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Going Rogue
Ten-year-old Avery Green loves science. He loves football. He is crazy about Star Wars. But Hebrew school? No, thank you. Avery would rather have his arms sliced off with a lightsaber than sit through one more day of Hebrew School. He's only asked about a million times why he has to go, but no one in his family has managed to convince him.
And then one day, Rabbi Bob shows up. He is strange, but how strange? And strange how? Piecing together some unusual clues, Avery begins to suspect that this new rabbi might be a Jedi master.
Armed with something more powerful than a lightsaber, he sets out to reveal the surprising truth.
Going Rogue (at Hebrew School) is a hilarious tale about the deep passions of a 10-year-old boy, Judaism, family, big questions and the surprising journey one can have in pursuit of truth and understanding. A book for any child who questions the purpose of religious school and any parent who has run out of answers.
And then one day, Rabbi Bob shows up. He is strange, but how strange? And strange how? Piecing together some unusual clues, Avery begins to suspect that this new rabbi might be a Jedi master.
Armed with something more powerful than a lightsaber, he sets out to reveal the surprising truth.
Going Rogue (at Hebrew School) is a hilarious tale about the deep passions of a 10-year-old boy, Judaism, family, big questions and the surprising journey one can have in pursuit of truth and understanding. A book for any child who questions the purpose of religious school and any parent who has run out of answers.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 7, 2020
Hebrew school provides Breton with a great venue to explore bullying, the idea of commandedness, and the way each human has an essential dignity and divine spark. Loved the Star Wars references, and the witty banter! Great book esp for reluctant readers as its fun, moves swiftly, and keeps readers engaged.
July 16, 2021
Avery Green loves three things in life: football, science, and Star Wars. One thing he does not love? Going to Hebrew school twice a week. But then Rabbi Bob becomes interim Rabbi at the temple. All of a sudden, lines drawn between Avery's worlds begin to blur.
August 18, 2020
*Thank you to NetGalley and Green Bean Books for a digital review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book and think it is a great option for 7-10 year olds. There are not a lot of books that focus on Jewish boys. There have been a few recent books that have Jewish girls as the main protagonist, but not boys. This solves that problem while easily appealing to boys and girls everywhere.
The story focuses on Avery Green. Like every kid I know, he doesn't like going to Hebrew School. He doesn't understand why it is necessary and would rather be playing football, doing some science experiment, or talking Star Wars. The story itself isn't about Hebrew school, it is merely an entry point and works regardless of your religious background. The story is about being a good person.
Avery struggles with the fact that while he loves football, he is a bit on the scrawny side and has overprotective parents who worry about concussions. Also, Hebrew school and football have always overlapped and Hebrew school comes first. But not this year. He manages to convince them to let him play and winds up on a team with two complete opposite characters who give us our yin and yang - Damon is the class bully and loudmouth and Gideon is introspective and very bright. Your typically bully vs nerd (I say this with love as a proud nerd). Damon is constantly making fun of Avery and Gideon. This drives Avery crazy, but Gideon is always kind and friendly.
In Hebrew school, Avery struggles with the reasons he is there and how Judaism matters in his life. Avery is the perfect kid who is constantly asking questions, but asking so many he drives his teachers crazy. A temporary rabbi who seems to totally get Avery makes the difference. He helps Avery see that asking questions is a big part of being Jewish. He also encourages Avery to look at G-d as The Force that lives within all of us and is ours to decide whether to use for good or evil.
But it isn't just Rabbi Bob that makes a difference to how Avery sees the world. Gideon is a force himself. He actually reminded me a lot of Owen Meany without the all caps talking. Gideon is the kid who is an easy target, but remains calm and cool at all times. When Damon is cruel, he remains kind considering that maybe Damon doesn't have friends to show him the right way to act. We learn that Damon's father is incredibly demanding and rather overbearing, that in fact, perhaps he doesn't see his son for who he is but rather only who he thinks he should be. Between Rabbi Bob and Gideon, Avery begins to see the world and his place in it differently.
The thing about this book is that it felt real. Avery was a kid I could easily recognize and dealing with struggles that I think many tweens are dealing with. They know they are supposed to be nice, but bullies are making it challenging. What their peers think of them becomes even more important than before and the idea of being with the "wrong" people weighs heavily on their minds. They are starting to question the world that they are in and no longer willing to just take an adult's word on something. Avery had just enough chutzpah to be a great protagonist and relevant to a lot of kids I know.
I really enjoyed this book and think it is a great option for 7-10 year olds. There are not a lot of books that focus on Jewish boys. There have been a few recent books that have Jewish girls as the main protagonist, but not boys. This solves that problem while easily appealing to boys and girls everywhere.
The story focuses on Avery Green. Like every kid I know, he doesn't like going to Hebrew School. He doesn't understand why it is necessary and would rather be playing football, doing some science experiment, or talking Star Wars. The story itself isn't about Hebrew school, it is merely an entry point and works regardless of your religious background. The story is about being a good person.
Avery struggles with the fact that while he loves football, he is a bit on the scrawny side and has overprotective parents who worry about concussions. Also, Hebrew school and football have always overlapped and Hebrew school comes first. But not this year. He manages to convince them to let him play and winds up on a team with two complete opposite characters who give us our yin and yang - Damon is the class bully and loudmouth and Gideon is introspective and very bright. Your typically bully vs nerd (I say this with love as a proud nerd). Damon is constantly making fun of Avery and Gideon. This drives Avery crazy, but Gideon is always kind and friendly.
In Hebrew school, Avery struggles with the reasons he is there and how Judaism matters in his life. Avery is the perfect kid who is constantly asking questions, but asking so many he drives his teachers crazy. A temporary rabbi who seems to totally get Avery makes the difference. He helps Avery see that asking questions is a big part of being Jewish. He also encourages Avery to look at G-d as The Force that lives within all of us and is ours to decide whether to use for good or evil.
But it isn't just Rabbi Bob that makes a difference to how Avery sees the world. Gideon is a force himself. He actually reminded me a lot of Owen Meany without the all caps talking. Gideon is the kid who is an easy target, but remains calm and cool at all times. When Damon is cruel, he remains kind considering that maybe Damon doesn't have friends to show him the right way to act. We learn that Damon's father is incredibly demanding and rather overbearing, that in fact, perhaps he doesn't see his son for who he is but rather only who he thinks he should be. Between Rabbi Bob and Gideon, Avery begins to see the world and his place in it differently.
The thing about this book is that it felt real. Avery was a kid I could easily recognize and dealing with struggles that I think many tweens are dealing with. They know they are supposed to be nice, but bullies are making it challenging. What their peers think of them becomes even more important than before and the idea of being with the "wrong" people weighs heavily on their minds. They are starting to question the world that they are in and no longer willing to just take an adult's word on something. Avery had just enough chutzpah to be a great protagonist and relevant to a lot of kids I know.
August 13, 2020
Avery loves Star Wars and football. Avery doesn’t love Hebrew school and doesn’t see why he needs to go twice a week. When the times of football practice change it means he can finally go to Hebrew school and get to practice or a match afterwards, so his parents agree to let him go. Gabriel, from Hebrew school also joins his team, but unfortunately, so does Damon, or Darth Damon as Avery likes to call him.
What follows is a lovely story about friendship and belonging. We are introduced to some colourful characters, namely Rabbi Bob and Gabriel’s grandfather, who help the youngsters answer questions about life, friendship, God and the universe.
I’m not a fan of Star Wars nor football and I’ll admit to not understanding some of the references, but I do understand friendship and being forced by your parents to do something even though you cannot see any point to it. I enjoyed Avery’s gradual realisation of what friendship is about and his acceptance of his Jewishness.
Everyone should be able to see themselves reflected in books and this story works on the level of any child trying to fit in at school or on a team but it also presents a picture of life as a Jewish boy in modern day America, which is not something I’ve come across before in a book aimed at this age group.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What follows is a lovely story about friendship and belonging. We are introduced to some colourful characters, namely Rabbi Bob and Gabriel’s grandfather, who help the youngsters answer questions about life, friendship, God and the universe.
I’m not a fan of Star Wars nor football and I’ll admit to not understanding some of the references, but I do understand friendship and being forced by your parents to do something even though you cannot see any point to it. I enjoyed Avery’s gradual realisation of what friendship is about and his acceptance of his Jewishness.
Everyone should be able to see themselves reflected in books and this story works on the level of any child trying to fit in at school or on a team but it also presents a picture of life as a Jewish boy in modern day America, which is not something I’ve come across before in a book aimed at this age group.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2020
This is a book that attempts to join the fandom that is Star Wars, with the faith that is Jewishness. There is a bit of a heavy hand about it, but that is because Avery is a little slow on the uptake. But once he gets into it, he loves it.
But that is not the main theme. THe main theme is having sympathy for your fellow human beings. There is a bully, and Avery hates him, and wants to beat him up. But, as the book points out, some bullies are such because they are being bullied themselves.
It was a little slow, mostly because i am not into, nor have I ever been into Star Wars. I was into Dr. Who and Star Trek in that time period. Still, I know who the main character are, and well as what a light saber is. That is sort of common cultural knowledge.
Also, Avery whines, a lot. A lot. Did I mention that he whines? It gets to be a little dull that he doesn’t pick up on things.
But, overall would probably appeal to kids that are into sports and Star Wars, and agree with Avery that Hebrew school is not relevant to their lives, or so they think.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
But that is not the main theme. THe main theme is having sympathy for your fellow human beings. There is a bully, and Avery hates him, and wants to beat him up. But, as the book points out, some bullies are such because they are being bullied themselves.
It was a little slow, mostly because i am not into, nor have I ever been into Star Wars. I was into Dr. Who and Star Trek in that time period. Still, I know who the main character are, and well as what a light saber is. That is sort of common cultural knowledge.
Also, Avery whines, a lot. A lot. Did I mention that he whines? It gets to be a little dull that he doesn’t pick up on things.
But, overall would probably appeal to kids that are into sports and Star Wars, and agree with Avery that Hebrew school is not relevant to their lives, or so they think.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
December 10, 2020
Avery does Not want to go to Hebrew school. It has nothing to do with his three main interests (Star Wars, science, and football) and is actually keeping him from joining the football team because Hebrew school is at the exact same time as football. But then Avery catches a couple of breaks: football practice and games are pushed back an hour, so he can now attend both Hebrew school and football; and his new rabbi just might be a Jedi Master. Is that enough to reconcile him to Hebrew school though?
I really enjoyed this book. Avery is such a curious, enthusiastic, and endearing character who keeps asking the question of many religious school attendees: but why do I have to be here? In true Jewish fashion, we don't really get one definitive answer, but rather a series of experiences that highlight the benefits of attending Hebrew school and the place those lessons can have in our lives outside of synagogue and the Jewish community.
I think this is the kind of story and the kind of characters that will have a broad appeal to kids and parents alike.
I really enjoyed this book. Avery is such a curious, enthusiastic, and endearing character who keeps asking the question of many religious school attendees: but why do I have to be here? In true Jewish fashion, we don't really get one definitive answer, but rather a series of experiences that highlight the benefits of attending Hebrew school and the place those lessons can have in our lives outside of synagogue and the Jewish community.
I think this is the kind of story and the kind of characters that will have a broad appeal to kids and parents alike.
April 15, 2022
Avery would much rather be taking part in football training, doing science experiments or watching or talking about Star Wars then going to Hebrew school. I found this book to be charming, funny and heartfelt.
I liked the relationship between the Rabbi and Avery, especially the way he encouraged Avery to ask questions and to question what is written in the scriptures. Overall this is a lovely tale of friendship, faith, Star Wars and the growth of a young child realizing that there are two sides to every story.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun light-hearted book to read. I will also be buying a copy for my nephew.
Received a review copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
#GoingRogueAtHebrewSchool #NetGalley.
I liked the relationship between the Rabbi and Avery, especially the way he encouraged Avery to ask questions and to question what is written in the scriptures. Overall this is a lovely tale of friendship, faith, Star Wars and the growth of a young child realizing that there are two sides to every story.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a fun light-hearted book to read. I will also be buying a copy for my nephew.
Received a review copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
#GoingRogueAtHebrewSchool #NetGalley.
July 29, 2020
Avery is a 10 year old boy who doesn't quite understand why he has to go to Hebrew School. He would much rather be taking part in football training, doing science experiments or watching or talking about Star Wars. It's not like he has any friends at Hebrew School anyways. But when he inadvertently becomes more friendly with Gideon (a boy from Hebrew School who has just started his other school) he realises that maybe not everyone is what they seem and maybe there are 2 sides to every story. And with the help of Rabbi Bob, Avery starts to understand that Hebrew School and being Jewish is part of him.
This is a lovely tale of friendship and faith and Star Wars. Breton has done a fantastic job of tying Star Wars into Judaism and helping explain why people need to go to Hebrew School.
This is a lovely tale of friendship and faith and Star Wars. Breton has done a fantastic job of tying Star Wars into Judaism and helping explain why people need to go to Hebrew School.
August 25, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for the EArc in exchange for an honest review.
Will the boys enjoy it? Yes.
Will Star Wars nerds enjoy it? Yes
Will the Jewish families appreciate it? Yes
Bringing Star Wars in to Hebrew School is a great idea. It keeps the kids interested and gives them something to tie in to. But, the push was overdone and got tedious. Yes, it was about bullies and friendships, even ones that aren't expected. But in all, the book didn't really hold me.
Will it be a book I recommend to my kiddos at the library? Probably. Especially the reluctant readers or my Star Wars fans.
Will the boys enjoy it? Yes.
Will Star Wars nerds enjoy it? Yes
Will the Jewish families appreciate it? Yes
Bringing Star Wars in to Hebrew School is a great idea. It keeps the kids interested and gives them something to tie in to. But, the push was overdone and got tedious. Yes, it was about bullies and friendships, even ones that aren't expected. But in all, the book didn't really hold me.
Will it be a book I recommend to my kiddos at the library? Probably. Especially the reluctant readers or my Star Wars fans.
July 30, 2023
The author writes a clever perspective on supporting children/grandchildren through Hebrew School while she respects and maintains regard for feelings, thoughts, and distracting pulls elsewhere of the middle-schooler who is in this process! Thoroughly enjoyed reading this although my sons are long since out of Hebrew School.
July 29, 2020
I sweet book about friendship, kindness and of course - Hebrew School. I loved the male relationships in this book and will definitely buy a copy once released. A really cute read and a must to use with kids.
December 28, 2020
You can find my review of this book here: https://www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com/2...
October 6, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this!!
September 7, 2023
Field Guide to Summer Reading 2023 (E)
August 31, 2020
It is very obvious that this book is written for a certain audience that I do not fall in at this time, so I tried to read it as if I were that audience. This is a great book for a Hebrew School class to read. Everyone has questions at that age. This book helps answer them in a fun and engaging way, and I think every Hebrew School needs a copy of this book for a reluctant student. Avery is very relatable, and while this book might be best for people a little younger than him, it is still very good for what it is.
April 3, 2024
Such a cute story about the importance of asking questions (good reminder for us parents too when our kids won't stop asking them), and challenging our own beliefs about others and ourselves.
January 1, 2021
Since I'm homeschooling my eight and eleven year old boys this year, we are always on the lookout for good, age appropriate books to read aloud. This book came into our lives at just the right moment. My kids really loved it, probably in part because they related so much to the main character, Avery, who, like them, loves science, Star Wars and football. Although our family isn't Jewish, my sons also know something about not wanting to do things that they can't see the point of, which is a little bit how Avery feels about Hebrew School. I feel like our family learned with Avery --about the meaning of not only giving things (and people) a chance, but about the Jewish faith and the acts of courage necessary to be a good friend. The book was a fun, quick read but managed to pack an emotional punch, mostly though the kindness shown by some of the characters, especially the universe's best substitute rabbi, Rabbi Bob, and the quirky, forgiving Gideon.
October 18, 2024
Avery Green has always hated going to Hebrew School, which has nothing to do with his three most favorite things in the world – Star Wars, science, and football. But everything changes when he begins to suspect that the new rabbi may be a Jedi master. This book has an outrageous cast of characters and a humorous plot that will keep readers engaged.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews