Az Der Papa is a young adult novella about the coming of age of Sam Cohen. As a 12-year-old Jewish boy in the suburbs of Chicago circa 1970, Sam seeks answers to questions of balance between faith, family and fun that trouble many teens. The book's title alludes to a Yiddish proverb about the relationship between fathers and sons, one of the book's central themes. Other themes include psychological and social issues prominent in 1970, the role of Judaism in Sam's life, his friendships with slightly older peers who guide him, and Sam's encounters with a diverse cast of characters.