by Chaim Potok
First published 1997
In 1940s Brooklyn, two Jewish boys from vastly different backgrounds forge an unlikely friendship. Reuven, a modern Orthodox Jew, and Danny, a Hasidic Jew, meet by chance after a baseball game turns tragic. As they navigate their strict religious communities and the clash of their beliefs, the two boys form a deep connection that challenges the rigid dogma of their worlds. Through this poignant story of adolescence and self-discovery, "The Chosen" explores the power of empathy to bridge the divide between cultures.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, adolescence
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.), New York (State), New York
Period: 1950's ish
291 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ballantine Books