Johnny Tremain: A Newbery Award Winner―A Revolutionary War Adventure for Kids

Good first novel,

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.

I bought this book for my 9-year-old son who is an avid reader. I also reread the book. He reads constantly, and I’m trying to get away from exclusively science fiction series. The book is a classic, probably known and remembered by lots of parents. I read it in 9th grade and remembered that Johnny was a silversmith who destroyed his hand and then worked for a newspaper leading up to and through the Boston Tea Party. I also remembered that his best friend was killed in battle. That’s about all I remembered when I bought this award winner for my son. Rereading as a parent, there were several things I newly appreciated. First, this is an interesting picture of apprenticeships prior to the Industrial Revolution. Johnny’s apprenticeship as a silversmith started young and he shouldered significant responsibility early in life. When he lost the ability to be a smith, he looked around for a new trade. I also appreciated that Johnny was situated in the midst of some of the most famous leaders of The American Revolution. This is really historical fiction, and got my son interested in learning more history. However, as I reread I also noticed how casually this text refers to African American minor characters’ roles in the community as relatively unimportant. Sometimes they are even referred to by race but without names. This may be an accurate (or even romanticized) portrayal of how white people treated and thought about African Americans in that time period, but not one I want my son to read and accept as ok. We have since gotten a book about African American leaders during the time period to see another side of the story. With this intervention, I’m excited we read Johnny Tremain, but I wouldn’t assign it as independent reading without discussions built in.

Packaged well, book in excellent condition. Arrived quickly.

Read a book from my youth. Loved it then and still love it now. I love it. Glad it still holds up 30 years later!

I always remember this book from when I was a girl. I ordered for my neighbors twins, my granddaughter would not be interested in it, but both my neighbors are teachers and their sons read, he had read it when he was a kid and liked it, but they didn’t have it. Gotta keep these old great Newberry winners going. I just wanted somebody to read it!

Johnny Tremain couldn’t be a solider due to a hand deformed by a serious burn, but he could deliver messages and be of assistance to the leaders of Boston. Great story with a lot of heart.

inspirational and accurate historical fiction. wonderful for teenagers and adults. A favorite for many years

Great, thank you :)

My daughter and I read it for a book report.

A good book for the day. Written about an old war so that men might rise up in WW2. So people desire to stand up today? Would young men die so that others might stand up?

I love this book.

Great book