Scan barcode
labunnywtf's review
5.0
Oh, man, I'd forgotten this book! I loved this book! I remember him hurting his hand and me being so so angry for him. And I actually learned things from the book, though it's been too long now to actually remember them...
And I also remember my entire whatever-grade class laughing at the name Dorcas and pronouncing it (of course), Dorkus.
And I also remember my entire whatever-grade class laughing at the name Dorcas and pronouncing it (of course), Dorkus.
lecterclarice's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
dotorsojak's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I may or may not have read this book decades ago. I think I read it in 4th or 5th grade. Pretty sure I took it out of the school library. BUT… did I read it? If I did, I remember nothing about it. It is written for young readers, but the vocab level here is high and there is a sophisticated treatment of history and family and social class that I wouldn’t have understood at age 10 or 11.
Anyhow, this is an immersive historical fiction in which lots of real people appear (e.g. John Hancock & Samuel Adams). Forbes is especially good at bringing 18th century Boston to life.
Recommended.
Anyhow, this is an immersive historical fiction in which lots of real people appear (e.g. John Hancock & Samuel Adams). Forbes is especially good at bringing 18th century Boston to life.
Recommended.
bettyw's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
rbixby's review
4.0
Read this book when I was 11 or 12, I think. Can't remember. I do remember loving it though. I'm deeply into the John Adams miniseries on HBO because I love reading about the Founding Fathers and their philosophies. I strongly suspect that seed was planted with this book 30 years ago.
rchluther's review against another edition
3.0
I was prepared to really love this book. I ended up just liking it. Some characters were great, some were flat. Some situations were tense and exciting, some seemed just to skim by. I am very glad I read it, but probably never will again.
jencafardi's review
4.0
This is a great example of well-written Children’s literature that adults should read, too. Johnny sustains a life-altering injury which necessitates him switching from a silversmith apprentice position to another. The story takes place in Boston, and he becomes a part of the Boston tea party and the early days of the American Revolution.
ana_reading_the_days_away's review
3.0
I recently finished reading Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. This is a historical fiction book and has won a Newbery Honor Award.
This book is placed in Boston 1773. It is about a boy named Johnny Tremain who was apprenticed to a silversmith until he had an accident in which his hand was burned. No longer able to be a silversmith, Johnny’s new life brings him in touch with revolutionary figures such as Paul Revere, Sam Adams and John Hancock. As Johnny grows into a new person, a person not concerned with quality of silver and how long he has to make this or that, he realizes just how far people will go for freedom, “liberty and justice for all.”
One thing I liked about this book was that the characters were very dynamic. You could see them growing and changing through the course of the story. As their surroundings and circumstances changed, you could see them maturing and living up to their roles. Some characters changed more than others, but almost every character changed in some way or form. Another thing that I liked about the book was that it was like I was there, doing all these things with them. It felt like I was there at the Boston Tea-Party helping chop open crates and dump them into the sea. It was like I was there at the courthouse wondering what the verdict would be and I was there with Johnny when he was riding his horse through the countryside. This book also really helped me connect revolutionary events and people to what really happened. One thing I disliked about this book is that at the beginning, Johnny was a bit of a jerk. He was always ordering people around, even his superiors. He wouldn’t think before he spoke and said some really awful things about people. Due to this reason, it took me a while to actually like him, even after he changed.
People who would like this book might be people who really like history and historical fiction. Also, people who are interested in some of the events leading up to the Revolutionary War including the first shots fired at Lexington and Concord might enjoy this book.
This book is placed in Boston 1773. It is about a boy named Johnny Tremain who was apprenticed to a silversmith until he had an accident in which his hand was burned. No longer able to be a silversmith, Johnny’s new life brings him in touch with revolutionary figures such as Paul Revere, Sam Adams and John Hancock. As Johnny grows into a new person, a person not concerned with quality of silver and how long he has to make this or that, he realizes just how far people will go for freedom, “liberty and justice for all.”
One thing I liked about this book was that the characters were very dynamic. You could see them growing and changing through the course of the story. As their surroundings and circumstances changed, you could see them maturing and living up to their roles. Some characters changed more than others, but almost every character changed in some way or form. Another thing that I liked about the book was that it was like I was there, doing all these things with them. It felt like I was there at the Boston Tea-Party helping chop open crates and dump them into the sea. It was like I was there at the courthouse wondering what the verdict would be and I was there with Johnny when he was riding his horse through the countryside. This book also really helped me connect revolutionary events and people to what really happened. One thing I disliked about this book is that at the beginning, Johnny was a bit of a jerk. He was always ordering people around, even his superiors. He wouldn’t think before he spoke and said some really awful things about people. Due to this reason, it took me a while to actually like him, even after he changed.
People who would like this book might be people who really like history and historical fiction. Also, people who are interested in some of the events leading up to the Revolutionary War including the first shots fired at Lexington and Concord might enjoy this book.