Levine, Gail Carson. Dave at Night. HarperCollins, 1999. ISBN 0-060-28153-7. $15.95. 281 pp.” 5-7 FI Reviewed by Laura Wadley When Dave's father is killed, Dave and his brother are left in the care of a stepmother who declines the responsibility. The boys' uncle takes Dave's brother, but no one wants Dave. Dave is finally sent to the Hebrew Home for Boys (a.k.a. the Hell Hole for Brats). Dave's resentment of his family's rejection and his miserable new circumstances lead him to sneak out of the orphanage at night and go into unfamiliar parts of town. During his nights out, Dave meets an elderly Jewish fortune teller and his parrot, as well as many luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance. While Levine's book, based loosely on her own father's experiences as a boy, is set in a time and place few children will be familiar with, the title character is so deeply engaging and his experiences are so universally heartfelt and meaningful that this book should appeal to all older children and adults. Think The Boxcar Children with a lot more moxie.
