The Chosen by Chaim Potok

Bibliographic information:

Potok, Chaim.  The Chosen.  Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing, New York.  This Edition 1982.  ISBN:  0-449-21344-7

Plot Summary:

            The tale begins at a baseball game set in 1944 in New York City.  A school team of mainstream Jewish teenagers are playing against a team of very devout Hasidic Jewish Teenagers from a rival school.  Reuven Malter, the son of a Talmud scholar is the relief pitcher of the mainstream Jewish school’s team.  Danny Saunders, the son of a Hasidic rabbi, is up to bat.  Tension between the teams mount and Danny hits the ball right at Reuven and breaks his glasses causing the latter player to be sent off to the hospital for  eye surgery. 

            Reuven takes a long time recovering and a friendship is struck up by Danny and Reuven even though they come from different parts of the Jewish faith.  Both of the boys are incredibly intelligent but Danny is something of a phenomenon and is slated to take over the spot as tzaddik (a Hasidic holy man) from his father.  The problem is that the more secular material Danny reads on his own, the more he does not want to take over for his father, desiring to become a psychologist instead. 

            The two boys maintain their friendship and interact with both fathers until the end of WWII and the beginning of the Zionist movement for the state of Israel.  The Hasidic Jews believe that the state of Israel should not be made until the Messiah comes.  The Zionists believe that there should be a homeland for the Jews regardless.  Reuven’s father is a champion of the Zionist cause and becomes politically active.  Danny’s father refuses to let Danny interact with the Malters even though the boys have become best friends and are now going to college together.  It becomes a struggle for all of the characters in this time of change.  

           

Critical Evaluation:

            The writer obviously knows the intricacies of the different branches of Judaism coming from that faith. The intricacies of the different branches of Judaism are not always so easily followed by one with no background in it.  The themes and forces of differences and friendship are displayed and reinforced throughout the story.  Another theme which is explored is the theme of tradition clashing with modern life in America.  The writer sets the scene in an important time in history for the Jews, being at the end of World War Two and spanning until the formation of Israel as an independent nation, a background which really sets the tone of conflict for much of the story.

Reader’s Annotation:

Two Jewish boys from different branches of the faith become friends after an early rivalry and struggle to keep their friendship amidst family differences. 

Information about the author:

            Chaim Potok was born in New York in 1929 to Polish Jewish immigrant parents.  Potok Received an Orthodox Jewish education and decided to become a writer in his teens, he began writing fiction at that time.  He graduated from Yeshiva University in New York with a BA in English Literature, and went on to study to become a Rabbi.  Potok served as a Jewish chaplain in the U.S. Army seeing service in Korea a year after the war there had ended. 

            The Chosen was his first book of note and was published in 1967.  This book was nominated for the National Book Award.  By the time of his death in 2002, he had written a number of acclaimed works, most of which had a strong connection with the topic of Jewish culture.  Potok was also a professor, editor, and artist, though he is far more well known for his writing.

Genre:

Coming of Age

Curriculum Ties:

Jewish Culture

Booktalking Ideas:

1. Focus on what ways tradition clashes with the modern world.

2. Discuss how Reuven and Danny become friends despite differences in their backgrounds.

3. Talk about the theme of finding one’s own way despite pressures from family and community.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

14+

Challenge Issues:

None

Challenge Defense Ideas:

Should a challenge arise:

1.  Read the book.

2.  Be Familiar with the policy of the ALA and your institution.

3. Make a note of the contents of the work and how they fall in with the collection development policy of your institution and the standpoint of the ALA. 

4. Gain an awareness of the awards, reviews, and criticisms of the work, as well as other works by the same writer.

5. Know the process for materials challenges at your library.

Why did you include this book? :

The Chosen is a classic for young adults and I have had Chaim Potok on the list of writers whose works I wanted to read.