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librariandest's review
2.0
Our hero, 12-year-old Zeb, is a Tom Sawyer-ish character who's sent far from his woodsy home to work for his Great Uncle in St. Louis. Only he never sees his uncle. Instead, he's recruited mid-trip by a gambler named Chilly who leads him down a path that just gets farther and farther from what Zeb was expecting. He makes friends with a slave named Ho-John, an Indian chief and his daughter (she doesn't have a name, but is just called "the princess"). The story is mostly driven by Zeb's moral development, but there's also a little suspense thrown in when Zeb realizes he's had enough of being Chilly's lackey.
This wasn't poorly written, but I found the voice of Zeb a little cloying. I think the author depended too much on colloquialisms and didn't really put that much into fleshing out his characters or his story. Was it just me or did every character fit pretty neatly into a cultural stereotype?
I did appreciate the afterword that spoke to the historical accuracy of the story, and the glossary that was provided to enlighten confused young readers.
This wasn't poorly written, but I found the voice of Zeb a little cloying. I think the author depended too much on colloquialisms and didn't really put that much into fleshing out his characters or his story. Was it just me or did every character fit pretty neatly into a cultural stereotype?
I did appreciate the afterword that spoke to the historical accuracy of the story, and the glossary that was provided to enlighten confused young readers.
laurak23's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Entertaining, if a little hard to get into initially. I enjoyed the dictionary at the end, too.
carstensena's review
4.0
Very entertaining middle school humorous historical fiction about riverboat gambling. I think the kids are going to like this one!
katymvt's review
4.0
Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2021-a book with a spade, heart, club, or diamond on the cover.
If you're looking for something deep and meaningful, this probably isn't for you. But, it's a fun romp with a moral tale that is very evocative of Mark twain.
If you're looking for something deep and meaningful, this probably isn't for you. But, it's a fun romp with a moral tale that is very evocative of Mark twain.
librarybrods's review
3.0
liked it MUCH better than Horns and Wrinkles, but Zeb reminded me a lot of Homer Figg (who I also didn't love).
couillac's review
4.0
This one was a surprise, but Helgerson tells a great story! The young protagonist, Zeb, is sent off to St. Louis to learn a trade, but on the riverboat, he teams up with a wild gambler. Zeb is authentically naive and earnest, and his initial excitement for this new life is only tempered slightly by his guilt at disobeying his parents. This is clearly an homage to Tom Sawyer and similar river rats, but Helgerson pulls it off with style. Funny, engaging, cxciting, this one is worth a read!
yarnpirate's review
4.0
Fun, quick listen. The narrator was superb. I think this would have easily been a four star book for my if I'd read it when I was 10 or 12.
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