Dave at Night
By Gail Carson Levine
(book review by Helen)

Imagine living in an orphanage where the superintendent hit the kids with a yardstick if they didn’t call him “Sir” or if they argued. That’s how Dave Caros had to live in the book, Dave at Night, by Gail Carson Levine.
Dave’s mother died giving birth to him. His father died eleven years later. He was helping build a house and he fell off the roof. At Papa’s funeral, Dave’s stepmother, Ida, asked all of Dave’s relatives if they wanted Dave or his big brother, Gideon. Uncle Jack wanted Gideon. Dave was always a trouble maker. Noone wanted him. That’s how Dave got to the orphanage
One night, Dave woke-up and couldn’t go back to sleep. He decided to go to the bathroom. To his surprise, the “ guard “ outside the door fell asleep. He then walked down to the lobby. He walked outside and right by the gate there was a tree with a limb hanging over the gate.
He found himself in front of a big house. A man came up behind Dave. He explained that there was a rent party going on inside. During the Depression, a lot of people did not have enough money to pay rent so they had rent parties and everyone would help by paying a little. The man he met was named Solly. Solly is an old man. To make money he sells fortunes.
At one of the parties that Dave went to with Solly, he met an orphan his age. She lived with her aunt, Mrs. Packer. Mrs. Packer was rich. His new friend wanted Dave to stay with them. Mrs. Parker couldn’t do that but she did have a special interest in helping Dave.
The one thing Dave wanted from the orphanage was the carving his Papa made. Mr. Doom, the Superintendent, stole it. Dave escaped with it one night. He told Mrs. Packer what Mr. Doom was doing and she made sure Dave wasn’t touched by Mr. Doom after he got it back.
This is a great book. It’s the kind of book you want to keep on reading and never put down. It’s especially good to hear the point of view of an orphan in the 1920’s.

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This page last updated: 08/28/04.