Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward
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Book Reviews of Johnny Tremain
Book Review: Johnny Tremain
Summary: 5 Stars
Even before his mother died Johnny knew what he wanted to be, a silversmith. The last thing she did for him before she died was to apprentice him to a silver maker. His mother had given him a silver cup the, this cup was the reason he wanted to be a silver maker, he wanted terribly to make things like it. Johnny Tremain is a book full of
The characters Johnny encounters are all unique and original. Johnny and his dying mother came to Boston so Johnny could fulfill his dream of becoming a silversmith, the master silversmith, Mr. Lapham would teach him everything he needed to know about silver making, along with being a master silversmith Mr. Lapham was also a deacon, and a very pious one at that, he lived with his daughter-in-law and her four daughters, one of them Cilla, a girl of Johnny's age, who is kind and brave. Johnny was a hard working boy before his terrible accident, spilling molten silver on his hand, crippling it.
The story is a real page turner. One of the most exciting parts occurred right after Johnny's accident was left with a terrible dilemma, the Laphams are not a rich family and could not afford to have Johnny stay without doing silver work, Mr. Lapham, being the pious man that he is could not bear to put Johnny out on the street, though it was well understood that Johnny was to begin looking for work right away. Johnny is embarrassed by his crippled hand and tries not to show it to anyone, but when the youngest Lapham daughter yelled at Johnny and told him how ugly it was. This was to much for Johnny, who left the house for good. Another suspenseful part happened when Johnny was out on the street, alone. Johnny Tremain's life is full of anticipation goes to Mr. Lyte, who his mother told Johnny he was related to, Mr. Lyte tricks Johnny into his home, he sues Johnny for stealing "his" silver cup, actually the one that Johnny's mother gave him. Johnny comes out the winner because of a lack of evidence on the part of Mr. Lyte.
Historical events filled the pages of Johnny Tremain, although most main characters were fictional Johnny did encounter many real revolutionaries, such as Sam Adams and Paul Revere, Johnny also took part in many historical events, the Boston Tea Party, the Sons of Liberty, and the early battles of the Revolutionary War. When Paul Revere asked for Johnny's help to spread the word that the British were coming, Johnny does so willingly. Another historical part of the book took place because Johnny finally finds work at an anti British newspaper, his friend and coworker Rab later goes off to fight at Lexington, word is slow to travel and Johnny does not know if her friend made it through the battle. Johnny latter meets Rab, he is seriously injured and passes quickly after he sees Johnny. At the very end of the Johnny's story he is preparing for surgery on his crippled hand so that he can fight for freedom.
Johnny Tremain was a great book, because it took place in the late seventeen hundreds it was full of historical information, it was also suspenseful and was full of great characters. I would recommend Johnny Tremain to anyone who is looking for a great book, probably on a middle school reading level.
C. Goggins
Book Review: Poignant and gripping historical novel
Summary: 5 Stars
I must have read this book ten? twenty? times as a teenager, and so when I found it recently in the basement I started reading again to see if it was really as good as I remembered it. Better! "Johnny Tremain" is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read, even as an adult. So imagine my surprise when I noticed that Amazon readers rated this only four stars?
For starters, this is not a children's book. I see fourth, fifth graders reviewing this book, as part of an assignment - and as a mother myself, this bothers me. This is a great book - but, I think, way over a fifth-graders head. Maybe *your* fifth-grader is brilliant and will absolutely understand everything completely - but for a classroom setting? What are these teachers thinking?
But for a teenager - "Johnny Tremain" brings to life the times of the Revolutionary War era as no other book, or history lesson, possibly can. Couple that with a brilliantly portrayed cast of characters - complex, vivid characters - and exceptionally vivid, emotional and fast paced writing - and you have the ingredients for a really good book. Maybe I am prejudiced - I love historicals, and always did, but perhaps it is the other way around - perhaps "Johnny Tremain" influenced me in the way that this book showed me how fascinating history can be.
"Johnny Tremain" is the story of a boy - fourteen years old - who is apprenticed to a silversmith, whom he calls his "master". As an exceptionally capable, talented young man - not to mention an exceptional aptitude with silver - he quickly steps into his master's family to find his niche as the head of the household - if not in name, then in actions (beint that his master is elderly). But how easily are the mighty fallen! For Johnny burns his hand on hot silver and, medicine (or midwifery) being what it was, it never healed properly. A future as a silversmith is out. Overnight, Johnny went from being a capable, bright boy with an exceptional future ahead of him to a nobody.
While this is an excellent story about Johnny, it is the times that he lived in that makes this book such riveting reading. Not only do we get to meet all the famous people who populate pre-Revolutionary Boston, we also get an excellent, clear picture of the everyday life of the people of that era. The way they lived, the things they ate, the way they operated - almost everything is touched upon in this extra-ordinary novel.
Johnny Tremain somehow gets tangled with the Boston patriots - and is right there in the thick of things just as the Revolutionary War has started. This is the only part of the novel that I found a bit too coincidental - but extremely interesting, nevertheless.
"Johnny Tremain" is one of the best books ever written, but would more easily be appreciated and understood by an older student, in my opinion. Happy reading!
Book Review: Exciting Time in American History!
Summary: 5 Stars
Immerse yourself in the beginning of the American Revolution in this exciting middle school book, the story of a fictional fourteen-year-old boy caught up in dangerous times. Johnny Tremain lives in Boston and works as an apprentice to a silversmith. He's talented and arrogant, lording it over the other apprentices until his right hand is badly burned. His nearly-unusable hand means that his apprenticeship is over.
Now more humble, he makes friends with the calm, enigmatic Rab, a boy a few years older than himself, who works for the Boston Observer. Soon Johnny gets a job delivering newspapers--on horseback. The publisher of the Observer is very political, and Johnny learns about the Whigs, who want freedom from England, and the Tories, who are loyal to England.
A secret group of Whigs regularly meets regularly in the newspaper offices. Before long Johnny is delivering coded messages to the members, including Paul Revere. The Whigs are incensed that England is charging the colonies a tax on tea, but the real issue is freedom. As one Whig leader says, "We give all we have, lives, property, safety, skills...we fight, we die, for a simple thing. Only that a man can stand up." Johnny too is becoming inspired by the cause of freedom.
The Whigs organize the Boston Tea Party in December of 1773: sixty young men dressed as Indians, including Johnny and Rab, board three British ships and dump the tea into Boston Harbor. By June of 1774, British soldiers and officers fill the streets, Boston is blockaded, and the air is filled with talk of war. On every village green in New England, men and boys are drilling, but with only ancient squirrel guns and flintlocks as weapons.
By early 1775, the Whigs suspect that the first British attacks will be at Lexington and Concord. Johnny's friend Rab goes off to Lexington to fight, but insists that Johnny, who is part of Paul Revere's spy network, must stay and report on British plans and troop movements. War is inevitable, but what will it bring for Johnny and Rab?
This book, which won the Newbery Medal for 1944, brings to vivid life the beginning of the American Revolutionary War as no history book ever could. Disney made a movie of "Johnny Tremain" in 1957. I haven't seen it, but one reviewer felt it missed the mark, showing the war as a jolly adventure for boys, instead of a time when great sacrifices were made, "only that a man can stand up."
Ages ten and up
Book Review: Wasted on the young
Summary: 5 Stars
This novel is severely underappreciated because of its standing as a "kid's book." I first read Johnny Tremain more than a decade ago in elementary school, and I've read it at least once a year, every year, since.
If there is one complaint that I do not understand when reading negative reviews, it is the claim that these characters are 'flat'. They are anything but. I'd even venture to say that Johnny is one of the most well-written characters in literature. Forbes writes Johnny so that he grows and matures as the novel progresses, without shoving it in the reader's face. His transformation is subtle; unlike many writers, Forbes doesn't spell out every little detail for the reader, and thank goodness for that. She trusts that her audience is smart enough to see how Johnny changes. This reason alone may be why so many kids despise J.T. They want it spelled out for them, otherwise, they don't (can't?) understand.
As for the plot, it's tight (and I don't mean "cool"). So many times you read a novel and wonder where it's headed. More often than not, authors seem to throw in the towel at numerous points, as though they've gotten themselves backed into a corner, either because of poor execution of the storyline, or because their story becomes too complex and they get flustered. Not the case here- Forbes knew her beginning, middle and end, down to the very last sentence. Every word has meaning, every storyline makes sense, every character is significant.
This is one of my top three novels of all time, so I admit I am biased. But I encourage anyone who hasn't read it to do so. It's a quick read, but it's an impressive one. There are only two books I think are practically flawless: Johnny Tremain and The Count of Monte Cristo. Both are outstanding, not just because of the plot (TCoMC is far superior, in my opinion, to every other book), but because of the characters.
Book Review: THAT A MAN MAY STAND UP UP!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is fascinating historical fiction, for Esther Forbes has seamlessly woven a good Colonial yarn about an aspiring apprentice silversmith into the tapestry of New England's grievances, which culminated in the American Revolution. One could almost believe that Johnny--quick, bright, cocksure, ambitious--actually lived and rubbed shoulders with the brilliant and fervent Boston patriots: Paul Revere, John Hancock, Sam and John Adams. What a wonderful parallel read for English-History classes, which will definitely appeal to boys (who crave literary action). The hero is an impoverished youth who loses his job and ultimately his place in a modest craftsman's home when he burns his hand beyond folk healing. He struggles to find a new position, new friends and a sense of self-worth, since his silver dream is shattered. But Johnny also undertakes a personal quest--a legacy from his poor mother: to be recognized by a wealthy merchant's family as a direct heir. But was this spirited and talented fellow meant to be a nobleman? Ultimately he learns to value nobility of the Heart.
Gradually war clouds loom over disgruntled Boston, changing Johnny's outlook and refining his American loyalty in a crucible of patriotic hope--fired by James Otis' empassioned oratory. For the coming Revolution will stand as a beacon to oppressed people the world over, even back in "mother" England! Johnny learns to curb his temper (somewhat) as he comes of age and suddenly performs a Man's job by defending his values in perilous times. An excellent read which will hold your interest because of the intensely personal storyline plus true historical detail. This book makes you proud to be Yankee born!