Going Rogue (At Hebrew School)

Casey Breton’s middle grade novel Going Rogue (At Hebrew School) introduces Avery Green, a young Star Wars fanatic who hates boring, illogical Hebrew school. He’s quite startled when a new interim rabbi, Rabbi Bob, shows up and asks the kids to explain God–through understanding the Force and other Star Wars trivia. At the rabbi’s prompting, Avery explains, “The Force is a mystical energy that flows through all living things and binds everything in the galaxy together…Everyone has the Force in them, but some people feel it more strongly. Those are the ones selected to become Jedi.” The rabbi nods. “Now I’d like you to say the exact same thing, but instead of the Force, say God” (35). 

Of course, this incredibly extended metaphor can help kids connect with the spiritual through their love of fandom. A great deal of trivia and fandom is thrown in. Further, the rabbi has an office of Star Wars mementos including a real lightsaber…and it’s red. A mystery evolves as Avery wonders, is this rabbi really a Sith? 

Avery Green is a lively young hero who enjoys inventing terrible smells and longs to play football. As he struggles with one-way and two-way friendships, he explores the Jewish values of visiting the sick–even someone he dislikes. He’s trying to understand his place in the world with all his conflicting responsibilities, and he gets a satisfying emotional journey. Bullying and defending the bullied become important, and the book does a good job giving Avery agency appropriate for his age. With all this, this book is sympathetic to the struggles young teens have and great for superfans, of course. It’s a fun book that explores the joys of Star Wars fandom and its importance in young people’s lives contrasted with the dullness of organized religion.

---