A pretty good middle school read! I feel like this genre doesn't get recognized as much as it should, and that there are some really great middle school books. This is a nice, oftentimes funny and sweet, story of a Canadian boy and his family taking a vacation to Florida in the 60s, and focuses on the boys new friendships and experiences while there.

Cary Fagan grew up in the 1960s, during the height of the Borscht Belt comedians and Jewish comics who were famous for their stand up acts in restaurants making jokes about themselves and their family relationships. Looking back at a memorable vacation to Miami Beach with his siblings and parents in 1964, Fagan creates a wonderful novel about growing up, working together with your siblings and a legendary comedian.



Mort Ziff Is Not Dead is the story told in the first person by the son of a Canadian Jewish family, Norman Fishbein. His older siblings, Marcus and Larry always give him a hard time until he wins a contest and with the money decides to take his family a free trip to Miami Beach. His mother loves that new singing sensation, The Beatles.

"Mom really liked the Beatles; in fact, she had cut a picture of them out of the newspaper a year ago and it was still on the fridge....The words underneath said that The Beatles had come to Miami Beach for their second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and that had liked the place so much they decided to stay a week. ....They looked like they were in Paradise. And then I knew. I really did. I knew the perfect thing to do with the money."

As the author describes the airplane trip to Florida, adult readers will be reminded of how different air travel was and children will learn how their parents traveled when they were children. Reminiscent of comedians like, Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles and Milton Berle. Mort Ziff is an old performer who has seen more popular times. In the face of the new more exciting young performers his job is in jeopardy until Norman and his new found friend Amy work together with their siblings to re energize Ziff's act and his career. They learn how to work together, helping each other instead of fighting as they save the career of the outdated comic.

In a time of segregation the 1960s had separate hotels for Jews and Christians. It was a time that separation allowed famous performers like, Louis Armstrong and Harry Belafonte to perform in a Miami Beach hotel but not to stay in a room at any of those resorts. These topics are mentioned in passing in this novel to give the reader a true perspective of the time period. But mainly this story focuses on the relationship between the brothers and how they all mature as they work together and get along on this important family vacation.

A fun novel written on levels that will appeal to both young readers and adults. Children will relate to the kids in the story and their adventures, adults will have fun going down memory lane to a time of innocence.

I get most of my review books on NetGalley, which is so fun since it means seeing AND reading books before they come out. One of the more interesting parts of the process is that when I gain access and send them to my eReader, I rarely remember what they were about. And there aren’t any cover images. It’s just a title.

So seeing MORT ZIFF IS NOT DEAD (Cary Fagan, August 1, 2017, Penguin RandomHouse/Puffin Canada, $15.99, hardcover, 176 pages), I thought is this adult? children’s? comedy? tragedy?

I went in with no expectations whatsoever.

You, however, have the benefit of seeing the cover right here.

The story begins with Norman, the youngest of three boys, who wins $1,000 in a Doozy Dots counting contest. Because this is 1960s Canada, that’s enough money for him to take his whole family to Florida for a vacation. So they pack up and fly down there (can you imagine taking 5 people to Florida and getting your travel and lodgings for $1,000 in 2017?) and stay at a posh hotel owned by a mysterious millionaire.

While they’re staying there, they meet another family who has three daughters. A rivalry strikes up between the two oldest of each family, but Norman and Amy decide to be friends on the sly (traitors!). A sweet friendship ensues. Then they meet Mort Ziff.

Mort Ziff is a comedian who has seen his heyday and doesn’t connect with audiences the same way anymore. “The first time I came into this place I said, ‘Waiter, do you serve crabs here?’ He said, ‘We serve anyone. Sit down.'” He’s dry and endearing, but while Norman and his family are there, the hotel management brings in a Beatles-wanna-be band for dinner entertainment instead, and Mort loses his job.

Secret friends Norman and Amy decide to do something about it… And thus ensues their heartwarming efforts to unite on behalf of Mort (despite the fact that their siblings would be mortified at their unity).

The plotline of the story was cute and playful, a great read for a plane ride. But what sets MORT ZIFF apart are the relational details. Norman is caught between feeling like the unwanted third wheel with his brothers, but though he isn’t ruled by them, he still wants his brothers to like him. Amy is in the same boat with her sisters. More complexity is seen with Norman enjoying some good fortune with his vacation but also seeing Mort Ziff lose his gig as the comedy act at the resort.

There are so many moments of decision for Norman, which middle grade (and adult…) readers can identify with. He can choose to befriend or turn away, to care about someone else or to chalk it up to the way things go. He can stand up to his brothers or carry on a pointless rivalry. Relatable is thrown around too often, but this one hits home. MORT ZIFF is memorable, witty, nuanced, and poignant.

Highly recommended for… all.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the advanced review copy!

It's the winter of 1965. Norman Fishbein wins a thousand dollars in the "Count-the-Doozy-Dots Contest" and his parents let him choose how to spend it. Norman decides what his family really needs is their a vacation to Miami Beach. Norman, his brothers and parents head on their way! While on vacation they see comedian Mort Ziff, who is definitely not dead even though everyone thinks he died years ago. Norman and his brothers, along with the help of some friends, decide that they are going to help Mort Ziff keep his job and still have a great vacation. This was a fun read!!

Mort Ziff is alive and well telling jokes in Miami Beach thanks to Amy and Norman. Norman Fishbein on Christmas vacation with his family in Miami Beach meets Amy Horvath who is also the picked on youngest of three siblings. Together they show everyone that the "old" comedic stylings of Mort Ziff can coexist with the "new" music of the Centipedes. This is a well crafted story set in the sixties complete with funny haircuts and inflight meals served on china. Reader will enjoy this story from start to finish.

An Upbeat, Cheerful and Good-Humored Tale of a Decent Kid and a Family Vacation to Florida in the 60's

This book is not a lot of things -- It is not loaded with annoying sibling rivalry or bullying. It is not angsty or fraught. It is not some frantic/antic vacation adventure tale. It is not some lugubrious heart tugger. It is not about clueless or inept parents. It is not about some wisecracking genius hero kid. Excellent.

This is a kind, calm, cheerful, upbeat and ultimately rather touching tale about a kid whose selfless generosity and attitude makes everyone around him just a little bit happier. And it's not gummy or gooey or starry-eyed. The kid is a wide-eyed naif, but with decent instincts. He's alert and observant, and he's always trying to figure out what's going on. Right or wrong or somewhere in-between, he's a great companion and consistently interesting.

There's sort of a triple setup here. When Norman Fishbein wins a cash prize in a contest his parents let him decide how the money will be spent. He decides the whole family needs a vacation, and it needs to get out of Toronto and down to sunny Florida. So, ba-boom, the family is off to Florida, to a ritzy resort. By the time we get on the plane we know Norman, his folks, and Norman's two older brothers, (who tease and aggravate Norman in a low key sort of way). At this point the story could go anywhere in terms of tone and action.

When we get to Florida the basic feel is sunny and gee-whiz. Norman, his brothers, and his folks are fascinated and pleasantly surprised by everything, and the story is loose and sort of joyous. Hey, it's the mid-60's and everything is swell. At this point, though, we need a plot. Enter Mort Ziff. Mort is the ancient deadpan standup comic, (think Henny Youngman or Leonard Barr), who works at the resort. The running joke is that every time someone mentions his name the next person says, "Mort Ziff? Isn't he dead?". Anyway, Mort is going to be canned in favor of a Beatles tribute group, and Norman decides to save Mort's job. In a funny Romeo and Juliet side story, Norman has become very friendly with Amy even though Norman's brothers are feuding with Amy's sisters. So, Norman and Amy have to meet and work their magic on the sly.

That's it. At the end we all go home. But, I smiled as I read this; I liked remembering the 60's and times at the beach; I smiled and sort of missed the Fishbein family when I closed the book. Can't ask for much more than that.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

A sunny middle grade vacation story that breezes along with likable characters, an idyllic setting, and just enough problems to sort out to keep readers engaged from start to finish. Especially enjoyable to read while snowed in today.