A Fist for Joe Louis and Me (Tales of Young Americans)

by Trinka Hakes Noble (Author) Nicole Tadgell (Illustrator)

A Fist for Joe Louis and Me (Tales of Young Americans)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Gordy and his family live in Detroit, Michigan, the heart of the United States automobile industry. Every night after coming home from work at one of the plants, Gordy's father teaches him how to box. Their hero is the famous American boxer Joe Louis, who grew up in Detroit. But the Great Depression has come down hard on the economy. Detroit's auto industry is affected and thousands of people lose their jobs, including Gordy's father. When his mother takes on work with a Jewish tailor, Gordy becomes friends with Ira, the tailor's son, bonding over their shared interest in boxing and Joe Louis.

As the boys' friendship grows, Gordy feels protective of Ira, wanting to help the new boy fit in. At the same time, America is gearing up for the rematch between Joe Louis and the German boxer, Max Schmeling. For many Americans this fight is about good versus evil (US against Nazi Germany). Against the backdrop of the 1938 Fight of the Century, a young boy learns what it means to make a stand for a friend.

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Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781534110168
Lexile Measure
610
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Sleeping Bear Press
Publication date
August 15, 2019
Series
Tales of Young Americans
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JUV005000 - Juvenile Fiction | Boys & Men
JUV016150 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | United States - 20th Century
JUV032000 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | General
Library of Congress categories
History
Friendship
African Americans
United States
20th century
Families
Family life
Jews
Friendship in children
Michigan
Germans
Detroit (Mich.)
Louis, Joe
Boxing
Schmeling, Max

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