Customer Reviews

Bigger (Aladdin Historical Fiction)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Southern cause was lost and many never came home.
We have a brave boy here who goes looking for his father
and winds up both finding a friend in a dog
and growing up at one time.
Unlike others he came home
and used his new understanding to make life
better after the war had gone away.

I read this book when my 10 year was reading it for a class project. I loved it. It addresses issues of prejudice and the civil war. It deals with growing up and shows how easy it is to see ideas and people from only one side until you are really faced with the situation. It's not a hit-you-over-the-head kind of story it is subtle but gets its point across. It is an entertaining story and you become attached to the main characters easily. The story is satisfying because you get to see the main character Tyler start to grow from a boy to a man who will be compasionate and strong. It's only 137 pages long so it is an easier read for my 10 year old son who doesn't want to be still very long. It was hard to find a historical fiction novel that he was willing to read but this one had a boy and a dog and even though it gives you a good look at how cruel war actually is it was done in a way that wouldn't give you nightmares.

Bigger, a book written by Patricia Calvery in which I rated with four stars.
This book is about a boy named Tyler who sets out to look for his father who is in the Civil War. He must travel to Mexico all by himself to find his father. During his journey he encounters many people, animals, and adventures. What makes it so interesting is the great detail each event is written in. It is almost as if you are there when it happens. Tyler finaly finds his father but very unfortunately his father is not coming home with him. Even though he isn't coming home Tyler showed Great determination to even go all the way to look for his father and actually find him. I now have great respect for Tyler and what he did.
During his journey Tyler makes a great companion. It just so happens to a bed a dog. The first time Tyler laid his eyes on the dog he never thought there would be any way that they would become friends. Somehow Bigger tracked Tyler down and they became best friends. On their first night together Bigger (the dog) woudln't even come on the same side of the fire as Tyler. That is just how timid he was. Tyler and Bigger being together really made me give this book four stars. They show a prime example of a great and loving relationship between boy and dog!
I would recommend Call of The Wild is you enjoyed this book. In a way they are similiar. I am foutteen years old and I love football!!!

Could you go 800 miles for your dad?
Bigger
By Patricia Calvert
Published in 1994
When his father, Black Jack Bohannan disappears near the Mexican border at the end of the Civil War,twelve-year-old Tyler decides to go after him over a 800 mile journey on the Rio Grande. Then he will bring him home, acquiring in his journey a strange abused `Devil Dog' which he comes to name Bigger and he also meets an slave who's name is Isaac who escaped, but he has many scars and Tyler befriended him.
An interesting part in Bigger is when Tyler gives Isaac a pair of shoes and Isaac was surprised and said,'My stars a pair of shoes! Might be a little too big for these big feet.' Then he tries them on and says,'Nossir these are big enough for me.' Then Isaac gives him a fishing pole and some line.
This is a book for boysand/or girls who like adventure.
I give this book a 9 and 1 half out of 10 because I love this book. (:D>

Bigger, a book written by Patricia Calvert in which I rated with four stars.
In this book a young boy named Tyler who sets out to look for his dad who is in the Civil War. It has beem a long while since his dad has been home so Tyler decides to go out looking for him. On his journey he encounters many people, animals, and spectacular events! The detail in which each event is explained in is what really makes me give this book four stars! Even though his dad doesn't end up coming back home with Tyler, this story shows great determination to at least find his father. I have great respect for Tyler after reading this story. Hard to believe a young kid would do something this risky just to find his father isn't it?
Now let's talk about the relationship between Tyler and Bigger. When Tyler first saw Bigger he was intimidated and never thought they would become such good companions. Their first night together bigger wouldn't even come to the same side of the fire as Tyler, thats just how timid he was. As the story progresses Tyler and Bigger grow closer and in the end Bigger is killed by his previous owner who used to beat Bigger. This book shows a great relationship between man and dog!!!
I would recommend Call of the wild if you enjoyed this story. In a way they are similiar.I am fourtteen years old and I love football!!!

If you're into adventures with a twist, then Bigger is the book for you! Bigger is written by Patricia Calvert, who has also written Ancient Inca, Betrayed, and Picking up the Pieces. Bigger is an older book published in 1994, so you'll find older dialogue that's different than today's. It was also nominated for a Rebecca Caudill award in 1997. Bigger is a story of a boy named Tyler who is leaving his home in a town named Sweet Creek to go to the Texas/Mexico border to bring his father back from the Civil war. Soon he meets a dog who he names "Bigger" and they set off together. On their way to the border they meet a black boy named Isaac Perce who travels with them for a few days. After Isaac leaves they continue south and learn more of what has happened during the war. At some points Tyler thinks they won't make it, but his determination and Bigger's loyalty keeps them going.
A great aspect of this book is how incredibly descriptive it is. You can easily imagine many things. One descriptive thing in the book is when Tyler compares the characteristics of the stranger to his father's, and used phrases like "his eyes were gray with sorrow, not black like a gypsy's." Another part that was descriptive was when he described the landscape of a Texas desert and used words like "The land was harsh and dry, and extremely hot." This book is so descriptive, it's almost like you're really there!
Another good part of the book is Bigger, the dog. Everyone calls him a devil except Tyler, who is the only one Bigger, is nice to. When Tyler first met Bigger, he was chained to a post, and his uncle was going to shoot him. Thankfully, Tyler's Cousin Clayton "secretly" loosened Bigger's collar so he could slip out and go with Tyler. An interesting feature of Bigger is his "talking" eyes, which "answer" Tyler when he talks. Bigger is brave and very loyal to Tyler.
Bigger is an extremely descriptive book with interesting characters that's good for most ages. It was one of the best books I ever read, and if you read it, I'm almost positive you'll like it to. It's an excellent story of a boy who meets his best friend as he searches for his missing father.

This amazing book is about a boy named Tyler. Tyler wants to go and find his father after the Civil War. On his way he meets a dog and he names it Bigger and this dog has a blue eye and one brown eye. After a while Tyler becomes a friend with Bigger.
I liked this book because it had a lot of excitement like when a stone hit Tyler. A boy named Issac threw the stone but you have to read the book to know if they become friends or enemies. The gist of this book is after the Civil War a boy named Tyler was looking for his father who did not come home but when he found his father he was trying to start another war. What I think the author is trying to say is that starting a new war doesnt change the old one.

I have read Bigger over a million times. It deserves every award it has earned and more. I have found the book to be the most interesting historical fiction book on the market. Patricia Calvert wrote THE BEST book anyone could buy.