Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward
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Book Reviews of Johnny Tremain
Book Review: A teenager at the start of the American Revolution
Summary: 5 Stars
This children's book won the 1944 Newbery Medal for best contribution to American children's literature. It is regarded by many as being a landmark in the development of historical fiction for children and should be on the shelf of any serious student of children's literature. The story centers around a couple of years in the life of a young silversmith apprentice, Johnny Tremain (or, Jonathan Lyte Tremain) in Boston near the start of the American Revolution. At the beginning of the novel, it is 1773 and a fourteen-year-old Johnny, who is very good in his work but is also excessively proud and arrogant, has an accident when working on the Sabbath when a crucible of molten silver breaks. His right hand is severely burned and he feels he can no longer become a silversmith. He begins to roam throughout Boston with despair and finally obtains a job at one of the Boston newspapers. There he comes in contact with some of the early heroes of the revolution: John Hancock, Sam and John Adams, Paul Revere, Dr. Warren, etc. Johnny, and the reader, see the events leading up to the Boston Tea Party in December 1773 and the very start of the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Lexington and Concord in April of 1775. I read this book a second time when I was in my 50s and it is still great to read. And, reading the comments of the other reviewers, it is apparent that most of today's young adults like it as much as I did in the late 1950s. And, it is so much better than the Disney film.Book Review: A Charming Tale of the American Revolution
Summary: 5 Stars
Esther Forbes' novel "Johnny Tremain" is about a young boy called Johnny Tremain who lives in Boston near to and during the time of the American Revolution. He is apprenticed to a silversmith but as a result of an injury to his hand from a silversmithing accident, he is unable to continue his career as a silversmith and has to look for alternate employment.
The main character Johnny Tremain has a disability. His thumb is stuck to his hand and due to this there are many jobs he can't do. He initially has feelings of hopelessness but he overcomes those feelings to eventually get his life back together. While he is looking for alternate employment, he has strong feelings of affection for a girl named Cilla who lives in the same house as him. He can't handle the idea of Cilla marrying another man than himself. The book gives a lesson to young men not to let the fact that they can't have the girl of their dreams get them down.
The book eventually enters the time period of the American Revolution and Johnny Tremain meets some famous personages of that time. Boston seems like a charming place to live in based on what I read in the book. "Johnny Tremain" is a delightful read. Esther Forbes writes competently about the time of the American Revolution which is amazing since she didn't live during it.
Book Review: Great tool for teachers!
Summary: 5 Stars
In this book, we follow the life of a young man in the middle of turbulent revolution era Boston. As a young apprentice to a silversmith, Johnny thinks he knows exactly what his future holds, but a terrible accident causes him to lose use of his hand. He is then forced to find a new path in life for himself, and finds work with a printing shop. He becomes friends with a boy named Rab, and he becomes involved in the activities leading up to the Revolutionary War. He works with such important people as Paul Revere and Sam Adams, and is involved in the Boston Tea Party. Aside from being a great book about the Revolutionary War, this is also a book about a boy growing into a young man and finding himself along the way.
Johnny Tremain is an excellent book for teaching children about the American Revolution. The author uses details that really show the reader what Boston was like during that period in time. Children can relate with Johnny and can understand what it may have been like for a boy his age to make the decision to join in the battle for independence. The author does a wonderful job of taking an adult situation, such as war, and making it so that most children can understand it from their perspective. This book is very deserving of the the 1944 Newbery Award.
Book Review: Excellent Historical Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this story. To all of the people who can't understand this story, don't write bad reviews about it. I think I could recomend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction or nonfiction. This book shows me that you shouldn't give up even if everything gives up on you. You should not give in to defeat, but pull yourself out of the depths and keep trying to live a great life. Johnny burns his hand making a sugar basin handle for American Patriot, John Hancock, on Sabbath Day, which was breaking the law and working on that day. The Laphams did not enjoy his presence so he went to Mr. Lyte. When Mr. Lyte has him arrested for theft of the cup Johnny really owns. In trial, Precilla Lapham testifys because she has seen the cup before the date Mr. Lyte said it was stolen. Johnny is proven innocent but tries to sell the cup to Lyte. Lyte takes it and gets his poor relative, Sewall, to think Johnny came to give it back. He threatens to send Johnny to Guadalope but Johnny runs out and is faster than them all. He goes to the Boston Observer and stays there with a boy a few years older, named Rab. That's about half. If you want to know what else happens, read the Newberry Award-Winning Novel, Johnny Tremain by Ester Forbes.Book Review: A Delicious Dose of Revolutionary Fun!
Summary: 5 Stars
Johnny Tremain, an arrogant, annoying brat of a silversmith's apprentice is ruler of the roost (the shop where he works, that is) until a tragic accident cripples his hand, making him unable to continue his trade. He then becomes an outcast of society. Unable to find work, he nearly sinks to theiving, but luckily stumbles upon a printer's assistant named Rab who befriends Johnny and helps him find a job. Rab is an intriguing type of fellow. He was my favorite character in this book, even though he's not the main character.Rab introduces Johnny to a wonderful world of secrecy, excitement, and intrigue with the Sons of Liberty, who are plotting America's independence from the tyrannical British government. Johnny develops into a rather likable sort of chap before the book's end. Such American immortals as Paul Revere, Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Joseph Warren are skillfully interwoven by Forbes into this delightful piece of historical fiction. I highly recommend this book to children around 12 on up but I believe it is just as enjoyable to adults. I am in my 20's and I really enjoy this book still. If you are an American history buff or simply enjoy a good book with an old-fashioned flavor, buy this book and read it.