- Hardcover: 176 pages
- Publisher: Clarion Books; None edition (July 26 1999)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0395838975
- ISBN-13: 978-0395838976
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 14.8 x 2.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 376 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,008,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia; Jacob Have I Loved) captures the essence of an adolescent's fundamental questions of God and existence in this finely honed novel. As the year 1899 draws to a close, the people in Robbie's rural Vermont community anticipate the coming of the 20th century with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Some fear that the end is near. Others, like Robbie's father, a minister with progressive ideas, thinks "the world's at a sort of beginning." Robbie does not know what to believe. Recently, he has begun to question God and the validity of the Ten Commandments. As the son of a preacher, he is expected to exhibit exemplary behavior, but he cannot seem to turn the other cheek to those who make fun of his "simple-minded" brother. In a fit of anger, Robbie comes dangerously close to drowning a boy and sets off a chain of irreversible events; he must rely on his conscience to lead him toward redemption. Once again placing universal conflict in a historical context, Paterson gives a compassionate, absorbing rendering of an adolescent boy trying to break free from social and religious constraints. Besides delving into the mind of the young rebel, she successfully evokes the climate of the times, showing how the townspeople respond to modern inventions, discoveries and ideas. The story contains a moral, but the author remains nearly invisible as she guides her characters through crises, then leaves them to fend for themselves at the dawn of a new era. Ages 10-14. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8-Paterson, so adept at capturing a sense of time and place, returns once again to mine the richness of small-town Vermont during the 19th century. Here, she reflects on the approach of the previous century as she follows the adventures of energetic, mischievous Robbie Hewitt, a preacher's son with a bit of a temper, from Decoration Day in May, 1899, to the eve of January 1, 1900. New ideas are circulating. Darwin's theory of evolution gets confused in Robbie's mind with atheism. When he decides that it is too hard to behave, that God is too hard to please, and that the world may end soon anyway, he declares himself an "apeist." Following a fight with his nemesis, he becomes involved with Violet, a poor homeless girl, and her alcoholic father, Zeb. While planning his own kidnapping for profit, he implicates Zeb, who is likely to hang for the crime. Robbie's own personal miracle from God, a ride in a motorcar, reaffirms him as a true believer. As in Jip (Dutton, 1996), Paterson tells a multilayered coming-of-age story of loyalty, courage, and the enduring values of family. With warmth, humor, and her powerful yet plain style, Paterson draws empathetic and memorable characters. Readers share the anticipation and the joy of Robbie and his father as they welcome the 20th century at the book's end.
Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
On Decoration Day, while everyone else in town was at the cemetery decorating the graves of our Glorious War Dead, Willie Beaner and me, Robert Burns Hewitt, took Mabel Cramm's bloomers and run them up the flagpole in front of the town hall. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
On Decoration Day, while everyone else in town was at the cemetery decorating the graves of our Glorious War Dead, Willie Beaner and me, Robert Burns Hewitt, took Mabel Cramm's bloomers and run them up the flagpole in front of the town hall. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Great Authors,
By
This review is from: Preacher's Boy (Hardcover)
A book by Katherine Paterson is always difficult to judge. The main reason is because she has written a truly great book--"Bridge to Terabithia"--and a number of others that are nearly as great. Because of this, there is a tendency to be a tougher judge of her books as if every new novel should be a masterpiece. Fortunately, Ms. Paterson lives up to the challenge time after time.I am constantly amazed at how well Ms. Paterson is able to write in the voice of young person, creating very realistic characters. Though a bit older myself these days, I can identify very well with Robbie as he stuggles with the difficulties in his life. I am particularly impressed with the depiction of Robbie's relationship with his father and how he struggles to understand him. Also, the difficulties he has in being himself while at the same time trying to be the son of a good man who has an important and public job in his hometown. Though I don't think any good book is really gender-specific to an active reader, I can see where young boys would find this book speaking to them a little more. Still, I would encourage anyone with a love of good literature to read this book. It is a stong depiction of an interesting character.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read for all ages,
By A Customer
This review is from: Preacher's Boy (Hardcover)
At first I was skeptical about this book because in the beginning of the book Robbie and Willie just play pranks on the other townspeople. I soon realized I was wrong. It was jam-packed with action,adventure,love and care. It made me feel as though I was joining Robbie on his big adventures. This book is thrilling and is a must-read. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age. This was a swell read.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Likeable enough, but..,
By cnyadan (Bavaria, Germany) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Preacher's Boy (Paperback)
Don't get me wrong, this book wasn't bad. I just felt that it never got the spark that distinguishes an "okay" book from a really good book. First of all, it seemed to me that the book was really slow-moving. It didn't take me that long to finish the entire book, but I think it was halfway before I felt that the book really got moving. Robbie was a problem for me as well. There are some characters that you come to love, and some that you just want to hate, but Robbie just seemed lukewarm to me, and it took me awhile to even like him enough to care very much what was happening. Besides this, Robbie can take the time to become philisophical, much older for his years, such as in his musings about how "Violet" got changed to "Vile", etc, but can't seem to figure out up from down in other instances. There are quite a few things that seem extraneous, and don't help to move forward the plot very well. The other thing that irks me is that Robbie's father is JUST TOO PERFECT. I know that he's the preacher, etc, but nobody is THAT perfect.
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