Pete Hamill's novel is a gripping and moving story of how people from different backgrounds of religion and ethnicity can learn from one another and grow deeper in their understanding of what faith truly means. Michael Devlin, the 11 year old Irish Catholic altar boy, is an unforgettable young man. At the age when childhood answers, ideas and solutions do not quite work anymore, he is opened to a world of "magic," that is really a world of profound faith. Rabbi Hirsch, recent immigrant from Prague and a Holocaust survivor, recaptures his faith and his trust in humanity through his friendship with Michael. The rabbi's efforts to learn and master the English language and its complexities while make readers smile. Michael's efforts to learn Yiddish from the rabbi while likewise entertain. But there are, too, profound moments of horror and sadness as these two characters--so different and yet so alike--confront the prejudices and bigotries of close-minded neighbors in 1947 Brooklyn. The novel is set against the backdrop of Jackie Robinson's call up to major league baseball. This event, too, solidifies the bond between Rabbi Hirsch and Michael Devlin. The morals and themes presnt in this novel are beautiful and transcend any one religion; they are ideals that all of humanity can and should grasp and live by. The Golem, part of Jewish legend, survives on two things: faith and truth. Faith and truth are the real winners in this beautiful story.