Mighty Inside
As one of the few accordion-playing Black kids at Grover Cleveland High, Melvin has to find a way to stand up for himself and speak out against the Rat -- if only his stutter would let him.
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What the Book is About
Jewish Content & Values
Content Advisory
It's 1955, and Melvin Robinson isn't looking forward to starting 9th grade. He's got a stutter, he's one of the few Black kids at his school in Spokane, WA, and he plays the accordion, which definitely isn't cool. Fortunately, Melvin meets Lenny, a fast-talking, saxophone-playing Jewish kid on the first day of school, and they become friends. Lenny and his mother live above the famous Harlem Club, and Lenny encourages Melvin to speak with Millie, the Japanese-American girl whom Melvin has a crush on. Melvin’s friendships with Lenny and Millie not only deepen his understanding of the discrimination faced by the Japanese and Jewish communities, but also the lengths his own parents go to in order to protect him from the racism they face every day. When Lenny suggests they try out for the local TV variety show with Melvin playing his accordion and Lenny on the sax, Melvin must decide if he is mighty enough to show everyone who he really is.
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Lenny and his mother are Jewish, and his mother serves apples and honey at Rosh Hashanah to the staff at the Harlem Club where she works.
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A kiddush cup is key to revealing the connection between Lenny’s family and Melvin’s family.
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Towards the end of the book, Lenny decides to wear his kippah (yarmulke) more often, and to attend synagogue.
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Kindness, or chesed, is a core theme throughout this book.
We recommend this book for our older readers due to the themes around racism and antisemitism. Racist and antisemitic slurs are used (including the n-word) and there is a description of the murder of Emmett Till.
What the Book is About
It's 1955, and Melvin Robinson isn't looking forward to starting 9th grade. He's got a stutter, he's one of the few Black kids at his school in Spokane, WA, and he plays the accordion, which definitely isn't cool. Fortunately, Melvin meets Lenny, a fast-talking, saxophone-playing Jewish kid on the first day of school, and they become friends. Lenny and his mother live above the famous Harlem Club, and Lenny encourages Melvin to speak with Millie, the Japanese-American girl whom Melvin has a crush on. Melvin’s friendships with Lenny and Millie not only deepen his understanding of the discrimination faced by the Japanese and Jewish communities, but also the lengths his own parents go to in order to protect him from the racism they face every day. When Lenny suggests they try out for the local TV variety show with Melvin playing his accordion and Lenny on the sax, Melvin must decide if he is mighty enough to show everyone who he really is.
Jewish Content & Values
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Lenny and his mother are Jewish, and his mother serves apples and honey at Rosh Hashanah to the staff at the Harlem Club where she works.
-
A kiddush cup is key to revealing the connection between Lenny’s family and Melvin’s family.
-
Towards the end of the book, Lenny decides to wear his kippah (yarmulke) more often, and to attend synagogue.
-
Kindness, or chesed, is a core theme throughout this book.
Content Advisory
We recommend this book for our older readers due to the themes around racism and antisemitism. Racist and antisemitic slurs are used (including the n-word) and there is a description of the murder of Emmett Till.
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