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mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
Set in the 1930s, this is a story of two boys from different classes who both come together to solve an ancient mystery regarding a hidden, family treasure. The two families, the Mosses and the Codlings are connected by the River Say whose secrets hold much more than fishes and reeds and the Minnow, a canoe which falls into the hands of young David Moss and leads him to the owner, Adam Codling, an older boy with a turbulent temper bent on preserving his family history and home at all costs.
These two very different boys make for an interesting pair in hunting down the Codling treasure and with the introduction of a mysterious competitor and a race against time, Pearce's story is a gripping one which, as always, contains absorbing characters and a real sense of time and place. Yet this is a story of mourning too. Not just of an idyll England when buses would stop outside your house door rather than at stops but one which remembers the Great War whose fallen are a traumatic scar throughout the story.
I would love to see this read as a class novel and think, if done well through drama and discussion it could be but it would need a passionate teacher and an immersive content. Although the story well-paced, very well written (Pearce didn't do bad books) and deeply touching, those readers who have little stamina might lose some focus in those final few, important chapters.
Potential Year 4 Text:
English: So much emphasis in the book on inference and prediction that it lends itself well to plenty of booktalk and drama. I like the idea of taking the children out to a similiar setting and getting them to write some descriptive sentences in a similar style to Pearce.
Central to the story is the Codling Riddle so there is chance to explore the element of poetry too and use this to hide objects around the school in which children compose riddles for others to examine and untangle. When they have been solved then they can go searching for them.
I can also see a lot of potential for script-writing based in the 30s and/or videoing scenes from the story in doing so. This can help bring a real attachment to the characters as well as a deeper understanding of the text. Children could write extended written scenes between key characters.
Maths:
Roman numerals are used within the text to look at significant dates within the book and offers an opportunity as a way to decipher a clue in the text. If applicable, I would relate this to the Codling's home being old and see if there are any buildings in the local town which still have Roman Numerals written on them to decipher. Books are important to the story too and children to look at those texts which begin with numerals prior to the main section of the book.
The boys do a lot of plotting and digging in the book whilst looking for treasure. There is an opportunity to hide some treasure in the local landscape too (or near a stream) and, using Google Earth, plot and divide sections of the land in order to consider area skills. With so much of the focus being on the River Say, creating bar charts and pictograms around a local river/stream and counting wildlife seen there as part of a larger, geographical study would not only bring the landscape in the book to life but also the children's connection with the locality.
Science:
In relation to the above topic, with The Say being so prominent in the story as well as wildlife (especially birds) it would be beneficial for pupils to do some investigation around organisms living in the local stream. This could relate to food chains and classification of living things. From this they could consider what creatures David and Adam might spot on the Say when reflecting upon their own findings.
Art & Design:
Creating their own model canoes to see which ones float the best would be wonderful (especially if they could take them to the local stream and try). The children could name their own boat as the boys do in the book. Equally, I would love to see children sketching the local river/stream paying attention to flora. Here would be a good opportunity to focus on the work of British artists Paul Nash whose landscapes could be used as guides to their own work. Equally, his images of the Great War could be used to inspire war poetry and writing.
These two very different boys make for an interesting pair in hunting down the Codling treasure and with the introduction of a mysterious competitor and a race against time, Pearce's story is a gripping one which, as always, contains absorbing characters and a real sense of time and place. Yet this is a story of mourning too. Not just of an idyll England when buses would stop outside your house door rather than at stops but one which remembers the Great War whose fallen are a traumatic scar throughout the story.
I would love to see this read as a class novel and think, if done well through drama and discussion it could be but it would need a passionate teacher and an immersive content. Although the story well-paced, very well written (Pearce didn't do bad books) and deeply touching, those readers who have little stamina might lose some focus in those final few, important chapters.
Potential Year 4 Text:
English: So much emphasis in the book on inference and prediction that it lends itself well to plenty of booktalk and drama. I like the idea of taking the children out to a similiar setting and getting them to write some descriptive sentences in a similar style to Pearce.
Central to the story is the Codling Riddle so there is chance to explore the element of poetry too and use this to hide objects around the school in which children compose riddles for others to examine and untangle. When they have been solved then they can go searching for them.
I can also see a lot of potential for script-writing based in the 30s and/or videoing scenes from the story in doing so. This can help bring a real attachment to the characters as well as a deeper understanding of the text. Children could write extended written scenes between key characters.
Maths:
Roman numerals are used within the text to look at significant dates within the book and offers an opportunity as a way to decipher a clue in the text. If applicable, I would relate this to the Codling's home being old and see if there are any buildings in the local town which still have Roman Numerals written on them to decipher. Books are important to the story too and children to look at those texts which begin with numerals prior to the main section of the book.
The boys do a lot of plotting and digging in the book whilst looking for treasure. There is an opportunity to hide some treasure in the local landscape too (or near a stream) and, using Google Earth, plot and divide sections of the land in order to consider area skills. With so much of the focus being on the River Say, creating bar charts and pictograms around a local river/stream and counting wildlife seen there as part of a larger, geographical study would not only bring the landscape in the book to life but also the children's connection with the locality.
Science:
In relation to the above topic, with The Say being so prominent in the story as well as wildlife (especially birds) it would be beneficial for pupils to do some investigation around organisms living in the local stream. This could relate to food chains and classification of living things. From this they could consider what creatures David and Adam might spot on the Say when reflecting upon their own findings.
Art & Design:
Creating their own model canoes to see which ones float the best would be wonderful (especially if they could take them to the local stream and try). The children could name their own boat as the boys do in the book. Equally, I would love to see children sketching the local river/stream paying attention to flora. Here would be a good opportunity to focus on the work of British artists Paul Nash whose landscapes could be used as guides to their own work. Equally, his images of the Great War could be used to inspire war poetry and writing.
charlielovesbooks's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best adventure stories I've read! Simple plot but sincere writing and engaging characters. A book for relaxing on the river. Just as wonderful on the second read! Definitely a favorite.
scaifea's review
5.0
After a flood, a boy (David) finds a canoe at his family's landing, and then finds a new friend (Adam) in the discovered owner. The two of them spend a glorious summer in the canoe (The Minnow), looking for Adam's family's long-lost treasure in an attempt to save Adam and his poor aunt from selling their house and moving away to live with cousins for lack of money. It's a race again time (the end of the summer holidays) and also against a wicked relative (Mr. "Smith"), who is also trying to find the hidden riches.
This one was wonderful. David and Adam and their river adventures, the mystery and suspense of the search for the treasure, and the lovely characters who fill the small villages where they live make for a happy and cozy read. I enjoyed it no end.
This one was wonderful. David and Adam and their river adventures, the mystery and suspense of the search for the treasure, and the lovely characters who fill the small villages where they live make for a happy and cozy read. I enjoyed it no end.
lizziepurpleserenity's review
4.0
Charming, summery, chilled, but driven forward by the mystery the boys are busy solving, with clues leading to discoveries, and halfway through a back-to-square-one moment that ensures the mystery isn't solved all too quickly or obviously. I like that it's not just a quest to find treasure - that there is a heartfelt and urgent reason to find it.
mat_tobin's review
4.0
Set in the 1930s, this is a story of two boys from different classes who both come together to solve an ancient mystery regarding a hidden, family treasure. The two families, the Mosses and the Codlings are connected by the River Say whose secrets hold much more than fishes and reeds and the Minnow, a canoe which falls into the hands of young David Moss and leads him to the owner, Adam Codling, an older boy with a turbulent temper bent on preserving his family history and home at all costs.
These two very different boys make for an interesting pair in hunting down the Codling treasure and with the introduction of a mysterious competitor and a race against time, Pearce's story is a gripping one which, as always, contains absorbing characters and a real sense of time and place. Yet this is a story of mourning too. Not just of an idyll England when buses would stop outside your house door rather than at stops but one which remembers the Great War whose fallen are a traumatic scar throughout the story.
I would love to see this read as a class novel and think, if done well through drama and discussion it could be but it would need a passionate teacher and an immersive content. Although the story well-paced, very well written (Pearce didn't do bad books) and deeply touching, those readers who have little stamina might lose some focus in those final few, important chapters.
Potential Year 4 Text:
English: So much emphasis in the book on inference and prediction that it lends itself well to plenty of booktalk and drama. I like the idea of taking the children out to a similiar setting and getting them to write some descriptive sentences in a similar style to Pearce.
Central to the story is the Codling Riddle so there is chance to explore the element of poetry too and use this to hide objects around the school in which children compose riddles for others to examine and untangle. When they have been solved then they can go searching for them.
I can also see a lot of potential for script-writing based in the 30s and/or videoing scenes from the story in doing so. This can help bring a real attachment to the characters as well as a deeper understanding of the text. Children could write extended written scenes between key characters.
Maths:
Roman numerals are used within the text to look at significant dates within the book and offers an opportunity as a way to decipher a clue in the text. If applicable, I would relate this to the Codling's home being old and see if there are any buildings in the local town which still have Roman Numerals written on them to decipher. Books are important to the story too and children to look at those texts which begin with numerals prior to the main section of the book.
The boys do a lot of plotting and digging in the book whilst looking for treasure. There is an opportunity to hide some treasure in the local landscape too (or near a stream) and, using Google Earth, plot and divide sections of the land in order to consider area skills. With so much of the focus being on the River Say, creating bar charts and pictograms around a local river/stream and counting wildlife seen there as part of a larger, geographical study would not only bring the landscape in the book to life but also the children's connection with the locality.
Science:
In relation to the above topic, with The Say being so prominent in the story as well as wildlife (especially birds) it would be beneficial for pupils to do some investigation around organisms living in the local stream. This could relate to food chains and classification of living things. From this they could consider what creatures David and Adam might spot on the Say when reflecting upon their own findings.
Art & Design:
Creating their own model canoes to see which ones float the best would be wonderful (especially if they could take them to the local stream and try). The children could name their own boat as the boys do in the book. Equally, I would love to see children sketching the local river/stream paying attention to flora. Here would be a good opportunity to focus on the work of British artists Paul Nash whose landscapes could be used as guides to their own work. Equally, his images of the Great War could be used to inspire war poetry and writing.
These two very different boys make for an interesting pair in hunting down the Codling treasure and with the introduction of a mysterious competitor and a race against time, Pearce's story is a gripping one which, as always, contains absorbing characters and a real sense of time and place. Yet this is a story of mourning too. Not just of an idyll England when buses would stop outside your house door rather than at stops but one which remembers the Great War whose fallen are a traumatic scar throughout the story.
I would love to see this read as a class novel and think, if done well through drama and discussion it could be but it would need a passionate teacher and an immersive content. Although the story well-paced, very well written (Pearce didn't do bad books) and deeply touching, those readers who have little stamina might lose some focus in those final few, important chapters.
Potential Year 4 Text:
English: So much emphasis in the book on inference and prediction that it lends itself well to plenty of booktalk and drama. I like the idea of taking the children out to a similiar setting and getting them to write some descriptive sentences in a similar style to Pearce.
Central to the story is the Codling Riddle so there is chance to explore the element of poetry too and use this to hide objects around the school in which children compose riddles for others to examine and untangle. When they have been solved then they can go searching for them.
I can also see a lot of potential for script-writing based in the 30s and/or videoing scenes from the story in doing so. This can help bring a real attachment to the characters as well as a deeper understanding of the text. Children could write extended written scenes between key characters.
Maths:
Roman numerals are used within the text to look at significant dates within the book and offers an opportunity as a way to decipher a clue in the text. If applicable, I would relate this to the Codling's home being old and see if there are any buildings in the local town which still have Roman Numerals written on them to decipher. Books are important to the story too and children to look at those texts which begin with numerals prior to the main section of the book.
The boys do a lot of plotting and digging in the book whilst looking for treasure. There is an opportunity to hide some treasure in the local landscape too (or near a stream) and, using Google Earth, plot and divide sections of the land in order to consider area skills. With so much of the focus being on the River Say, creating bar charts and pictograms around a local river/stream and counting wildlife seen there as part of a larger, geographical study would not only bring the landscape in the book to life but also the children's connection with the locality.
Science:
In relation to the above topic, with The Say being so prominent in the story as well as wildlife (especially birds) it would be beneficial for pupils to do some investigation around organisms living in the local stream. This could relate to food chains and classification of living things. From this they could consider what creatures David and Adam might spot on the Say when reflecting upon their own findings.
Art & Design:
Creating their own model canoes to see which ones float the best would be wonderful (especially if they could take them to the local stream and try). The children could name their own boat as the boys do in the book. Equally, I would love to see children sketching the local river/stream paying attention to flora. Here would be a good opportunity to focus on the work of British artists Paul Nash whose landscapes could be used as guides to their own work. Equally, his images of the Great War could be used to inspire war poetry and writing.
skyereads's review
4.0
By the author of the better known 'Tom's Midnight Garden', Minnow on the Say is the summer holiday tale of David and Adam's search for a family treasure to save Adam from a fate worse than death: exile to Birmingham.
Written in the tradition of E. Nesbit's Treasure Seekers and The House of Arden, with a dash of Swallows and Amazons, it is beautifully crafted, superbly paced and very satisfying. As someone who spent a good portion of her childhood holidays messing about in boats, I particularly loved the early chapters and expeditions in Minnow. Very keen to read more Philippa Pearce!
Written in the tradition of E. Nesbit's Treasure Seekers and The House of Arden, with a dash of Swallows and Amazons, it is beautifully crafted, superbly paced and very satisfying. As someone who spent a good portion of her childhood holidays messing about in boats, I particularly loved the early chapters and expeditions in Minnow. Very keen to read more Philippa Pearce!
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