| Alan Silverman worries that he's too different from the other boys. He studies, he's not the bravest boy in the neighborhood. His only friend is Shaun Kelly. So, when his parents ask him to spend time with Naomi Kirshenbaum, he's horrified. Naomi is crazy. She escaped from the Nazis in France. She doesn't talk, she's scared of everything, and she spends all her time tearing pieces of paper to shreds. What will Shaun say when he finds out Alan is spending time with Naomi, or "Crazy Cat" as he calls her?
Alan still agrees to help out. He keeps it a secret from Shaun, saying he has a secret errand, every day after school. At first, he can't get through to her. Then, he uses his Charlie McCarthy dummy to help her open up. They begin talking through the dummy and her doll. After that, he manages to get Naomi to talk to him without using the doll. He finds out that Naomi is smart and funny. He also finds out that Naomi saw her father beaten to death by the Gestapo. He begins to care about her as more than a special project. Naomi has become his friend. But, when he takes Naomi to the airport to fly model planes, Shaun spots them and is upset that Alan didn't tell him what he was doing. Alan tries to ignore losing Shaun's friendship. Naomi starts school, and seems to be handling things well. Then, a bully attacks both of them. When she sees Alan fighting the bully, she flashes back to her father's attack in France. Her mind snaps. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - very sensitive (sigh) Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's Kids growing up/acting up? Yes Is this an adult or child's book? - Age 11-14 War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians Yes Age group of kid(s) in story: - grade school Something wrong upstairs/downstairs? - mental illness Conflict: Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - a teen Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - society Setting United States Yes |
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