Dave at Night is a young adult, historical fiction novel written by award-winning author Gail Carson Levine in 1999.

[1] This book was inspired by leading figures in the arts during the Harlem Renaissance and her father, David Carson, whose childhood was spent in an orphanage.

The bedrooms are cold, the food is awful (and is often stolen by bullies) and the superintendent, Mr. Bloom (nicknamed Mr. Doom) is abusive and hits the boys with a yardstick.

Boychik- a little boy Landsman- a fellow Jew Mazel Tov- congratulations Gonif- somebody who fools people out of their money Shayneh shvartzeh maidel- pretty black girl Meshuggeneh- a crazy person Alrightnik- someone who forgets that he wasn't born a doctor, a judge, or a businessman; he forgets that a lot of people made it possible for him to get so high-and-mighty Dave Caros was inspired by Levine's father David Carasso who later changed his name to Carson to be a "real American".

The Hebrew Orphan Asylum took in boys and girls and the process to enter was done in a more legal manner than simply signing papers for the children as the book created.