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Sons of the 613
by
Michael Rubens (Goodreads Author)
Isaac's parents have abandoned him for a trip to Italy in the final days before his bar mitzvah. And even worse, his hotheaded older brother, Josh, has been left in charge. An undefeated wrestler, MMA fighter, and bar brawler, Joshclaims to bea "Son of the 613"—a man obedient to the six hundred and thirteen commandments in the Tanakh—and he hasthe tattoo to prove it.When J...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
September 11th 2012
by Clarion Books
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A very funny, and finally tragic, story of the relationship between two brothers. The older, street smart brother Josh takes advantage of a trip to Italy by his parents, to teach his younger brother Isaac, about how to be bar mitzvahed, and how to be a man.
An absolutely wonderful coming of age story that, while revolving around the Jewish rite of passage of bar mitzvah, will be embraced by all YA readers. The book seems very light-hearted at first, pulling the reader into the story with lots of...more
An absolutely wonderful coming of age story that, while revolving around the Jewish rite of passage of bar mitzvah, will be embraced by all YA readers. The book seems very light-hearted at first, pulling the reader into the story with lots of...more
I read it in one sitting.
I just found it completely engrossing from the start, and that was really refreshing because I've been reading a lot of books lately that just seem to drag and drag and drag. I was starting to think that I'd lost the ability to enjoy books or something, but no, finally one that held my attention!
I wasn't entirely sure about the age group for this. I think a lot of thirteen-year-olds would like this book, but their parents wouldn't approve, and at that age, the parents...more
I just found it completely engrossing from the start, and that was really refreshing because I've been reading a lot of books lately that just seem to drag and drag and drag. I was starting to think that I'd lost the ability to enjoy books or something, but no, finally one that held my attention!
I wasn't entirely sure about the age group for this. I think a lot of thirteen-year-olds would like this book, but their parents wouldn't approve, and at that age, the parents...more
Jan 10, 2013
Barbara
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
abusive-relationships,
animals,
bullies,
community,
cultural-identity,
death,
families,
friendship,
jobs,
ncbla2013,
romance,
school,
war
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I had high hopes for this book. When Eric Weinberg, Isaac's "ally of convenience in a hostile universe," threw up on the bima after squeakingly saying "Today I am a man" and as he began his Torah blessing, I thought this was going to be a really funny book. Isaac's bar mitzvah is three weeks away and it turns out his Israeli tutor only showed up for two sessions. Then his mom decides to accompany his physician father for a two week trip to Italy where he has a conference. Okay, this is really s...more
A school librarian's nightmare, Sons of the 613 is rife with raunch and brimming with f-bombs. The conceit here is that Isaac is on the verge of his bar mitzvah but his rugged and muscular, 6'3" older brother Josh thinks he needs to become a man in other ways first. Rubens sends the boys' parents off to Italy, clearing the field for Josh to bring Isaac to bars and strip joints, to gyms (for fighting) and cliffs (for jumping). Isaac must fire a gun and and defeat the "minotaur" by stealing a stat...more
My Summary: Isaac and his brother Josh don't exactly see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. Ever since Josh became a "Son of the 613", things have been a little... weird, to say the least. And when their parents decide to go on a last minute trip to Italy - leaving Isaac in the care of his brother just days before his bar mitzvah - things take a turn for the worse. And when Josh notices his brother's feelings for his girlfriend, he decides that Isaac is in need of some 'training' before he can truly...more
I really enjoyed this title. It reminded me a lot of a Chris Crutcher's (who I LOVE) work. This title would definitely be a read alike to his work or something like Stupid Fast. Isaac has his bar mitzvah in two weeks and is wholly unprepared for it. It doesn't help that he saw his buddy Eric puke his guts out at his just a few days ago. When Isaac's parents go out of town unexpectedly, Isaac's brother Josh (or Super Jew as some call him) decides it's time to make Isaac a man. Josh is super athle...more
On the upside, about-to-be-Bar-Mitzvahed Isaac and his 19-year-old brother Josh were engaging characters and I liked the "brothers" story and the idea of the older, tougher brother trying to help his admittedly slightly wimpy brother to "man up." It was entertaining and both characters developed in expected and unexpected ways.
On the downside, there were too many moments in which I found myself thinking, "Whaaaaaa???" Even a loving brother who is also kind of an idiot doesn't leave his 9-year-ol...more
On the downside, there were too many moments in which I found myself thinking, "Whaaaaaa???" Even a loving brother who is also kind of an idiot doesn't leave his 9-year-ol...more
(SLJ Grades 7 and up, no Lexile listed, but I would guess around 950 or so if it’s a 7th grade book)
I have just watched my friend vomit all over the holiest book in all of the Jewish religion. I have also just watched him collapse in a sweaty heap onto the temple floor. While I watch this horrific display, my older brother Josh sits next to me, laughing. No doubt remembering his bar mitzvah fondly and thinking about how this would never happen to him. How, if anyone laughed at him, he would just...more
I have just watched my friend vomit all over the holiest book in all of the Jewish religion. I have also just watched him collapse in a sweaty heap onto the temple floor. While I watch this horrific display, my older brother Josh sits next to me, laughing. No doubt remembering his bar mitzvah fondly and thinking about how this would never happen to him. How, if anyone laughed at him, he would just...more
Sons of the 613
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2012, 305 pp., $16.99
Michael Rubens ISBN number 978-0-547-61216-4
Issac’s parents are leaving for Italy, leaving the 12 year old kid with his terrifying brother, Josh. With only weeks away, Issac’s bar mitzvah is drawing closer and he still hasn’t memorized haphtarah, a speech about becoming an official man! Josh, being the older brother, decided it’s not enough just for his weak kiddo brother to remember a speech but also make him a...more
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2012, 305 pp., $16.99
Michael Rubens ISBN number 978-0-547-61216-4
Issac’s parents are leaving for Italy, leaving the 12 year old kid with his terrifying brother, Josh. With only weeks away, Issac’s bar mitzvah is drawing closer and he still hasn’t memorized haphtarah, a speech about becoming an official man! Josh, being the older brother, decided it’s not enough just for his weak kiddo brother to remember a speech but also make him a...more
Content might be more appropriate for older high school (sex, drugs, cursing, etc.) but the voice of the narrator (a middle school guy) is very authentic. A few weeks before his bar mitzvah, Isaac's parents leave for Italy. Isaac and his kid sister areleft in the hands of aggressive older brother, Josh, who decides to put his wimpy brother on a quest to prove his manhood. The end is not very believable, and Josh sometimes seems too outlandish to be real, but this story of Isaac's odyssey to manh...more
The first thing that I absolutely can say about the novel, Sons of the 613 by author Michael Rubens is that I judged the book by its cover. I know, one of the worst things a reader can do, but at the same time it did stir up some curiosity in me. The image of a boy being punched in the face made me smirk and of course, I wanted to know more. After reading the description, I wanted to read because one thing caught my eye: MMA. I mean, at the time, I had been a bit upset that mixed martial arts is...more
I picked up this story to answer one question: how can a man so dedicated to his Jewish faith that he got a tattoo proclaiming that faith know much about Judism. Because even a goy (non-Jewish person) like me knows that one of the 613 commandments in the Tanakh is "don't get a tattoo!" This book was more than I was expected. It was a hilarious coming of age story for Isaac who has two weeks to prepare for his bar mitzvah and his crazy older brother Josh has a plan to turn Isaac into a man. This...more
I LOVE THIS BOOK. IT IS A DELIGHT.
isaac kaplan is weeks away from his bar mitzvah and totally unprepared. then his parents go on vacation, leaving him in the care of his large, terrifying, ultra-jewish wrestler of a brother, josh. josh is determined to prepare isaac for manhood in more ways than memorizing his haphtarah*- he must also ride a motorcycle, shoot a gun, jump off a cliff, kidnap a statue, and get a haircut. hilarious hijinks ensue.
although the characters are hilarious, they are also...more
isaac kaplan is weeks away from his bar mitzvah and totally unprepared. then his parents go on vacation, leaving him in the care of his large, terrifying, ultra-jewish wrestler of a brother, josh. josh is determined to prepare isaac for manhood in more ways than memorizing his haphtarah*- he must also ride a motorcycle, shoot a gun, jump off a cliff, kidnap a statue, and get a haircut. hilarious hijinks ensue.
although the characters are hilarious, they are also...more
view all 3 comments
Issac has not been studing for his bar mitzvah and he hasn't told his parents that his tutor hasn't been showing up either. Now he has less than 2 weeks and his parents have gone to Italy leaving Issac and his young sister in the care of their older brother Josh. Josh is a wild and lost young man but he is determined that Issac will be ready to become a man. Mature subjects and situations throughout.
Feb 08, 2013
Brandy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
2013,
boy-books,
bildungsroman,
bullies,
family-drama,
library,
potential_booktalks,
realistic,
teen
Isaac's parents are going to Italy for two weeks, leaving him in the care of his psychotic older brother Josh. Josh is tasked with getting Isaac ready for his Bar Mitzvah, but Josh's methods to make Isaac into a man turn out to be a little unorthodox. Vicious dogs, black eyes, and more than a few secrets, and Isaac may never become a man.
Funny, sometimes crude, and surprisingly touching.
Funny, sometimes crude, and surprisingly touching.
This book is hilarious. It's a tale of epic Bar Mitzvah anxiety, and what it means to become an adult, to yourself and in the eyes of your family and community. I rarely find a book in which the characters' Jewishness has anything to do with them or the plot. In this book it does, and I really enjoyed it. The ending came as a bit of a shock, but I think it worked.
Love this book. It's raunchy and far-fetched, but the characters and issues it raises are compelling and fresh. What does it mean to become an adult? What trials should a person have to endure, if any? Is maturity just a matter of getting to a certain age, or is there something intangible one needs to achieve?
Before Issac's bar mitzvah his older brother Josh decides to teach him how to be a man. Josh and Issac are pretty much polar opposites - the fighter and the wimpy nerd. But you grow to see the complexities in their characters.
Funny, sad, realistic, and I loved the ending.
Funny, sad, realistic, and I loved the ending.
Read this for the YALSA Hub Reading Challenge except now I think it's not actually on the list.
Hmmm.
Well, it's read and it was a good book although kind of sad. Sadder than the book flap blurb would lead you to believe.
Hmmm.
Well, it's read and it was a good book although kind of sad. Sadder than the book flap blurb would lead you to believe.
Isaac is getting ready for his Bar Mitzvah but not doing so well so his older brother with anger management issues decides to help and make him a man while their parents take their trip of a lifetime. It is a crazy story of choices, standing up for yourself and the occasional punch to the face. Good book.
A fast and brutal read, showing that however much you think you may know someone, there is always a side to them you have not yet discovered.
Probably 3 1/2 stars. Jewish themes drew me to this book as something that would appeal to my customers. Not so much. It is a coming-of-age story as Isaac approaches his bar mitzvah, completely unprepared, and is fearing the worst. As his parents head out of town for a 2 week trip, his 20 year old brother Josh is left in charge and will help prep him. Josh turns this into an opportunity to help Isaac "become a man", and the hijinks ensue - both funny and serious. The story is a bit raunchy (for...more
Just not really my cup of tea, though I can see that it would have wide appeal as a coming of age story for teens.
I freaking loved it! I'm 13 and the author nailed it! This book is just what the average 13 year old would think.
despite the author's addiction to in media res, i found isaac's story humorous and surprisingly poignant.
From the eye-arresting cover to the adolescent angst of the story, this book grabbed me and didn't let go. Outrageously funny in some parts, touching in others. A good read!
Enjoyed this book and was nicely surprised how well it read. The moment that stands out most for me was when Issac went to the nudie bar for the first time. I was 17 my first time and Michael Rubens nailed it on the head with Issac's first impressions of being inside; yes they were everywhere.
humor; coming of age
I was impressed with the opening scene and felt the book had a lot of promise. But then for me it fell off significantly. I couldn't tell what day it was and I was offended by the vulgar language, which I thought was unnecessary. And, if Josh was instructing Izzy in the ways of Judaism, why was he cooking sausage?
The narrative could have benefited from a heavier editing hand.
Or maybe this is just a boys' book and I couldn't relate.
The narrative could have benefited from a heavier editing hand.
Or maybe this is just a boys' book and I couldn't relate.
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Michael Rubens is the author of the novels The Sheriff of Yrnameer and Sons of the 613. He was previously a producer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, to help alleviate that area's critical shortage of writers and producers.
Michael is represented by John Silbersack at Trident Media Group.
More about Michael Rubens...
Michael is represented by John Silbersack at Trident Media Group.
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