Product Description: The great events of Revolutionary Boston as seen through the shrewd eyes of an observant fourteen-year-old boy.
Amazon.com Review: This story of a tragically injured young silversmith who ends up hip-deep in the American Revolution is inspiring, exciting, and sad. Winner of the prestigious Newbery Award in 1944, Esther Forbes's story has lasted these 50-plus years by including adventure, loss, courage, and history in a wonderfully written, very dramatic package. It's probably not great for little guys but mature 11-year-olds or older will find it a great adventure.
BOOOOOOOOOOORING!!! I had to read this book for school, and I didn't like it at all. I didn't even finish it! This is not a good book. DO NOT read it. I don't know how many times I fell asleap while reading. My brother had to wake me up several times. I read all the time, and have finished the 800 page books in about one or two days. This book took me like 2 months. This is the boringist book I have ever read.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
