The Chosen - Chaim Potok (1967)

Title: The Chosen
Author: Chaim Potok
Genre: Historical fiction
Published: 1967
Number of Pages: 304
Recommended for: 13+
Summary: The best plot summary I've found would be from Sonlight homeschooling curriculum.

"In 1940s Brooklyn, an accident throws Reuven Malther and Danny Saunders together. Despite their differences (Reuven is a secular Jew with an intellectual, Zionist father; Danny is the brilliant son and rightful heir to a Hasidic rebbe), the young men form a deep friendship.

Together they negotiate adolescence, family conflicts, crises of faith, loss, love, and the journey to adulthood. The intellectual and spiritual clashes between fathers, between each son and his own father, and between the two young men, provide a unique backdrop for this exploration of fathers, sons, faith, loyalty, and, ultimately, the power of love. A deep and thought-provoking work."

My opinion: It has been a while since I have read a novel as good as this one. Despite being fiction, this has made my top six-star worthy list.

This is a story about the friendship of a young Hasidic Jew and a secular Jew. Told in first-person, this takes place during WWII and post-WWII (the creation of Israel)
At first I was wondering why this book didn't have an "official" summary/plot, like most books do. Well, a plot summary would not do the book justice. I mean, the book is about a friendship, but (definitely) not your typical, cheesy story.

The first part of the book profiles how Danny and Reuven's friendship began. The second part profiles their lives in high school and their friendship. The third part profiles their college lives, which is also a major time in history; the creation of modern-day Israel.

This book was truly an amazing book on friendship. From the very first page you knew it was amazing. I LOVE Jewish culture (More the "Reuven" type, not necessarily the "Danny" type. But I am interested in both). The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a genre, "Jewish Appreciation" fits the bill.

I would not recommend this to anyone under 13. Not because of content issues, the book is clean with minimal violence, no sexual content, and some minor profanity. Anyone under 13 would have a very difficult time comprehending it. When I was younger, I hated when people said it was too hard, and I, being stubborn, accepted the challenge. (Who am I to say a kindergarten can't read "The Boxcar Children" if they comprehend it?)
However this book deals with some things teens and up would be able to comprehend. A second-grader with a high school reading level probably won't know what psychology (Danny is interested in psychoanalysis) is, the Holocaust, or even the complexity Hasidism and silence. (There is nothing inappropriate about the book, thou)
Teens/adults: if you don't know what "Shabbat" or "Talmud" means, you're going to have a hard time with this book. I, knowing enough about Jews to get me through most books, struggled. I mean the book is about two religious Jews, one whose life revolves around religion. There's references to Shabbat, Passover, the Torah, Talmud, earlocks, and different prayers. But, don't let this stop you from enjoying this fabulous novel.