Johnny Tremain | Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward | One of the best books of historical fiction ever written

Johnny Tremain | Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward | Johnny Tremain

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Johnny Tremain

	Johnny Tremain Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward Yearling, 1987 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 294 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Johnny Tremain, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in the danger and excitement of 1775 Boston, just before the Revolutionary War. But even more gripping than living through the drama of Revolutionary Boston is the important discovery Johnny makes in his own life.

One of the best books of historical fiction ever written

I first read this book when I was in fifth grade and enjoyed it more when I reread it decades later. I still consider it one of the best books of historical fiction ever written. Johnny Tremain is an apprentice to a silversmith in Boston as the ferments of revolution are beginning to boil. American leaders are beginning to believe that the only course of action open to them is an open rebellion against the British crown. Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere are three of the Boston-area leaders that Johnny encounters.
When is hand is maimed in an accident, Johnny is forced out of his apprenticeship and forced to live on the streets. Fortunately, after a spot of bad luck he becomes associated with kindly people who let him work with a horse and then use it to deliver newspapers. These people are strongly sympathetic to the revolution and Johnny is caught up in it.
The most striking aspect of the book is the way the British troops are portrayed. They are described as being kindly, doing what they can to avoid conflict with the population. When Johnny plays a trick on a British officer that lands him in a mud puddle, the officer laughs and does not retaliate. Major Pitcairn is characterized as being quite popular among the people. Of course, history runs its inevitable course and the initial clashes occur at Lexington and Concord, igniting an open war. The patriots are also sometimes characterized as nothing but thugs, ganging up on Loyalists in the guise of being patriotic.
This is a book that should be read by every American youth and I can report that all of the schools I know of require it.

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Johnny Tremain

Intesting book for young readers. I use this book along with the Guide in my reading class. At the end of the book, we watch the Disney movie from 1957 of Johnny Tremain. My students always like the book better as it has more detail and information.

Fun, adventurous classic that delves out a bit of history

I am nearly 24 and this is the first time I have gotten around to reading this book (yes, yes I'm a horrible person but my school system never saw fit to give it to us). So I read it, finally, on my own time. And I adored it. Many people accustomed to modern, ansty writing will not appreciate the sheer awesomeness of this story, but this is an epic told for story and plot and not to disect the mindset of war (leave that to "My Brother Sam is Dead" another excellent but more modern and darker view of the American Revolution.) Esther Forbes is a most distinguished historian, and this is about facts and if I dare say it fun. I actually failed to notice any symbolism, but as I teach 1st grade I'm a little out of practice when it comes to noticing it and I do not doubt that it is there. One might complain about a lack of depth of the characters, but compare them to the likes of Peter Pan and Tom Sawyer and you won't see much difference. This is a beautifully written, action-packed story that draws the reader. It deserves all of its praise.

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Still a wonderful read for children and others

I suppose I had read other history books before I read this book at age 12. However, this is the book that hooked me on history.

Our media, books, television, films, are full of the American Revolution and its heroes and heroines now, but back in 1952, things were pretty quiet on the American History front. We were making our own history with WWII, the Marshall Plan, the Korean Conflict, the red scare et al. In spite of all that, this book set me on fire. I wanted to know more about the foundations of our country, and I went on to read everything I could set my hands to. I am still doing it, but that is another story.

"Johnny Tremain" is still a wonderful book. It tells the story of a teenaged apprentice who learns the hard way what is his real value to his country. Of course, you can't mention silver and the Revolution without bringing Paul Revere into the story. He and many other well known heroes are brought into the story along with the everyday people whose names never make the history books, but who are the real builders and heroes of any tale like this.

Read this book - I've read it a couple of times. Now I am buying a copy for my grandchildren who are just about the age I was when I first opened its pages.

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"We give all we have, lives, property, safety, skills...we fight, we die for a simple thing. Only that a man can stand up."

And therein lies the premise for the colonial revolutionaries of the 1770s, as Forbes has written in her storied historical novel of Johnny Tremain.

Decidedly American, this story of the young protagonist Tremain in 1774-1775 colonial Boston could really be enjoyed by any reader who appreciates historical fiction. Though the story's premise is the beginning of the American War for Independence from England, the story has all the elements of a good book, even for those that may not have a stake or interest in the specific elements of American history or independence. There're also the traditional elements of just a good story: love and affection, espionage, conflict, loyalty, tragedy turned to fortune, suspense and a climactic point near the end of the book.

Written to a teen audience, Forbes demonstrates great skill (obviously, as this book has stood the test of time, being copyrighted in 1943) in writing a book easily read and understood by her intended audience, but still very enjoyable to the adult audience. I've now read this book three times (I think the only book I've ever read 3 times), and recently for the first time in 26 years. What impresses me most now is how Forbes doesn't display the colonial revolutionaries - the Sons of Liberty - and their renowned characters, men who became the Founding Fathers of America, as near perfect and saintly men. She developed them as men with flaws, wavering allegiances, questionable faculties, but also men resolute in their cause and demonstrating gifted leadership abilities. Likewise, the British army and occupiers of the colonies were displayed not as disdainful, brash and belligerent, but as men who did not wish for war against what they felt were their fellow Englishmen. Forbes put a face of humanity on the entire circumstance whereby the reader today, even 233 years after the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, can be touched personally by the events in which Johnny Tremain found himself.

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