Historical Fiction
Date Published: 07-01-2025
Publisher: Sunbury Press, Inc.
Whiz Kid is a powerful coming-of-age novel set in 1950 Philadelphia,
where Jewish Navy veteran Ben Green faces impossible choices.
Pressured by his pregnant wife to finish his novel or take a secure job at a
prestigious ad agency, Ben must also navigate the era’s class divisions
and antisemitism. His best friend’s elite world clashes with his
working-class South Philly roots and Jewish identity.
Temptation, ambition, and loyalty collide—especially when Ilene, a
captivating classmate, threatens to unravel his carefully balanced life. As
the Phillies’ Whiz Kids chase a pennant, Ben’s own reckoning
builds to a climax, culminating in a surprising decision that redefines his
future.
Co-written with David S. Burcat, Joel Burcat’s late father, Whiz Kid is
a deeply American story of resilience, legacy, and the true cost of following
one’s heart.
Review
A deftly written story, full of history, vividly drawn characters, and compelling moments throughout.
Where do you go after? This veteran is moving on with his life but still faced with so many new decisions on life and where to go.
There were themes throughout that were difficult, but important to read about. This was a time of different classes and the author did a great job of showing that in his writing. Having these characters play off each other and really show the differences in their lives and where they came from and how that changes their own decisions.
Sometimes in life we have to make decisions that are difficult, do we do what is best for us or what is best for others? That is something Ben really struggles with and ultimately he makes a decision that really does change the path of his life.
I was absorbed in fact and history versus fiction, the author did a great job bringing real life and history to life and I had to keep on reading. This story really gives you much to think about long after reading.
About the Author
Joel Burcat is a novelist and retired lawyer living in Harrisburg, Pa.
His previous novels, Reap the Wind, Drink to Every Beast, Amid Rage, and
Strange Fire have been award-winning thrillers. He is a Gold Medal Winner from
Readers’ Favorite, a Finalist of the Next Gen Indie Book Awards, and a
winner of the PennWriters Annual Writing Contest. Strange Fire was a Kirkus
Reviews Best Book of the Week.
David S. Burcat was a Navy corpsman in World War II, a graduate of University
of Pennsylvania (English Literature and Dentistry), and a proud son of Camden
NJ and his adopted town of Philadelphia. He worked in advertising in the 1950s
before returning to Penn to study dentistry. He wrote Match Point, the novella
within the novel, in about 1950. He died in 1998. Whiz Kid- A Novel is his
first published book. Dave was the father of co-author, Joel Burcat.
Contact Links
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Goodreads
Instagram
LinkedIn
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment