Reviews (5)

Will Miguel's Self-Pity Finally End ?
This story takes place in the recent past near Taos, Mexico in a village called Los Cordovas. Since this story takes place in Los Cordovas, people talk in Spanish and in English and that's why they have Spanish names.

This book is mostly about a twelve year-old boy named Miguel, his dad (Old Blas), and his brother, Gabriel. Miguel wants to go with his dad and other members of his family to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains where they go with their sheep to feed them green grass each year.

In my opinion I liked how the places the story took place were arranged, and how it was taken place in real places. I thought it was a VERY good book because the characters in this book sound really real. I would recommend this book because it is really realistic and because it talks about people who would act like we do now.

Patrick Richview Middle
The book I read was ..And Now Miguel.The book was about this kid whowanted to write poetry, but his dad didnt want him to because he thought men shouldnt write poetry . During the story Miguel sneaks behind his dad`s back and writes poetry for school.So when his teacher calls his house to tell his poetry.So when his dad finds out he gets furious at him and locks him in his room. When Miguel starts to write with his teacher at the end of the story.This was ok but i wouldnt read it again.

Reviews (19)

Secret of The Andes
Have you ever liked to know what it would be like to live in the Andes Mountains with a herd of llamas and an old man?This is a book about a young Incan boy whose name is Cusi and his heart's desire is to find his family.

If you like books about people with no family and people that have to travel to get them, than you will love this book!This book also has fairly easy content to understand so this book is for people 10 and older.Anyone younger than 10 the plot would probably be too complicated for.

At the beginging of this book there are two characters: Cusi and Chuto.They plan to go travel and get some salt but they can't leave their llamas, soon a minstral comes and watches their flock for them so Chuto and Cusi start off.During the journey he meets some families and a feeling of yearning to be like them overcomes Cusi.

Before embarking on his path to find his family his llama Misti leads him to a part of his vally he has never seen before. There he finds something that aids him in his search for his family.The last thing Chuto tells him before he leaves is "Greave not if your searching circles" and Cusi was off.

In all, Secret of the Andes is about a boy who has to struggle to find his family where ever it might take him.

My view on this wonderfully imaginative book
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be part of an ancient culture?Well here is your chance!"Secret of the Andes" is a excellent book to read if you have ever asked yourself this question.This book is about a young Incan boy, by the name of Cusi, who lives high in the Andes of South America.He is a llama herder, a noble and very common occupation where he lives.His keeper is a man by the name of Chuto, a secretive and mysterious man.The one thing Cusi wants in his life is a family.One day his llama guides him to a temple, there Cusi finds something very peciular....
This book was written for twelve to thirteen year olds.It contains emotional struggles that anyone younger would'nt be able to grasp.
One main topic of this story was that of family.The one thing Cusi ever wanted was a family.The only family he had ever known.One day a family moves into the valley below.After seeing this he deides that one day he will go in search of his own family.
Another topic is culture.One day Cusi finds out that he is the last of a long line of Incan royalty.
"Secret of the Andes" is a good book for anyone who enjoys reading about far off places and different cultures.

Important Reading
Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark is a marvelous children's novel which can be very important reading for children. The beautiful novel certainly earned its Newbery Medal.

The novel is the story of Cusi. He is an Inca boy who has been raised in a remote valley of the Andes mountain range by an old man, Chuto. Cusi is of royal Inca blood, but this is four hundred years after the Spanish conquest. Cusi has been raised in the traditional Inca manner. The plot of the novel concerns Cusi's search for himself. He has been raised without a "family" (at least in the traditional sense), and he is sent from the valley, with the companionship of his pet llama, to find his path in the world, a task that he sees as finding himself a family. The world Cusi goes into is one which is very different from the one he has been raised in because the Spanish culture has become predominant. Then, Cusi is forced to come to terms with his own way of life and with what his concept of "family" should be.

Reviews (54)

A nice attempt, but ...
This would have made a nice five page book for todlers, but that would mean taking out all of the pointless junk in the middle.So sad.Really, this writer only broke one rule... quality not quantity.Edit, Edit, Edit, my dear!Too many times the plot wandered into points where it could have ended, yet Ms. Estes just couldn't put down that pencil.

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes
Jerry Pye wanted a puppy for so long. The puppy is so expensive and Jerry does not have the money. So one of his friends asks if he wants to help him with his chores. Jerry says, "yes". Jerry gets his puppy and names him Ginger. On Thanksgiving Ginger gets stolen and Jerry has to look for him . Ginger never came back. Five months later Jerry's Uncle Bennie finds him. Jerry is so happy that Ginger is back.

I give Ginger Pye five stars because it was sad that Ginger was stolen and at the end it was happy. I liked the book because it was a adventure. Ginger is a great puppy and finds Jerry at school. Ginger is very smart.

Reviews (26)

Patients Pays
Amos Fortune Free Man shows that you shouldn't fight the situation that your in, instead you should try to make the the best out of it and not give up. It also shows the horrible way the blacks were treated in that time period. Amos shows that people won't give up even if it isn't the best situation.

American Academy: Essential Reading for Youth
This book is required reading for American Academy Middle School students, 6th grade, but is recommended for people, ages 12 and up, trying to understand early American life and the subject of slavery, particularly in the northern states.
Amos Fortune is a true story about a young African prince torn from his family, people, and homeland. He undergoes a process of dehumanization, including a horrific slave-ship sea crossing before being sold as a slave into first one and then another Massachusetts family, so we see two complete portraits of slave life. Finally, he buys his own and his wife's freedom and travels to picturesque New Hampshire where he builds a homestead and legacy for himself, and perhaps plants seeds that help bring an end to that "peculiar institution."
Beautifully told by Ms. Yates, we see Amos learn to read and become a faithful Christian. His childlike dream to buy his sister's freedom grows into a mature buying of the freedom of women he loves. He masters the tanning trade, which we learn about. We experience his strong and majestic character in overlooking a benighted age's slights and building his own freehold homestead, near "his" mountain, in this free country he loves.Amos Fortune is an outstanding man worthy of imitation. His story will never die or grow old.
All American young people should read this book. It, along with: April Morning, by Howard Fast; A Light in the Forest, by Conrad Richter; First Lady of Faith and Courage: Abigail Adams, by Evelyn Witter; and The Autobiography, by Benjamin Franklin; paint a multifaceted view of the particular pains, prejudices and daily life in northern colonial America from the perspective of, respectively, black citizens, traditional revolutionary families, American Indians, women, and a particular famous artisan-scientist-inventor-statesman whose life spanned and intertwined itself with the century of America's birth.

Reviews (55)

love this book!
though i haven't read this book for a while, i do remember it as one of my favorite books when i was a kid.i can't even count how many times i reread it...there's just something about the atmosphere of the middle ages, and the fact that you really come to know robin by the end.it's not action-filled or anything, but it's a great kids book, and i encourage readers of all ages to read it.

An okay book.
I thought The Door in the Wall was a mediocrer book;it lacked description of the characters and places. For an example, the book did not describe what Robin looked like; was his hair black or brown, and so on. I was not able to go "into" the story.

I thought the plot was pretty good, but the only way I was able to actually go "into" the story was to look at the pictures, that didn't look so good in black and white.

Reviews (53)

I love horses!Especially the ones by Marguerite Henry!
King of the Wind is an exciting story!I love Marguerite's ideas.She must love horses verryy much.My mom grew up on a farm, and she had a horse named,King.He was her baby.She loved him very much.When i was born my mom introduced me to a horse,and I fell in love with it.When I moved I thought that all of my friends were left behind,along with the books about the animals I love.My friend,Kourtney,knew that I loved horses and she told me to read Misty of Chincoteague(probobly spelled it wrong)and I loved it! Then I started looking for more of her books.I found King of the Wind.I just read it ,and did a book report about it.It was a Real Joy!Marguite really knows what horses really are about.She is a effectionate person Who loves to Write about horses,and I support her.She needs to keep her dream alive,just like her stories!I love Horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

spirited
Newbery medaled book, King of the Wind, is written by Marguerite Henry. This book is part of the horseshoe series, is about friendship and hope between a young horse and boy through their chilling lives in a new country.Marguerite Henry wrote other books as part of the horseshoe series.Some examples are Misty of Chincoteague, Sea Star, Brighty of the Grand Canyon and Justin Morgan had a horse.King of the Wind is a fiction classic and 192 pages long.The illustrator is Wesley Dennis and the publisher is Aladdin.The book was an interesting, adventurous, emotional story that may hunger you for more.
The Sutan has called Signor Achmet to bring him six of his finest stallions to be shipped to England for the King as a gift.One of them is a spirited Arabian stallion with a young mute Arab stable boy that become the best of friends.In England, Monsieur Le Duc, the King's adviser, sent Sham, the horse, and Agba, the boy, to work for the King's cook.Days later the cook sold Sham having Agba search for him by will.Out in the cold with no food, nor shelter he's given a job where once again he's united with Sham but along the trail he meets new people and a friend.But a switch off good luck now turns bad he searches again for Sham and ends up getting thrown into jail for being accused for `horse stealing'.
I enjoyed some of the characters in the book because they have different actions.Some examples are the king's cook is stubborn, Agba is caring, the mean man that treated Sham wrongly is greety. In the beginning when Sham was born, he was born with a wheat ear and a white spot on a back ankle. These represent the even battles of evil and good luck.That had Signor Achmet believing that the colt will die as the mother had.This had Agba feeding the colt camel's milk for strength to grow.Before the two left for England weeks later Agba had made a promise to Sham that sham will be come King of the wind when he becomes a man.For a spirited horse should belong to no one.
Signor Achmet chose Agba and five other boys to go to England.With their stallions that have been chosen for them.The journey that Agba and Shan go through as they live in this new place felt as if these events in the story were real.But the details in the setting sometimes pulled me in to get a better image without the pictures.Like when Agba gets a job so he can support Sham and himself living in a market shed.That was sad that they can't seem to stay in one decent place, like at their old home.
This small twist of a story of an Arabian stallion named Sham and a young mute stable boy go on an adventure.Surviving threw the harsh streets of England relying on one another on dreams to make differences.An Arabian horse and boy get in a mess of trouble and distress and still seam to come out fresh and new in their lives in the end.This King of the Wind is a memorable story to read without to much boredom but the thought of what will happen next.My recommendation is the only best parts are when the story flops to the good side of things.Like when Sham finds love with another (female) stallion.But it was terrible that he can't have her.The switching of good and evil luck, threw out their years, must drive Sham and Agba wild without them knowing themselves.

Reviews (85)

Children's Classic
I read this book several years ago, but I still remember how much I enjoyed it.The illustrations are some of the best I have ever seen in this genre.The story was so facinating, the exotic setting of Krakatoa and the enormous wealth of all the people, it was like nothing I had ever read up to that point.The main character is so much fun to go along with that the book just flys by, before you know it you are through.When someone asks me to recommend a childrens book I alway place this in my top five, it's that good.We are so lucky to have so many many wonderful childrens books, but this one is special, it is one of the classics.

The Twenty-One Ballons
The twenty-One Balloons
The Twenty-One Balloons are about a man named Professor Sherman who was found in the Atlantic Ocean stranded in a Hot air balloon. Professor Sherman left his head quarters, The Explorers Club, with one balloon. Fully lavished with any basic home supplies that you would find in your very own house. Chairs, walls, doors, plates, and even clothes.
The real mystery is that when Professor Sherman was found stranded in the Atlantic, he didn't just have 1 balloon but he had 20 of them. Throughout the story the professor gives his mysterious story of what happened; like all most becoming some sharks dinner and how he survived.
He was stranded on an island called Krackatoa. Krackatoa was an island that was abandoned due to a volcanic eruption. Could it be that there are really people surviving on that island? Fooling the rest of the world so they could be in peace? Or can the island just be an abandoned island that the professor has to live on? Read the book to find out the real story of Professor Sherman's island.
I thought that the overall book was very good!! At the start it is slow; but once two chapters pass the book is hard to put down. The book holds loads of details that make the book interesting and worthy of the Newberry Award that the book earned. The Twenty-One Balloons is a fast read that all most everyone enjoys. The Twenty-One Balloons is one of the greatest books I read, and I say that The Twenty-One Balloons is a book you should read in your near future!:):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Reviews (10)

The title character's nuts
Not many children's books involve a scene in which the title character's head is eaten.But then, not many children's books are "Miss Hickory".The 1947 Newbery winner, "Miss Hickory" belongs strictly to that amazingly popular genre of what-mischief-do-our-dolls-get-up-to-when-we're-not-around books.Only in this case, the doll is not one of your fancy china creations or a Victorian lady but rather a New England creature of humble origins.She has the body of an applewood twig and the head of a hickory nut.And that's just the beginning of the peculiarities found in this (sometimes) little read tale.If you want a Newbery winner that appeals to those kids that like dolls, nature, or a little bit of both then you're in for a surprising treat.

Meet Miss Hickory.A small doll living out her days in a corncob house, she has a happy little existence keeping to herself and not bothering anyone.When her gossipy Crow friend informs her that the family with whom she often spends her winters indoors is leaving the countryside without her, Miss Hickory is loathe to believe it.Further confirmation on the part of the cat Mr. T. Willard-Brown finally forces her to face up to the facts, whereupon she swiftly plunges into a deep pit of woe and self-pity.Fortunately for her, Crow finds Miss Hickory a warm nest of a shelter in which she can live out the cold winter months and because of this she is able to interact sociably with the other animals that live in the area.There's the peacable doe who's mother is killed and who hooks up with a wild heifer.There's a naughty squirrel who keeps eyeing Miss Hickory's noggin as a potential food source... but only jokingly, right?There's the downtrodden hen-pheasant (described in the cast of characters as "sad and without pep") who gets pushed around by her husband.And there's a groundhog who's unnatural fear of his own shadow causes a great deal of ruckus.By the end of the tale, Miss Hickory learns a little about her own personal flaws and transforms herself into an entirely different entity so as to better serve the children that return to the farmhouse.

Unlike a previous Newbery winning doll book character (Hitty from "Hitty: Her First One Hundred Years"), Miss Hickory is not your standard oh-me-oh-my heroine.Because her head is so hard she often finds herself being mean, stubborn, or unyielding to things that might cause her a lot of pleasure if she let them.This flaw in her personality is remedied in a somewhat drastic way that I, frankly, really enjoyed.This book is also full of little odd turns of phrase that catch the reader's ear.When the squirrel takes his first look at a newly dandied up Miss Hickory, his immediate reaction is a kind of macho, "Hi, cutie!".And when Miss Hickory views the lead crow of a mob she thinks to herself, "Undoubtedly a gangster.... He ought to be shot, but they'll never catch him".I'm a fan of the unexpppected bit of fun in older children's books and this particular story has unexpected fun hither and thither.

There are some odd choices in the book, though.This story has a blatent Christian Christmas miracle scene that may make not make much sense to those child readers not raised on Christmas Eve tales since birth.And the whole hen-pheasant being dutiful to her awful husband is a bit dated today.One suspects a kid reading such sections would wonder why the brow beaten hen doesn't just leave her husband and stay with the other lady hen-pheasants instead.It's worth wondering.Still, the book overcomes this dated features and continues to be a good tale.

Though this is probably not one of the better remembered Newbery Award winning books (more's the pity for it), "Miss Hickory" is well worth reading.A fun, sly, knowing little piece of work with an unconventional ending, it's sure to win as many fans today as it did in 1947.A lovely little book.

And starring Jessica Tandy as Miss Hickory
While continuing my mission to read all the Newbery Medal and Honor books, I came across Miss Hickory.Miss Hickory is our main character and, although I couldn't really find her loveable, like I would Little Georgie,(Rabbit Hill) I love the story just as much.I don't want to give a synopsis to the book, because I fear I will make it sound like one of those cutesy "animal" stories.But, truth be told, it is.

Hickory's personality isn't as friendly as a main character's should be.Her demeanor reminded me of Miss Daisy in the popular movie Driving Miss Daisy.

All in all, this book satisfies the reader, but don't believe the reviewers who said it is for K grade children.The grade level is for a child of grade six, or so says a reading program our school uses.The illustrations were drawn by a Caldecott Honor illustrator and are as memorable as the book itself.

R

Reviews (29)

Srawberrygirl
It was a very good book! It got exciting sometimes and sad other times. That is why Iliked this book.

Strawberry girl
Book Review of Strawberry Girl

The title of my book is strawberry girl. My book is fiction and I don't know if she wrote any other novels. I thought this book was kind of weird because it had an accent to it like (howdy yawl) so I was thinking of dropping it but I didn't so it was ok I guess. Oh and the author is Lois Lenski.
This book is about a girl and a boy. That like each other but their parent doesn't let them be together because of their differences. But they really like each other and they see each other by secret. And their parents don't find out until a while
The characters are very believable because of how the characters act and reflect their feelings because of how they react to things and their feelings to the problems!
I really do not know the author of my book. All I know is that she writes books. And one of them is Strawberry Girl the story was sort of easy. And kind of hard at the same time but the story in general was ok! I say this because that is what the book says.
I thought this book was good because of the wording source and how the character s act I think people that are from the west would love this book and specially people that have that sort of accent.

Reviews (37)

SO CUTE!
I am 13 and I LOVED this book even though many say it is for young children. This book is wonderfully written and has a great plot. All animal lovers of any age would love this book! It isn't one of those books that needs a new ending, either. It is great!

Rabbit Hill
This is a great book to read.In the book ther is a special event going to happen. New folks are commin! Every body is getting ready for the new folks.Espcaily Little Georgie(main character),until Uncle Analdas told him that they come and they go like every body else.That made Little Georgie upset.Then when the new folks came Littl Georgie was so happy.

Editorial Review

Reviews (27)

His Loss Our Gain
A minstrel's son loses his father and his dog.In pursuing both, this young man's travels provide cultural insight to the Middle Ages.Excellent and captivating!

I LOATH this book!
this is the absolute worst book i have ever been forced to and have ever read. i would like to add that i made a very strong attempt to get more interested in the plot of this book because it was a school assignment, but jeez, this was cruel and unusual punishment. when i think of this book, the word that comes to mind is "torture". i like a number of books and i love to read, i usually don't have a problem with book assignments, but this was just...just really mean. If you are smart, you will take my advice and stay far away.

A man of means by no means.King of the road.
"Adam of the Road" is daunting, no question.Kids who have no difficulties lugging huge Harry Potter sized tomes might quaver a little at the 317 page density of this 1943 Newbery winner.If they go so far as to actually begin to read the book, however, they might be pleasantly surprised to find it not only readable, but enjoyable to boot.On its most basic level the book is a tale about a boy, his father, and his dog.Beyond that, however, the book quickly becomes a quest novel where our hero picks up friends and foes along his path.In the end, a richly satisfying creation.

Our tale begins in June of 1294 in a little English abbey named St. Alban's.Here, our hero Adam has been left by his father, Roger the minstrel.Adam anticipates Roger's return (he never refers to his father by anything but the man's name, interestingly) any day.In the meantime, he has his friend and fellow student Perkin and his cocker spaniel Nick to keep him company.With an appropriate amount of pomp and flair, return Roger does.With his pop now a minstrel for a fine Lord, Adam is whisked away from the Abbey to join his father on the road.They adventure hither and yon, charming some people and amusing others.After some unfortunate run-ins with a less than chivalrous fellow minstrel named Jankin, Adam finds his dog stolen.So eager is Adam to get Nick back that in the course of his pursuit of Jankin he also loses his father.Thus, an eleven year-old boy must face a cold world with just his harp and minstrel skills to earn him food and shelter as he continually seeks his dad and dog.

As I read this story, a lingering memory began to form in my mind.Middle ages England... Minstrel & jesting skills... A boy and his father (or father-figure)... By George this is a remarkably similar plot to the 2003 Newbery award winning book, "Crispin: The Cross of Lead"!Certainly there are vast differences between the two as well, but people who wish to tie "Crispin" to another text would do very well indeed to consider the worthy "Adam of the Road".Now "Crispin" is a very socially conscious novel, pondering the fate of the poor and their servitude to the rich."Adam of the Road", much to my surprise, was also fairly socially conscious (considering its publication date).Here the gentle reader may find complaints that the members of Parliament are all of noble birth and decide the rights of the people without asking for input from those they have (virtually) enslaved.There is a healthy amount of skepticism and careful examination of the religious leaders that have such a powerful hold over their communities.And most impressive of all was a section in which Adam seriously considers the double standard to which women were held at that time.In this scene, Adam has been informed that ladies may not chose their mates according to their hearts as the romantic ballads have said.The book says:

"The tales Roger told were full of the reverence and devotion that knghts paid to fair ladies and the desperate dangers they met gladly in order to win a smile from the ladies or a favor to wear on their sleeves.But in real life, it seemed, a beautiful young lady like Emilie was only a girl and it did not matter what she wanted because she had to do what she was told.It was very strange-".

Not only unromantic, but a hardship on the women themselves.Nothing like a little knowledgable reasoning within a children's book, eh?

Reviews (25)

It is a good book, but it's not really my taste of books.
This book is based on a real story as I found out a while ago. This has a good plot. But I hated reading it! You can buy it, but it'll be a waste of cash for me! You might like this book. Personally I don't (although I like history!) If you agree with me, that's fine. This is mostly bang up and shoot 'em dead! Don't get mad at me if you don't agree, everyone has something they they agree with and disagree with (like politics.)

Historically Correct and Politically Incorrect
I had a difficult time locating this book, even though it is a Newberry Winner.Why?Because it depicts Indians in a historically correct manner.As exists in all cultures - even to this day, there are good and bad amongst us all.There are historically correct stories that depict Indians favorably, such as The Courage of Sarah Noble.Then, there is this story depicting the Indian raids that did occur during the time of the settlers.Let's hope that we are mature enough to face history - the way it is - not in the glossy versions that try to erase the variables in character that exist in every race.

Reviews (69)

Call it Courage
This book is about a young boy named Mafatu who has been afraid of the sea ever since his mother's life was taken by it.He decides to prove to himself and his people that he can overcome his great fear.
Overall, this book was okay.In my opinion, very simple and obvious.This book is definetely for younger people.But I liked it and would still recommend it to a lot of people. XD

Call it courage by Armstrong Sperry
Call it courage was a good book. It was written by Armstrong Sperry. It is about a kid named Mafatu who lived on an island. On the island the people worshiped courage. Mafatu had no courage because when he was little his mother was taken by the sea. Ever since then mafatu had been afraid of the sea. Later in the book Mafatu leaves the island and faces his fears of the sea.

Reviews (3)

A sad sorry case
If you were, like myself, born after 1975, then you probably have some difficulty distinguishing between Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.What better way to get a grasp on the elusive Mr. Boone (who, unlike Mr. Crockett, hasn't even a catchy Disney tune to hold on to) than to read the 1941 Caldecott winning bio "Daniel Boone" by James Daugherty?Here we have the Boone myth displayed in all its ambiguous glory.And here too, a shameful episode in America's past brought once more to light.

I'll admit it right now.Critiquing a bio-pic (at least that's what it felt like) of Daniel Boone for racism is like shooting fish in a barrel.A biography of Mr. Boone written today would have a mightily difficult time giving Native Americans any real depth or character.Now consider a Daniel Boone book written in the 1940s, and you see just how badly, how racist, and how cruel a children's book can be.I could go through this book chapter by chapter and pull out every instance of anti-"Indian" sentiment and place it before you in a huff.Instead, I'm just going to copy down here a section from the book that, to my mind, sums up the Native American feeling perfectly.This section describes an attack on an Indian village:

"...I saw some warriors run into a house, until I counted forty-six of them.We pursued them until we got near the house, when we saw a squaw sitting in the door, and she placed her feet against the bow she had in her hand, and then took an arrow, and raising her feet she drew with all her might and let fly at us and she killed a man, whose name I believe was Moore.He was a lieutenant and his death so enraged us all that she was fired on, and had at least twenty balls blown through her...We now shot them like dogs; and then set the house on fire, and it burned it up with the forty-six warriors in it.I recollect seeing a boy who was shot down near the house.His arm and thigh were broken, and he was so near the burning house that the grease was stewing out of him.In this situation he was still trying to crawl along; but not a murmur escaped him though he was only about twelve years old.So sullen is the Indian when his dander is up that he had sooner die than make a noise, or ask for quarters".

I could say something snarky in response to this passage, but I think it speaks for itself.Now, to be fair, this is a section quoted in the book itself from "The Autobiography of David Crockett" by an unnamed woodsman.But it appears as part of the narrative of this story and it is never challenged in any way.Great reading for the kiddies, eh?Especially when the book later goes on to state that the Native Americans were a dying race whose members, "met the personal tragedy of violent death with a serene indifference".Forgive me if passages like this make me mad.

The book follows Boone's life from birth (in the 1730s) to his death (in 1820).It displays him finding paths into Kentucky, getting captured many many times, and killing "Indians" left and right.You see his family members get slaughtered and his defense of the white settler forts.Sadly, the book is rather dull in its passages.Homestead life, as told here, is less interesting than anything found in your average "Little House on the Prairie" tale.In fact, the most interesting aspects of this book are the fights against the "Indians".But Daugherty wants it both ways.Even though he consistently refers to Native Americans as "varmints", "red", and "savages" he is considerate enough to note that some "Indians" aren't bad.He names the Native Americans by their tribes when he can.Oddest of all, Daugherty includes a long passage from Henry Beston's, "American Memory" in which a Seneca named Red Jacket decries the betrayal of his people by the white settlers.The passage is moving and heartfelt and, to be frank, utterly out of place in a book that celebrates the genocide of an entire race.It's almost as if Daugherty wanted to show the other side of the story.Instead, it's just a glimpse of the truth muffled under a book of lies, half-truths, and myths.

How much is actually known to be true about Boone is hard to say.And it's not as if Daugherty has included source notes with his tale.In any case, this book cannot be considered non-fiction.Too often does the author say what Boone is thinking, dreaming, or planning.Half the tales could be complete fabrications for all we know.The accompanying illustrations look like nothing so much as modified Thomas Hart Bentons.Men have rippling, almost grotesque, muscles and women sport overlarge feet and bosoms.

All in all, this book is woefully out of date and a sad testament to a style of writing that was once so prevalent.The only reason this book is even remembered today is because of its unfortunate Newbery Award.It's a sad case and an even sadder piece of writing.As a historical document into the racism and Manifest Destiny mode of thought once (and perhaps still) so prevalent in America, it's a striking testament.In all other ways, it's a relic and should be treated as such.

Fine Newbery Winner
In a nonfictionalized text and bold illustrations, the author not only portrays the famous American trailblazer, but provides an authentic picture of pioneer life at the beginning of the great Westward movement.Thebiography begins with Boone's youth in Pennsylvania and closes on the dayhe died in Missouri at the age of eighty-six.

Appropriate emphasis is puton Boone's important role in the opening up and settlement of Kentucky. Boone proved to be the ideal man for this time.The author's style,vigorous and simple like the subject's life conveys the pioneer spirit andsuggests the frontier speech without reproducing the idiom in tediousdetail.The lithographs of pioneers and Indians--done in black, brown andforest green--enhance the epic proportions of the narrative.

Reviews (14)

great book here
this book is a great book
it deserves its newberry medal. not to many people are intrested in the title,but the inside is great. once you read it you wont want to put it down. it holds fantastic description and events. its amusing because its fun imagining what its like to be Garnet. this is the best book i've read in years.

Summertime and the living is easy
The Newbery Award winning books of the 1930s went through an interesting phase that was never again to be repeated.Starting with "Caddie Woodlawn" (1935), continuing with "Roller Skates" (1936), and capitulating with the delightful "Thimble Summer" (1938) these books all followed spunky independent females with little to no regard for the traditional roles women had always carried.But while "Caddie" and "Roller Skates" were period pieces that ultimately ended with the girls giving in to society's restraints, "Thimble Summer" trumps this trend.In it, we have a farm girl named Garnet who has a load of exciting summer adventures and who ends her tale wearing sailor pants doing hand stands over and over again in a pasture.

The tale of "Thimble Summer" begins when Garnet finds a silver thimble in a nearby dried lakebed.According to Garner, the summer's wonderful aspects only take place after this key event.Her father receives a loan from the government allowing him to build a new barn.Her family meets and virtually adopts an adorable homeless boy.Garnet shows her favorite pig at the state fair and wins a blue ribbon.All these events are told with a marvelous simplicity and a real sense of being there with Garnet.From the very first page of this book, you notice the author's excellent writing style.About the heat of the summer Enright writes, "It was like being inside of a drum. The sky like a bright skin was stretched tight above the valley, and the earth too, was tight and hard with heat".You're in safe hands with this writer.Don't believe me?Here's another wonderful descriptive passage."Her shoes hurt her; and with aching feet and her bundle and empty pocketbook she felt like an old, old woman coming home from seeing grandchildren who didn't love her".

But observe this book within its 1938 context.Here's a girl that does a boy's chores.We never see her darn socks or cook, though she's often seen working in the fields.She's nine or so, so she doesn't go about falling in love (not even with the adorable homeless boy).She wears pants most of the time, is never badgered by either parent to be more feminine and (the coup de grace) at the end of the story she plans to someday have a farm of her own.Fabulous.Then there are those wonderful little details about the past.Kids reading this book may not get the references to G-men, Zeppelin shaped balloons, or the running boards of cars.Fortunately these spots of the past are either
self-evident or mercilessly scant.

Is the book flawless then?Almost.There are a couple tiny flaws here and there.The line drawings accompanying the text (drawn by the author herself) are magnificent.Unfortunately, there's one time they belie the text.If you've a child who's overweight in any way, this may not be the best book to show them.While Garnet's best female friend Citronella is continually called "fat", in the book's pictures she's the most average kid you've ever seen (compared to the waiflike Garnet, of course).Any child with body image problems is going to see the pictures, read the text, and come up with some pretty heart-wrenching conclusions.If Garnet is normal then...You get the picture.

I don't really understand why kids don't know this book better.Anyone who's ever wanted to live on a farm in the country would enjoy it.Anyone who's ever wanted to hitchhike like Garnet, spend a night in a library, or swim rivers on their own would like it.It's a pip, this one.It's got moxie.Don't forgo the pleasures of "Thimble Summer" simply because it's old.You'll be missing out on more than you could have possibly imagined.

Reviews (17)

The White Stag
This is a story that a tribe called the Huns and Magyars. They have to leave the location they are at now because they are running out of food. They are going to the promised land so they can have food and game to hunt. They would find the white stag and they would chase him but then he would just dissapear into thin air. That is the story of The White Stag.

Tonight the part of Moses will be played by Attila the Hun
You know what's wrong with most Newbery Award winning books?They're just so darn pro-peace.Didn't used to be that way.Why take the fascinating novel, "The White Stag" as an example.An amazing story that decides that Attila the Hun has gotten a bad rap.In this book, he's still a psychopath, but he's a psychopath with a mission.If you find yourself unfamiliar with this literary work, allow me summarize the major points found within.

To find their promised land, the Huns go on a years long rampage of pillaging and murder in the hopes of finding their own place to live.It's like the Old Testament but without any of the good moral lessons.For its 1937 publication, the book is remarkably pro-genocide.As it briefly explains, the Huns find themselves in a kill or be killed mentality.People who see them coming fight them instinctively so that the poor Huns are forced to become blood-thirsty.They search day in and out for their own place to live, guided by their vengeful god Hadur.In this light, Attila is the Moses that finally leads his people to a land flowing with milk and honey.Whatta swell guy.

You may have picked up on the fact that I'm being sarcastic.But how can I help it?Just note the fate of pacifism.When Bendeguz, father of Attila, decides that maybe the Huns should settle down in a rather nice land they've come to own and not go about slaughtering the innocent, he is berated soundly by the blind seer Damos.Those who fight others without provocation are holy.And those who would rather not go around killing, "will be punished for their weakness... Long after the Huns have found the promised land, they will be still homeless wanderers in the wilderness".Um... okay.

There are things to like in this book, of course.The prose itself is evocative and lovely.If judged on the placement of words alone, this book deserves the Newbery.And Kate Seredy's illustrations are impressive, there is no question.They're a series of beautiful 30s illustrations, akin to the kinds of graphics you'd normally find in a Socialist rag.If you can possibly locate a copy of this book with the original illustrations, you will not regret it.It's just the moral of the story I have difficulties with.It's supposed to be: Have faith in yourself and your beliefs and in the end all will turn out well.Instead it comes off as: Kill lots of people because you're certain your god is the best, and all will turn out well.Lots of other people will disagree with me.But regardless if you're a hawk or a dove at heart, this book comes off as little more than a beautiful immoral tale.

From a child's perspective (spoilers...)
The beautiful story arc pits the Magor tribe against the followersof a man we come to know Atilla the Hun. This book had me on the edge of my seat as a child, and has a great ending!

Reviews (14)

Delightful, sensitive - a true classic
I've never been to the Big Apple, but I wish I could visit the Old New York explored by gallant Lucinda in her magical "orphan" year, rather than the modern one. It is sad to think that the statue of Diana that Lucinda loved, proudly standing watch over Madison Square Garden, is now gathering dust in a museum...
And I must say I am baffled by reviewers who feel that Lucinda is not touched or affected by the two tragedies that darken her life during the course of the narrative. This is one of the most realistic and moving accounts of a child's reaction to death - frightened, confused yet bravely hopeful - that I have read.

Interesting View of 1890's New York City
I just finished listening to the recorded version of this book with Kate Forbes as narrator--she did a great job.Overall, I liked this book.I admit that some of the depictions of people are not exactly politically correct in the 21st century, but you have to remember that this was a book written in 1936 about the 1890's, and that's the way people thought back then.The bigger picture is that in most ways, the main character, Lucinda, transcends these barriers of class and befriends people that her snobby family wouldn't approve of.Also, there's a very touching part at the end of the book that explains how Lucinda was an unwanted fifth child in her family, that her family considered her homely and unladylike; yet she managed to rise above these hurtful attitudes and become herself--not what other people wanted or expected her to be.I think this is a great message for children, or for adults for that matter.I don't know why the murder part was included in the story--it did seem somewhat out of place.This book would probably be read by an 11 or 12 year old; and in this day and age, the murder will seem very tame.

A veritable roller derby (circa 1890-something)
An oddly subversive little piece of work for its original 1936 publication date.The story centers on a little girl in 189? named Lucinda.With her cropped black hair, sailor hat, and roller skates she is a perfect little tomboy.From the minute her parents leave her in capable hands in September to their eventual return in June, Lucinda finds herself free of the rules that will eventually twist her from a free spirit into a "lady".In this blissful state of freedom, Lucinda makes friends with the working class, the poor, and those of other ethnicities.She is the first to find the body of a murdered friend, she pulls practical jokes, and she challenges all notions of propriety.

The book is well-written, and must've been a little shocking for its time.It's not every Newbery winner in which the 10-year-old protagonist condemns her prissy aunt to hell (unintentionally, mind you) on one page and sings a bawdy sailor song on the next.Especially impressive is the range of people Lucinda befriends.From the Irish to the Italians to a Chinese woman married to a white man.However, author Ruth Sawyer is as much a victim of her times as anyone else.Lucinda knows plenty of black servants, but she doesn't seem to see any need to befriend them.The Chinese woman she shares the company of is referred to as a "heathen" and is eventually stabbed in the back.This act makes Lucinda a little sad but not overly so.In fact, Lucinda doesn't really feel sadness particularly well, unless it is transformed into anger.When a small child who lives above her dies, she takes the news without so much as a tear.

Children reading this book may have some difficulty keeping the names of the wide range of people presented in it straight.Certainly I had to continually flip back a couple pages every so often to remember exactly who such n' such a person was.The people in this book get about a sentence of description and then are launched into the story head first (something that kids will probably have problems keeping up with).But otherwise, this is a pretty rollicking book.Lucinda hardly sits down for even a second, and the story runs over hill and dale just to keep up with her.Plus, it has the added bonus of displaying a female character pulling a very funny practical joke on her school.A rarity in any day or age.

Editorial Review

Reviews (2)

A Bulgarian dreamer...
I agree with R. D. Allison about the split-personality of the books.I think, though, that the author was trying to show how Dobry was growing up.In the beginning, he is satisfied with slow country life but gradually grows to realize his dream is to become an artist.

DOBRY is a good book for learning about the culture of Bulgarian peasants.It is rich in the folk stories--how God created man and Hadutzi-Dare saved the world--and everyday life of these people.Also, the author conveys the village's excitement when the massage bear (you'll learn what it is!) comes to herald the summer.

The language is beautiful and Dobry is an eternal optimist.The characters represent different facets of village life--for example, the rotund mayor explains government and Dobry's grandfather shows Bulgaria's heritage.

The book introduced me to a culture that thinks differently and lives differently yet dreams the same.It's a lesson for anyone.