by Chaim Potok
First published 1969
Reuven Malter, a Modern Orthodox Jew, befriends Danny Saunders, a brilliant Hasidic student. Despite their religious differences, the two boys form a deep bond as they grapple with questions of faith, tradition, and identity. As they come of age in 1950s New York, their families' long-standing feud and Danny's own inner turmoil threaten to tear them apart. Caught between the rigid demands of their Hasidic upbringing and the allure of the secular world, the two young men must find the courage to forge their own paths.
Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, family-drama, jewish
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, religious-conflict
Setting: Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
Period: 1950s
512 pages · Hardcover · G K Hall & Co