The Changelings is a novel by Jo Sinclair (Ruth Seid) first published in 1955 by McGraw Hill. Features tomboy protagonist Judith "Vincent" Vincent, a 12-year-old who is the newly deposed leader of a gang of pre-teen and teenage children in her Jewish/Sicilian neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio.
The novel follows the lives of several of the children and adults in the neighborhood in late summer through fall as African Americans begin to move into their neighborhood and their neighbors begin to move to "the heights." During this time, Vincent befriends Clara, a 12-year-old African American tomboy who lives a few blocks south of her neighborhood. She also deals with her sister's ostracization from the family for marrying a non-Jew.
They rent their "upstairs" to the Levines. They also share their telephone with them.
Judith "Vincent" Vincent – Twelve years old, a tomboy, and the book's protagonist. She wears her brother, Nathan's, pants and has recently been deposed as the leader of her neighborhood gang of boys. She longs for a personal relationship with God.
Mr. Abe Vincent – a painter, by trade. At one time, he owned his own contracting company, but had no business sense, charged too little for his jobs, and went out of business. He is happier working for other men. He follows the lead of his mother, who constantly disapproves of him and his choices.
Grandmother Vincent – The matriarch of the Vincent Family. She was a proprietor of a shop, married a man to gain citizenship, then divorced him. She is wealthy and has decided she wants to die in Palestine. She ostracized Shirley when Shirley married a non-Jew.
Mrs. Sonia Vincent
Nate Vincent – Judith's older brother
Shirley O'Brien – Vincent's older sister who married an Irish man. She is considered "dead" to Mr. Vincent and Grandmother Vincent.
Emmanuel "Manny" O'Brien – Shirley's infant son. Vincent is very attached to Manny and sees him as a symbol of salvation for the family.
Johnnie O'Brien – An Irish firefighter. Shirley's husband.
The Goldensedit
Mrs. Sophie Golden – "a tall, big-boned woman in her fifties" (25). Her children resemble her.
Mr. Herman Golden – works "in an exclusive downtown fur shop" (73)
Jules Golden – bed-ridden 17-year-old with heart-disease who is very close to Vincent. He often writes Hemingway-esque poetry and wrote the poem "The Changelings" for Vincent on her twelfth birthday.
Ida "Heidi" Golden – Jules' 22-year-old sister, "a stocky, muscular woman...with restlessly sullen eyes" (28). Her parents "hound" her to get married. She has a crush on Chip Levine. She also hears Santina and Alex talking in the gang clubhouse and thinks Santina is sleeping with a black man. She spreads this gossip.
Becky Golden – Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Golden. She is older than Jules. She is mentally handicapped and needs constant supervision and care.
Alex Golden – Youngest Golden son. Is sleeping with Santina Valenti. She calls him "Blacky."
Uncle Nathan – Sophie's brother, who is wealthy, lives in the Heights and gives Herman after-hours jobs.
The Zigmansedit
Mr. Morris Zigman – Owns a poultry shop. Speaks better Polish than his customers.
Mrs. Fanny Zigman – Wife of Morris – is the one who "really" runs the poultry shop (64).
Dave Zigman – the youngest brother of three, a sensitive boy, and Vincent's on-again-off-again best friend. Works for his parents in the poultry shop and making deliveries in the neighborhood.
Al Zigman – Dave's brother, described as a "gangster" and a "gambler". Has a girlfriend named Elaine.
Nicky Zigman – The family/store dog.
The Millersedit
Ruth Miller
Herb Miller
Mr. Miller
Mrs. Miller
Ben Miller
Flo Miller
Alice Miller
The Levinesedit
Chip Levine – A former boxer, sells newspapers. Is courting Ruth Miller. Brings her fruit in her store every Saturday.
Moe Levine
Mrs. Levine
The Valentisedit
Mrs. Valenti – the "spunyitze"
Santina Valenti – Mrs. Valenti's Granddaughter and Alex Golden's girlfriend.
Ross Valenti
Sourcesedit
The Changelings on Google Books
March 08, 2024
changelings, novel, other, books, changeling, disambiguation, books, changelings, novel, sinclair, ruth, seid, first, published, 1955, mcgraw, hill, features, tomboy, protagonist, judith, vincent, vincent, year, newly, deposed, leader, gang, teen, teenage, chi. For other books see Changeling disambiguation Books The Changelings is a novel by Jo Sinclair Ruth Seid first published in 1955 by McGraw Hill Features tomboy protagonist Judith Vincent Vincent a 12 year old who is the newly deposed leader of a gang of pre teen and teenage children in her Jewish Sicilian neighborhood in Cleveland Ohio The ChangelingsAuthorJo SinclairCover artistRichard M PowersCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreBildungsroman Jewish American literature PublisherMcGraw HillPublication date1955Media typePrint Paperback Pages323 ppThe novel follows the lives of several of the children and adults in the neighborhood in late summer through fall as African Americans begin to move into their neighborhood and their neighbors begin to move to the heights During this time Vincent befriends Clara a 12 year old African American tomboy who lives a few blocks south of her neighborhood She also deals with her sister s ostracization from the family for marrying a non Jew Contents 1 Families 1 1 The Vincents 1 2 The Goldens 1 3 The Zigmans 1 4 The Millers 1 5 The Levines 1 6 The Valentis 2 SourcesFamilies editThe Vincents edit They rent their upstairs to the Levines They also share their telephone with them Judith Vincent Vincent Twelve years old a tomboy and the book s protagonist She wears her brother Nathan s pants and has recently been deposed as the leader of her neighborhood gang of boys She longs for a personal relationship with God Mr Abe Vincent a painter by trade At one time he owned his own contracting company but had no business sense charged too little for his jobs and went out of business He is happier working for other men He follows the lead of his mother who constantly disapproves of him and his choices Grandmother Vincent The matriarch of the Vincent Family She was a proprietor of a shop married a man to gain citizenship then divorced him She is wealthy and has decided she wants to die in Palestine She ostracized Shirley when Shirley married a non Jew Mrs Sonia Vincent Nate Vincent Judith s older brother Shirley O Brien Vincent s older sister who married an Irish man She is considered dead to Mr Vincent and Grandmother Vincent Emmanuel Manny O Brien Shirley s infant son Vincent is very attached to Manny and sees him as a symbol of salvation for the family Johnnie O Brien An Irish firefighter Shirley s husband The Goldens edit Mrs Sophie Golden a tall big boned woman in her fifties 25 Her children resemble her Mr Herman Golden works in an exclusive downtown fur shop 73 Jules Golden bed ridden 17 year old with heart disease who is very close to Vincent He often writes Hemingway esque poetry and wrote the poem The Changelings for Vincent on her twelfth birthday Ida Heidi Golden Jules 22 year old sister a stocky muscular woman with restlessly sullen eyes 28 Her parents hound her to get married She has a crush on Chip Levine She also hears Santina and Alex talking in the gang clubhouse and thinks Santina is sleeping with a black man She spreads this gossip Becky Golden Daughter of Mr and Mrs Golden She is older than Jules She is mentally handicapped and needs constant supervision and care Alex Golden Youngest Golden son Is sleeping with Santina Valenti She calls him Blacky Uncle Nathan Sophie s brother who is wealthy lives in the Heights and gives Herman after hours jobs The Zigmans edit Mr Morris Zigman Owns a poultry shop Speaks better Polish than his customers Mrs Fanny Zigman Wife of Morris is the one who really runs the poultry shop 64 Dave Zigman the youngest brother of three a sensitive boy and Vincent s on again off again best friend Works for his parents in the poultry shop and making deliveries in the neighborhood Al Zigman Dave s brother described as a gangster and a gambler Has a girlfriend named Elaine Nicky Zigman The family store dog The Millers edit Ruth Miller Herb Miller Mr Miller Mrs Miller Ben Miller Flo Miller Alice MillerThe Levines edit Chip Levine A former boxer sells newspapers Is courting Ruth Miller Brings her fruit in her store every Saturday Moe Levine Mrs LevineThe Valentis edit Mrs Valenti the spunyitze Santina Valenti Mrs Valenti s Granddaughter and Alex Golden s girlfriend Ross ValentiSources editThe Changelings on Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Changelings novel amp oldid 1186920180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
