Ethan, suspended

*Starred Review* After Ethan is suspended from his suburban Philadelphia junior high, his soon-to-be-divorced mother sends him to the grandparents he barely knows in an inner-city neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Suddenly the white, privileged kid finds that he is the 'cracker" freak in an almost entirely black and Latino school. He feels as if he is in a time warp--no IM, cable, or malls. And he feels alone, often eating lunch by himself at school. But as he makes some friends, falls in love with smart, beautiful Kameka, learns to play oboe in the jazz band, and works on a school project on civil rights, he comes to redefine his meaning of home. In her first novel, Ehrenberg focuses on themes of race and class without sounding preachy, and the politics are right at the surface in an unforgettable scene, in which Ethan's friend, Diego, connects segregation and poverty: 'You don't need no laws to keep people out if people can't afford to go there." Ethan's first-person narrative about his family conflicts drive the story and reveal the issues. Best of all are the portraits of his scrappy Jewish grandparents. Along with the hilarious details of how they obsess about weird stuff, eat healthy food, and irritate each other and Ethan, there is also Ethan's growing respect for their decision not to leave their neighborhood.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2007 Booklist

Gr 6-8-After he's suspended from his middle school in suburban Philadelphia, Ethan is sent to live with his maternal grandparents in Washington, DC. He learns that he'll attend Parker Junior High-in a uniform from "ValuBuy." The boy feels suspended not only from his old school, but in time, as well. Every aspect of his life is changing radically. His parents have separated and his sister has started college in California. Life with his grandparents starkly contrasts with life in the suburbs. Not only is their city neighborhood a bit seedy, but Ethan is also the only white kid on the block and at school; there are no malls to hang out in and the only technology in his grandparents' home is a rotary phone. But during the fall, Ethan learns about the strength of his family and the turbulent times that helped shape them, begins to accept his parents' divorce, and figures out that assumptions about people can be way off base. In other words, he grows during his time away from Maple Heights. His first-person narration presents a different take on being an outsider. He's white and Jewish, middle class and suburban-raised in a challenged, gritty inner-city area. Details about the nation's capital appear (and more importantly, feel) accurate. Though message-driven with many convenient coincidences (saved by the suburbs-Ethan returns to his comfortable life and his grandparents' neighbors move to a DC suburb), this novel does provide a look at a not-often-seen side of life in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, because of its heavy-handedness, it is not likely to be embraced by the intended audience.-Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

After eighth-grader Ethan injures a classmate at his wealthy suburban school, his divorcing parents send him to live with his elderly grandparents in Washington, DC. The only white student in his new school, Ethan slowly makes friends and adjusts to his grandparents' lifestyle. Though the plot drags at times, the story explores racism and maturation from an unusual angle. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

*Starred Review* After Ethan is suspended from his suburban Philadelphia junior high, his soon-to-be-divorced mother sends him to the grandparents he barely knows in an inner-city neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Suddenly the white, privileged kid finds that he is the "cracker" freak in an almost entirely black and Latino school. He feels as if he is in a time warp—no IM, cable, or malls. And he feels alone, often eating lunch by himself at school. But as he makes some friends, falls in love with smart, beautiful Kameka, learns to play oboe in the jazz band, and works on a school project on civil rights, he comes to redefine his meaning of home. In her first novel, Ehrenberg focuses on themes of race and class without sounding preachy, and the politics are right at the surface in an unforgettable scene, in which Ethan's friend, Diego, connects segregation and poverty: "You don't need no laws to keep people out if people can't afford to go there." Ethan's first-person narrative about his family conflicts drive the story and reveal the issues. Best of all are the portraits of his scrappy Jewish grandparents. Along with the hilarious details of how they obsess about weird stuff, eat healthy food, and irritate each other and Ethan, there is also Ethan's growing respect for their decision not to leave their neighborhood.

Gr 6–8— After he's suspended from his middle school in suburban Philadelphia, Ethan is sent to live with his maternal grandparents in Washington, DC. He learns that he'll attend Parker Junior High—in a uniform from "ValuBuy." The boy feels suspended not only from his old school, but in time, as well. Every aspect of his life is changing radically. His parents have separated and his sister has started college in California. Life with his grandparents starkly contrasts with life in the suburbs. Not only is their city neighborhood a bit seedy, but Ethan is also the only white kid on the block and at school; there are no malls to hang out in and the only technology in his grandparents' home is a rotary phone. But during the fall, Ethan learns about the strength of his family and the turbulent times that helped shape them, begins to accept his parents' divorce, and figures out that assumptions about people can be way off base. In other words, he grows during his time away from Maple Heights. His first-person narration presents a different take on being an outsider. He's white and Jewish, middle class and suburban-raised in a challenged, gritty inner-city area. Details about the nation's capital appear (and more importantly, feel) accurate. Though message-driven with many convenient coincidences (saved by the suburbs—Ethan returns to his comfortable life and his grandparents' neighbors move to a DC suburb), this novel does provide a look at a not-often-seen side of life in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, because of its heavy-handedness, it is not likely to be embraced by the intended audience.—Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library