Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition (Initial Situation)
Baby Genius
The setup for the novel is pretty basic: Asher Lev is a little kid who can paint and draw like an adult who's already graduated from art school. He's a pint-size Picasso, and he comes from a community that doesn't exactly take well to pint-size Piccasos. Which sets the stage for…
Rising Action (Conflict, Complication)
To Paint, or Not to Paint?
Asher keeps on getting in trouble with his über-religious father for painting pictures that aren't exactly beautiful. A picture of Abraham, father of the Israelites, on top of a hill surrounded by angels? Sure. But a picture of Asher's mom sick in bed? Not at all okay. This tension occupies most of the book, Asher struggling to express his gift while his loved ones get all worked up about how sacrilegious he's being.
Climax (Crisis, Turning Point)
The Crucifixion
The climax of the story comes pretty late in the book, when Asher's parents see Brooklyn Crucifixion I and II. These pictures are pretty much the height of sacrilege, because they feature both Christian imagery (the crucifixion) and Asher's family very prominently. Yikes. Although the paintings are considered the best he's ever done, they're also bad news for the Ladover Hasidic community.
Falling Action
Hasta La Vista, Rabbi
Asher is cast out of his community for his controversial paintings. His father, who was already extremely distant from him, basically stops talking to him. His mother is grief-stricken because her son has disobeyed Jewish law. Asher's Rabbi asks him to leave the Ladover community in Crown Heights, and he does.
Resolution (Denouement)
On His Own
Asher learns that it is basically impossible for him to be both an artist and a religious Jew, which is pretty devastating. Ultimately, he's forced to choose his art over his religion. He leaves his parents and community to start a life on his own.