THE DO MORE CLUB

A Jewish boy's bravery and kindness are tested after an antisemitic attack on his middle school in this rousing novel-in-verse.

Ever since twelve-year-old Josh Kline found a bagel filled with shaving cream and a note that said, "Eat this, Jews," in the mailbox outside his home in third grade, he's kept his Jewish identity a secret. At a new school where he's pretty sure he's the only Jew, he's hoping to make a new impression and just keep religion out of everything... until the morning someone sprays swastikas and graffiti all over his middle school. That's when everything changes.

The school brings in a team to talk to all the kids and when Josh finally reveals that he is a Jew, in one of the counseling groups the school has set up in the wake of the attack, he quickly finds out there's more to the other kids in his grade too - everyone is struggling with different issues, but then, one of the kids in his group admits that he hates Jews, as does his father, and his brother. And Josh feels like he must do something. He goes from shy student to fearless leader by forming the 'Do More' club based on a tenet of Judaism about repairing the world.

Even though nearly 50 kids sign up, Josh quickly learns that running the club is not easy, especially when kids are determined to be cruel to each other no matter how much positivity Josh and his club try to spread. After there's a Zoom bombing with antisemitic messages at his synagogue's virtual Friday night service, Josh loses hope that he can make any difference at all. And then, just when things look like they might get better, Josh's very home is attacked. He decides to disband the club, but, with the help of some friends (and adults!) he finds a way to move forward as he learns that 'doing more' is not about repairing the whole world - just your own little corner of it.

Dana Kramaroff is a mom, a fifth grade teacher, a fellow of the National Writing Project, and has been a member of SCBWI since 2015. Her publishing credits include multiple articles about parenting on Scary Mommy. She hails from rural Pennsylvania, (where her kids are often the only Jews in their schools as well.) and is easily impressed by stickers, washi tape, colorful pens, and notebooks.