Isaac

Blum

Jewish Writer and Educator

National Book Award Long List

Travels from: Philadelphia, PA

“Funny, smart, moving, courageous, and so timely it almost hurts.” –Kirkus Starred Review

Isaac Blum (he/him) is a writer and educator. He’s taught English at several colleges and universities, and at Orthodox Jewish and public schools. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Rutgers-Camden, and his stories and essays have appeared in The Iowa Review, The New York Times, and One Teen Story, among other places. Isaac lives with his wife in Philadelphia where he watches sports and reads books that make him laugh while showing him something true about the world.

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen is his debut novel and was longlisted for the National Book Award. The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen is a wry, witty debut novel about a deeply important and timely subject, in a story of hatred and betrayal—and the friendships we find in the most unexpected places.

Isaac’s newest book, The Judgment of Yoyo Gold (October 2024) is a smart and powerful story set in the Orthodox Jewish community about what it means to fit in, break out, and find your own way.

Isaac's Featured Titles

Cross-cultural and interfaith understanding

Everybody has their own cultural and spiritual journey. Isaac discusses how mutual curiosity and understanding (as seen in The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen) can help us through our own journey of personal identity and heal our communities in the process.

Antisemitism

Isaac takes his audience through the roots and causes of antisemitism, and discusses ways to combat anti-Jewish bias through literature.

Two shuls on a desert island, Jewish culture, identity, and religious bridge-building

Jewishness is a broad spectrum, but one with many divisions. Isaac discusses the issues, ideas, and principles that divide Jews, and ways that Jews can move past them to find common ground and understanding.

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen: A journey from idea to publication

Isaac discusses the inspiration for the novel, and the journey it took from idea to published novel.

Finding your voice

Isaac helps young (or not as young) writers find their own unique voice in fiction. Through a series of fun writing exercises, Isaac helps participants develop their own personal style, technique, and personality in their prose.

Let's write a story

This can be done in a one-hour format with a participant (or participants) who has a finished story, or it can be done in a two-hour format where participants write first, then share. (I can send along materials for writing exercises that can be workshopped during the event, or, if the workshop is longer, we can do both the writing and critique/workshop in the same event).

Your voice matters

How every voice has the power to make a difference. This can be a discussion, workshop with activities, or both.

Isaac Blum introduces The Life and Times of Hoodie Rosen

“Blum tackles themes of acceptance and community [in] this impressively drawn story.” – Publishers Weekly, *STARRED REVIEW*

“A sharply written coming-of-age story whose protagonist, like any teen, is figuring out where he fits in, under circumstances that are thought-provoking and at times heart-wrenching.” – Horn Book Magazine, *STARRED REVIEW*

“Blum’s novel is well plotted, instructive in its portrayal of Orthodox life, and dramatic…with some much-needed humor.” – Booklist

Future Events

Educator Resources

Order Signed Books | Isaac’s Hometown Bookstore

Honors, Awards & Recognition

2023 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Winner
Publishers Weekly | Best Book of 2022
Kirkus | Best Book of 2022
Longlisted for the National Book Award
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
MFA in Creative Writing | Rutgers-Camden

Media clips

Publishers Weekly | Q & A with Isaac Blum

Philadelphia Jewish Exponent | You Should Know…Isaac Blum

CrimeReads | Isaac Blum on Writing a Young Adult Novel to Respond to Antisemitic Violence

BookPage | How Isaac Blum created the funniest YA narrator of the year

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.