Brady [Paperback]

Jean Fritz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1987

"In 1836, after Brady discovered a station (of the Underground Railroad) and knew that his father did not trust him with the secret, he wished he had never heard of slavery. But in a time of great need he was able to prove he was becoming a man."--Horn Book 19 black-and-white halftone illustrations.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140322582
• ISBN-13: 978-0140322583
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #847,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"The question I am most often asked," Jean Fritz says, "is how do I find my ideas? The answer is: I don't. Ideas find me. A character in history will suddenly step right out of the past and demand a book. Generally people don't bother to speak to me unless there's a good chance that I'll take them on." Throughout almost four decades of writing about history, Jean Fritz has taken on plenty of people, starting with George Washington in The Cabin Faced West (1958). Since then, her refreshingly informal historical biographies for children have been widely acclaimed as "unconventional," "good-humored," "witty," "irrepressible," and "extraordinary."In her role as biographer, Jean Fritz attempts to uncover the adventures and personalities behind each character she researches. "Once my character and I have reached an understanding," she explains, "then I begin the detective work--reading old books, old letters, old newspapers, and visiting the places where my subject lived. Often I turn up surprises and of course I pass these on." It is her penchant for making distant historical figures seem real that brings the characters to life and makes the biographies entertaining, informative, and filled with natural child appeal.An original and lively thinker, as well as an inspiration to children and adults, Jean Fritz is undeniably a master of her craft. She was awarded the Regina Medal by the Catholic Library Association, presented with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award by the American Library Association for her "substantial and lasting contribution to children's literature," and honored with the Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, which was presented by the New York State Library Association for her body of work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brady, November 22, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Brady (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading the book Brady. We read it as an assignment in my 5th grade class. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. It teaches kids to always tell the truth and to stand for a cause that you beleive in. It was an excellent way to learn about the history of slavery in the USA and the willingness of people to help others to have their freedom. The entire class was begging the teacher to keep on going. We did not want to put the book down.

4.0 out of 5 stars "Brady" is older than you think!, March 25, 2009

By 

eebyo (Charm City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brady (Paperback)

I'm glad to see this book is well-received. I remember ordering it from Scholastic's classroom paperback sales program as a middle schooler, back in the late 1960s. I'm curious: why the 2001 publication date? More accurately, that's a reissue date. I'm glad to see "Brady" is still around and still being enjoyed, because it made a strong impression on me about 40 years ago. But I wonder if books, along with starlets, now have to lie about their age to gain acceptance and attention.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Runaway Review, March 24, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Brady (Paperback)

Brady Minton knows his father is against slavery, but when he finds that his father is an Underground Railroad agent he doesn't know what to do. Brady lives on a farm in Northern Virginia. He has a hard time keeping secrets, so when he finds out about his father being a Railroad agent; it takes all he's got to stay quiet. This book is a great historical fiction book.

Brady written by Jean Fritz has a lot of suspense and keeps you on your toes. When Brady and his friend, Range, go snooping on the hermit in the woods, they find out that the hermit's house is an Underground Railroad Station. Because Brady can't learn to keep a secret he blabs at dinner. Another suspenseful part is when a slave catcher comes to town and finds out where the hermit lives. Range and Brady follow behind and find out that the hermit moved. When the Minton family starts finding threatening notes it's suspenseful because no one knows who wrote the notes.

This book is also about how a young boy wants to grow up and be a man. Brady's brothers are written in their family Bible about all their accomplishments except for Brady. When Brady finds out about the runaway slave he takes matters into his own hands. But when their barn burns down Brady has to take the slave to the next station by himself. In the end his father writes his accomplishment of taking over his father's station.

Jean Fritz does a good job of how certain things might have gone down before the Civil War Era. For example: When Brady finds an Underground Railroad Station. He is so overwhelmed with the secrecy that he blabs. And when he finds out about his own father being an agent he has to use all that is in him to keep quiet. People might have felt this way because if you were caught being an agent you could get in deep trouble.

Brady by Jean Fritz is a really good historical fiction novel. It contains: suspense, portrays life back then and also how a young boy longs to be a man.


H. Wissmann