The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker [Paperback]

Cynthia DeFelice (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1998 | Age Level: 8 and up

A Matter of Life or Death

It's 1849, and twelve-year-old, Lucas Whitaker is all alone after his whole family dies of a disease called consumption which has swept through the community. Lucas is grief-stricken and filled with guilt. He might have saved his mother, who was the last to die, if only he had listened to news of a strange cure for this deadly disease.

Unable to manage the family farm by himself, Lucas finds work as an apprentice to Doc Beecher, doctor, dentist, barber and undertaker. Doc amputates a leg as easily as he pulls a tooth, yet when it comes to consumption, he remains powerless, unwilling to try the cure he calls nonsense. Lucas can't accept Doc's disbelief, and he joins others in the dark ritual they believe is their only hope. The startling results teach Lucas a great deal about fear, desperation, and the scientific reasoning that offers hope for a true cure.

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
An ALA Notable Book for Children
A New York Public Library 1997 Best Books for the Teenage
A CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies for 1997
00-01 Minnesota's Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Masterlist

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7. In 1849, a 12-year-old orphan becomes an apprentice to a kind physician and must choose between applying limited medical knowledge or following macabre superstition. A potent picture of the times.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-8. Lucas' entire family has died, one by one, of tuberculosis, known as consumption in the mid-1800s. Wandering through the Connecticut countryside in grief, Lucas ends up becoming the new apprentice to Dr. Uriah M. Beecher, also the local dentist, apothecary, barber, and undertaker. Lucas' new community is being decimated by consumption, and the local people want to try a technique rumored to work: digging up the remains of the first family member to die, removing and burning the heart, and breathing in the smoke. Dr. Beecher is certain this is useless at best, but Lucas feels sure it is worth a try. DeFelice skillfully gives readers enough historical information to see the reasoning behind the macabre practice and creates in Lucas a flesh and blood boy going through a most difficult time. Hand this title to students who have been assigned historical fiction and consider olden times to be boring. Susan Dove Lempke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Camelot Books (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380729202
• ISBN-13: 978-0380729203
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,368,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker, July 30, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker (Paperback)

I really enjoyed reading "The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker". The story is based upon actual evidence that was discovered in 1990 about a cure for the consumption or, as it is known today, TB. This "cure" was practiced in the ninteenth century and included digging up victims of the consumption who were supposedly "undead". I found it fascinating to learn that people actually believed in this type of cure. We can see today how far we have come in the practice of modern medicine. The main character, Lucas Whitaker, becomes apprenticed to a country doctor after his family dies of the consumption. Feeling guilty because he could not save his mother, Lucas tries to help others by using the cure that he learns about from a neighbor. The doctor does not believe in the cure and tries to help Lucas see the truth. Lucas' journey from belief in superstition to scientific reasoning is the main theme of the book. I believe that middle school students would enjoy the story for its macabre theme and for the fascinating look into the life of a nineteenth century doctor. The inclusion of bodies, amputations,and a tooth drawing give the story a grisly touch that young readers will enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost Very Good, August 6, 2008

By 

Peter Dykhuis (Grandville, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This is a very strange novel to review. There is much to love and not much to hate about the book but yet as a total of its parts I am not sure the novel fully accomplishes what it set out to do.

The novel, as has already been summarized in other reviews, is the story of a young man whose family is decimated by tuberculosis. In the mid 1800's this disease was often referred to as consumption and it had a superstitious and deadly aura about it. We follow young Lucas in his travels both in distance and experience. The story is more about the awareness of young Lucas and his understanding of science and logic in overcoming fear and superstition. It is a good book but one that fails to ignite a blaze. There is definitely an ember of excitement but it never takes the next step.

To me the book seems to be written in a style that attempts to make it contemporary to the story. As if the author was of this time or close to it. In this sense I think the author succeeds.

My view of the novel is that it is a pretty good read. Its ability to be read again is suspect in my mind and I doubt I will do so.

I think the other reviewer misses the point by focusing on the odd bit of historical mysticism. The book is about Lucas and his growth not the oddities that surround him.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Very Good But Audio Helps, August 6, 2008

By 

Peter Dykhuis (Grandville, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker (Audio Cassette)

This is a very strange novel to review. There is much to love and not much to hate about the book but yet as a total of its parts I am not sure the novel fully accomplishes what it set out to do.

The novel, as has already been summarized in other reviews, is the story of a young man whose family is decimated by tuberculosis. In the mid 1800's this disease was often referred to as consumption and it had a superstitious and deadly aura about it. We follow young Lucas in his travels both in distance and experience. The story is more about the awareness of young Lucas and his understanding of science and logic in overcoming fear and superstition. It is a good book but one that fails to ignite a blaze. There is definitely an ember of excitement but it never takes the next step.

To me the book seems to be written in a style that attempts to make it contemporary to the story. As if the author was of this time or close to it. In this sense I think the author succeeds.

My view of the novel is that it is a pretty good read. Its ability to be read again is suspect in my mind and I doubt I will do so.

The audio version is actually very well done and makes this a 4 star listen versus a 3 star read. Nice work by Recorded Books.