In 1926, Dave’s father dies and his stepmother doesn’t want him. Only the cold and strict Hebrew Home for Boys will take him in. Outside the gates of the orphanage, the nighttime streets of Harlem buzz with music and nightlife. Inside, another world unfolds, thick with rare friendships and bitter enemies. Perhaps between the two, Dave can find a place that feels like home. The first study guide relates to the value of simhah and the second relates to the historical focus of the book.