The most developing character from the novel is Rueven Malter. One of the ways that he develops is in his understanding of friendship. Rueven was taught that other religions were not acceptable and it was impossible to be friends with other people who have different beliefs. But Ruevens father later encourages his friendship with Danny Saunders, but he is wary of it because Danny is Hassid, and regards regular Orthodox Jews as apikorism because of the teachings of Danny's father. "I see you do not know about Danny and the library." Page 84

Reuvens most difficult conflict is the one with in him. Reuven has set images in his mind since birth. He was taught a certain way and that's the way it should be. Then one day it all got turned around and Rueven now had to decide what was right and that it was time for him to grow up. Rueven contemplates decisions in his mind, between helping Danny address his father and learning that it is okay to be friends with a Hassid.

ct on weather it is good that he becomes friends with Danny. Rueven goes from not being able to have a civil conversation with Danny to becoming best friends with whom he spends all of his free time, studies Talmud, and goes to college. Rueven truly grows because he learns, s his father says, "what it is to be a friend." Another way Rueven over comes an internal conflict is that he learns to appreciate different people and their ideas. He starts out hating Hasidism because it was the "correct" thing to do, even though his father keeps telling him that it's okay to disagree with ideas, but hating a person because of what they are is intolerable.

Through his friendship with Danny, studies with Reb Saunders, brief crush on Danny's sister and time spent in the Hasidic community, Rueven learns that Hassid are people too with their own ideas and beliefs that are as valuable as his. He learns why they act, speak, think, and dress the way they do and comes to grips with the fact that he doesn't have a monopoly on virtue.

Reuven can only wish it would be as easy as to just blow it all away from danger like a fly, but goes through struggles that change both Rueven and Danny's life. Of course Rueven was not alone on his decision-making. His father encouraged greatly that Rueven do what he feels is right. His father would tell Reuven stories of previous ancestors that dared to be different, before bedtime over some tea. The stories consist of people from late centuries that dared to be a loner.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1015
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)