American Golem

Reviews / Votes

"Through an amusing story and charming, highly detailed illustrations, American Golem articulates the fear of every newcomer: that they won't fit in. The book's lesson-that it's important to be open to new experiences and people-is timely, and its writing is accessible to young people. The book includes a meaningful author's note which further expands upon this topic."

- Jewish Book Council

"An utterly charming, impressively original, thoroughly 'kid friendly', and unfailingly entertaining picture book for young readers ages 8 to 12, American Golem by author and illustrator Marc Lumer is very highly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library collections for young readers."

- Midwest Book Review

"Lumer's comics-style mixed-media illustrations successfully combine a traditional picture-book format with comics conventions (panels, speech balloons, and frames). Earthy colors predominate, and the inclusion of several sepia-toned photographs suggests the setting as pre-WWII New York City. While the story makes few references to Judaism, an appended author's note clarifies both golems and tikun olan (repairing the world) and offers questions for discussion."

- Booklist

"Is a golem a superhero?

A golem is a figure from Jewish legend and-in this telling-a giant who's more powerful than a locomotive. In the opening pages of this picture book, the narrator, a Jewish immigrant boy arriving in America from Europe, gives his golem a sort of superhero credo: "The creature had one purpose only: To protect us!" The only problem is that the boy doesn't need much protecting. The gang of kids chasing him turns out to be a baseball team looking for a new player. The golem ends up working odd jobs: ice cream man, construction worker. It's as if Superman stayed in Smallville and fought jaywalkers and cow tippers. Unfortunately, watching a golem do construction work isn't as funny as it might sound, though the panicked expressions on the other workers' faces as he joins them on a narrow girder in midair are mildly hilarious. Lumer's pictures are enormously expressive, and his technique is both spectacular and utterly peculiar. If Al Hirschfeld had done chalk drawings, they would have looked like this. (The skin tones are sadly monochrome, though. All the characters are white, except in large crowd scenes.) If some jokes don't work, the story ends on a perfect-and very American-superhero moment, with the golem knocking a baseball "[w]aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out" of the park.

The Justice League could do worse than to have this golem as a member. (Picture book. 6-9)"

- Kirkus Reviews

"A young boy arrives in America and is intimidated by the big, crowded, scary city. When the kids next door run after him yelling, he immediately assumes that they are just like the bullies he left behind in the old country. Inspired by the Jewish legend of the Golem, he creates his own giant out of mud for protection. However, the boy soon discovers that his neighbors harbor no ill will and only wanted him to join their stick ball game. But if no one needs protection, what should his Golem do instead? Expressive, detailed pencil and watercolor illustrations in nostalgic sepia tones, that also incorporate historical photographs of New York City, help tell the story and perfectly complement this funny and unique twist on the Golem legend. Glossing over the original reasons the Jews needed to rely on a Golem, Lumer shifts the focus to friendship, fitting in, welcoming newcomers, and assuming the best in people. Pair with The Golem's Latkes by Eric Kimmel for readers looking for a lighter take on the legend and for those who aren't quite ready for David Wisniewski's Caldecott-winning title. VERDICT A solid addition for most libraries."

- School Library Journal