A Good Courage [Library Binding]

Stephanie S. Tolan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

Having been dragged by his mother from one commune to another as she searches for a place to belong, fourteen-year-old Ty finds conditions at the new place, the Kingdom, intolerable, even while realizing that for some, such as his mother, this way of life is a haven.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fourteen-year-old Ty (actually Tie-Dye) has always lived from pillar to post, following his mother from one Utopian community to another. So he's not too concerned when his name is changed yet again as he and his mother settle in at The Kingdom, a religious settlement run by Brother Daniel. But Ty quickly finds that life for children at The Kingdom is not as rosy as it is for adults. While his mother is immersed in religious studies, Ty bunks in with other boys (girls are kept separate) who work seven days a week and are fed scanty rations because they are not yet "Yahweh's Chosen." Ty's independence gets him in trouble and he is shut up in the "Cage" for a week. Aided by Samarah, a girl he has befriended, he escapes and goes to the police, only to be returned to The Kingdom, and to his mother's recriminations. In the only scene that doesn't quite ring true, Ty and Sam are allowed to leave by an unlikely accomplice, Brother Daniel's son Benjamin. The book does bring up some very pertinent points about responsibility, family loyalty and independent thinking, and this is a gripping, somewhat frightening look at a fanatical religious community. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9 When 14-year-old Tie-Dye's flower-child mother, finding it impossi ble to take responsibility for either her self or him, accidentally stumbles on still another commune, Tie-Dye is cer tain that her affiliation, as usual, won't last long. Instead, weak-willed and re lieved to give herself wholly to God and the gospel according to Brother Daniel in return for food and clothing, his mother pledges his life as well as her own to fanatic, charismatic Brother Daniel. As Ty becomes part of the com mune, he is horrified to discover the virtual slavery in which the commune's children are heldunschooled, under fed, subjected to harsh rules, over worked, without joy, and without es cape. Increasingly realizing that his mother will never be free of the spiritu al imprisonment by which The King dom holds her, Ty begins to understand that whatever escape he can find will be of his own doing. The climax of the sto ry reveals a betrayal that threatens not only the lives of Ty and his new friends, but their sanity as well. With the cour age born of desperation and the twin passions of love and friendship, Ty finds the bravery he needs to re-enter the outside world and make a new life for himself. This well-told survival sto ry is frightening in its examination of cults and communes, a setting unusual in novels for young YAs. There is an aura of science fiction about the story that heightens the drama of an entirely realistic plot peopled by distinctive, be lievable characters that will be long re membered. Marjorie Lewis, Scars dale Junior High School, N.Y.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding: 245 pages
• Publisher: Econo-Clad Books (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613115902
• ISBN-13: 978-0613115902
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 3.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,850,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great...not Good...but Great Courage, January 30, 2000

By 

Pixel (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Good Courage (Paperback)

This book, A Good Courage, was very,very good. Stephanie S. Tolan has written extremely well about the life of Ty in the Kingdom of Yahweh. She is probably very knowledgeable about religion and has potrayed what religion can not be... slavery...of kids. If anything, this book had a few complex ideas, and only 10 and above can read this book. That is the only reason I did not rate it 5 stars. This book, again was very, very good, and I would recommend it to children over 10.

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but has some holes, August 15, 2006

By 

C. Hill (Oregon, U.S.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Good Courage (Paperback)

The book begins as Tie-Dye Rainey and his mother, Jasmine, become christened into a reclusive religious community called the Kingdom. Ty is given the new name, Tobias. His mother becomes Jordana. Ty has grown up moving from one place to another, his mother in search of an elusive happiness by joining various communes and utopian communities. Ty has always tried to make the best of it, and always tries to find the good in every situation. But the Kingdom is a harsh place for kids like him, and he has trouble finding anything good about the place. Kids work seven days a week in the field, or doing other chores, and are punished for bad behavior by being given fast days where all they get is water. Ty discovers that there is not even a school in the Kingdom. He befriends a girl named Samarah, who is considered a devil child by the rest of the Kingdom because her parents up and left one day, "embracing Satan" in the place known as Out There (everywhere that is not Kingdom grounds). Together, Sam and Ty try to figure out a way to escape the Kingdom.

This was an interesting book and I finished it pretty quickly. There were some holes, though. For one thing, very little background is given about Ty and his mother. Their past is alluded to occasionally, but we aren't given details. It would have been helpful to hear about what life was like for Ty in the places he lived before coming to the Kingdom. A passing reference to some place he used to live in is confusing without more explanation. There is a man named Polaris, from the Home Place, where Ty and his mother once lived. But how long they were there, what it was like, and why they left, is never explained.

The mother's behavior is never explained very well either. We are told only that she doesn't like the responsibilities of the world Out There, and is scared of money. We are not told why. In addition, the character of the mother isn't very well-developed, and while I realize the story is about Ty, not his mom, I felt that she was a really transparent character. Whenever we see her, she's either really joyful, or breaking down in tears. And it seems hard to believe that she would not listen to her beloved son when he tells here what Kingdom life is like for kids.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book, September 17, 2001

By 

A 12-year old reader (N.J. United States/puto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Good Courage (Paperback)

Personalay I enjoyed this book to me it was very touching. The young boy, Ty, is nice and wants the best for his mom. Even if it means spending the rest of his life in a kingdom where shing and child play is a sinful. Children who are sick must still work in the fields or for the girls doing the kingdom's landray. Ty finds himself in a tough sution and won't give up. This story gave me the fealing of many scared childern's
bravy to surive in this world to wich their parents brougth them.
I think you should read this wonderful book and learn of childern's fatith t live.
(Kids in 7th grade, like me will love this story!!!!!:)!!!!!!!)
My real name is jumping julie the kangaroo from pluto!!!!!!