Customer Reviews

The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

After 12 year old Lucas Whitaker watches his whole familyslowly die from consumption he decides to move away from all hispainful memories.After he leaves home he spends the days walking and the nights sleeping in barnes.Then one day while he is walking down the roads of Southwick,Connecticut Lucas sees a HELP WANTED sign.Lucas nocks on the door and a stern looking women named Mrs.Bunce answers it.As Lucas recalls his story to the kindly Doc.Beecher,he is overcome by grief and guilt.Well Lucas got the job and likes it well enough,but there are a few minor details Lucas thinks he could live without.It goes on to say that Lucas beleives with all his heart in a strange cure for this life taking disease,but Lucas finally relizes in the end that its just a hopeful superstition.

Well I thought this was a remarkable book!It was definantly worth reading! ...

Lucas Whitaker was great! He was strong and smart. He knew how to take the pain whenever someone died or if he was wrong. This story was sad but exciting. When they undug Thomas Stukeley, Lucas saw his nails had grown, and blood in his heart, he wondered if that really was the cause of consumption. This was a freaky story! If Ihad the choice to read it again, I WOULD! Rewiewed by Tiffany Guptill

Based on graveyard excavations in Connecticut in 1990, archaeologists have uncovered a Gothic Novel belief in Vampirism (move over, Dark Shadows!) Rural New England in the mid 19th century is the setting for this mildy macabre tale, which focuses on the pitiful ignorance and susceptibility of Yankee folk, overwhelmed by the merciless ravages of consumption (TB). As almost entire families were wiped out, we should not fault their grisly attempts to protect/cure their remaining loved ones.

Twelve-year-old Lucas abruptly vacates the family farm when he realizes that he is the sole Whitaker survivor. By chance he stumbles into the position as apprentice to a kindly, modern-thinking doctor in another town. Like the hero of THE PATH OF THE PALE HORSE (q.v.), Lucas is torn between conflicting theories on the art of healing: Science (such as it was) versus popular Superstition. He tortures himself thinking that could have saved his mother, if only he had known of the radical cure earlier. But can this gruesome ritual truly prevent mischief from beyond the grave? A boy comes of age in a time when Death stalked the dark, wintry world and medical men were helpless. But Lucas finally discovers his true calling thanks to the intervention of an Indian wise woman and the recent invention of the microscope. An interesting (Halloween) read which will not terrify elementary kids; it may amaze them to discover how primitive 19th century medicine was.

Even when our scientific knowledge is limited, we can still rely on reason and reality to ward off superstition and dread.

In this story, a tuberculosis epidemic is sweeping New England. Lucas's entire family has died, and after he buries his mother, he simply drifts away from home. Hungry and desperate, he sees a help wanted sign and signs on to help a country doctor/apothecary/dentist/barber, good-natured Doc Beecher. The local people are swept up in a fervor of corpse mutilation to try to prevent the spread of the disease. Doc Beecher counsels reason; Lucas comes to appreciate that perspective.

This is a good story for middle grade boys - it has sorrow and confusion, but also a few good relationships. It ends rather abruptly, and I want to read more about Lucas.

If your son likes this, give "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman a read.

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.

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.

It begins when Lucas buries his mom who died that morning. She died from a sickness called consumptions. People never found a cure for the disease yet. But one day Mr. Rood (lucas's neighbor) cam and told him about a cure. But Lucas was wondering if the cure was science or superstition. Mr. Rood said"when people die there souls come out and make mischief in the world of the living so that the dead can come back to life".

Now since Lucas couldn't handle the farm on his own he decides to leave. He went down town and found a man named Doctor Beecher. Call him "Doc" for short. Doc takes lucas in as a apprentice. So Lucas watches as Doc pulls a tooth, remove a leg, and make or invent new medicine. But when it comes to consumption Doc is usless against the disease. The amazing part is when Doc got a new invention the microscope.

I conclude that Lucas is a very emotional person and is determined to find a cure for the disease. During his time with Doc he made numerous friends. When it was at the end I learned that the superstition on the story isn't real. Whats real is all the tiny animals cause the disease to humans.