, 16, chafes under the rigid tenets of his family's local sect, and plans to run away to his uncle's more lenient community. His sister Annie finds his secret stash of "englische" clothes, a forbidden copy of Treasure Island, and a harmonica. She fears losing him forever and begs Isaac to help her persuade Gideon to stay. Deft characterizations and juxtaposition of fathers and sons amplify similarities and differences between the families and cultures. Gideon's stern, unyielding father illustrates the vast emotional chasm that results from a heavy-handed approach in parent/teen relations, universally, in any culture, at any time. While Isaac's faith is not tested in abusive circumstances, as it is with the Amish teen, worldly interactions complicate matters. Many of the complex issues raised here are explored in greater depth in Kathryn Lasky's Beyond the Divide (Macmillan, 1983) or Chaim Potok's The Chosen (Fawcett, 1987).?Alice Casey Smith, Sayreville War Memorial High School, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-7. Two deeply religious cultures bound by strict laws are thrown together when Isaac, an Orthodox Jewish boy, recovers from injuries at an Amish farm in 1911. Similarities between Yiddish and Pennsylvania Dutch make communication possible, allowing 12-year-old Isaac to pick up on a family rift. Annie, who is also 12, explains that 16-year-old Gideon plans to leave the community before his baptism, though he knows that if he does he will be shunned. A vivid setting and the slow unfolding of the relationship between Isaac and Annie are Meyer's strong suits. However, the story's conflict between Gideon and his father seems one-dimensional, and Meyer may fall into cultural stereotyping by depicting the Amish family as stern and uncommunicative and the Jewish family as exuberant and loving. Susan Dove Lempke

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (July 22, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152003037
• ISBN-13: 978-0152003036
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #839,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My first book, MISS PATCH'S LEARN-TO-SEW BOOK, published more than forty years ago, was intended to teach young girls how to knot thread, make a neat stitch, and sew simple items. The main character of my next book, CLEOPATRA CONFESSES, coming in June 2011, is a far cry from the roundish, gray-haired lady with a needle in her hand and spectacles on her nose. Since the thrill of seeing that first book in print, I've written over fifty more books, non-fiction and novels (most recently, historical fiction). In the process I've learned more about writing and a lot about history, a subject that was not my favorite when I was a young student but has become my passion--a passion I love to share with readers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beware, these characters reject their religious upbringing., October 26, 1999

By 

terry lefkowitz ([e-mail]) (Miami Beach) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gideon's People (Mass Market Paperback)

The book is good, but beware the message of the children's rejection of their religious heritage. Both the Amish and the Jewish religions are shown to be strict and both are rejected by boy's seeking freedom. Both boys find family or friends who support their decision.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two youths struggle with culture and religion., June 13, 2000

By 

Bonnie McKinzie (Garden Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gideon's People (Hardcover)

Isaac, 12, is recuperating in the home of an Amish family in Pennsylvania Dutch country early in the 1900's. His Jewish background conflicts seriously with that of his Amish hosts. Of particular problem is diet, and observation of the Sabbath. He quickly learns of the conflict between 16 yr. old Gideon and his father.

Both young men struggle with the regulations and restrictions of their respective families. Gideon, however, is determinded to follow his dream of reading and playing music. This will mean he has to leave his family and his beloved sister, Annie. Annie seems to be a central character in this book, both for Gideon and for Isaac. She shows incredible insight and compassion.

This book deals with family conflict, religious traditions and the interactions of youth from different cultures. It might be more appropriate for the older child, since it does deal with some serious rejecting of the beliefs of the parents and needs to be discussed within a safe and informative environment such as the home first.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Wonderful Book, it is great, November 2, 1999

By 

[e-mail] ([e-mail]) (Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gideon's People (Hardcover)

This book shows are people of all different races can get along I think that it is wonderful book.