After spending last summer reading The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, Middle School students recently had the opportunity to meet the author behind the story, Isaac Blum, during a special visit as part of the Head of School Distinguished Speaker Series. Blum’s time on campus sparked meaningful conversations about writing, empathy, and confronting antisemitism through literature.

Introduced by Middle School students, Blum spoke about his acclaimed debut novel, which served as one of the Middle School’s summer reading selections last year. Currently an English teacher at YSC Academy, Blum engaged students by sharing his “why” and reflecting on the inspiration behind the novel. He explained that he writes with the goal of entertaining, informing, and revealing something meaningful to readers.

In discussing The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, Blum shared that he hoped to raise awareness about the rise of antisemitism in the United States while challenging harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about Jewish people, both those rooted in history and those continuing to spread online today. Throughout the presentation, Blum addressed these topics in a thoughtful way, reading excerpts from the novel to further explore the themes and messages woven throughout the story.

"Hosting Isaac Blum on campus was a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with an author whose work they had already experienced as summer reading," Head of Middle School Jonas Jeswald said. "His thoughtful presentation encouraged students to consider how storytelling can both entertain and address important social issues, and the discussion that followed showcased the curiosity and engagement of our middle school community."

Blum also offered aspiring writers practical advice drawn from his own creative journey, encouraging students to “read all the time, write all the time,” and to find trusted peers who can provide honest, constructive feedback on their work.

The visit concluded with an engaging student-led Q&A panel facilitated by a group of insightful eighth grade students, who asked Blum thoughtful questions about his upbringing, writing process, and advice for young writers.

Following the assembly, Blum joined students for a special luncheon that included members of GA’s Jewish affinity group and students who helped prepare for the visit. The smaller gathering allowed for continued discussion and reflection on the themes raised throughout the day.