The Case Against My Brother
The Case Against My Brother
The Case Against My Brother
Libby Sternberg
Orphaned and penniless in 1922 Baltimore, Maryland, fifteen-year-old Carl and seventeen-year-old Adam Matuski are forced to move across the continent to live with their Uncle Pete in Portland, Oregon. Almost from the beginning, homesick Carl desperately wants to return east with his brother, but his plans fall apart when Adam is sought by police for the theft of expensive jewels from his wealthy girlfriend’s home. Carl is convinced that Adam is being fingered unfairly. He and his brother are Polish Catholics, and Portland is awash in anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant sentiment. Voters, in fact, are being asked to decide whether Catholic schools, indeed all non-public schools, should be outlawed entirely. Carl works at one such Catholic school. Fueled by the Ku Klux Klan and other unsavory groups, the campaign touches Carl personally as he strives to clear his brother’s name and solve the mystery: Who really took the family jewels, and why?

Book Details

Genre: 

  • Fiction
  • Mystery

Age Level: 

  • 12 and up
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I've always known about the segregation and prejudice that happened between black people and white people. However, I never knew that at one point in time people had a prejudice attitude toward Catholics. 15 year-old Carl Matuski and his 17 year-old brother Adam have moved from Baltimore to Portland, Oregon. Almost immediately after arriving, Adam is accused of stealing jewelry from a rich white mans house. Carl believes that they are just accusing Adam because he is a Catholic with polish ancestors.

Profile Picture

Carl Matsuki and his brother Adam are living in Portland,Oregon with their Uncle Pete ever since their mom died. Adam has always been the one that Carl relied upon, especially now, being Polish Catholics living in an anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic area. However, Carl's world is turned upside down when his brother is accused of robbery. Carl sets out to clear his brother's name, but uncovers a secret underworld on his journey. He takes charge to help his brother, even if he must witness blackmail and murder to do so.

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