Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid [Hardcover]

Ralph Fletcher (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 11, 2005 | Age Range: 10 and up

The colorful boyhood of a popular author comes to life in this personal account

Imagine learning from a nosy classmate that your mother is having yet another baby. To Ralph’s classmates, news of one more Fletcher baby is just “scuttlebutt.” But for Ralph, the oldest of nine, being part of a large family means more kids to join in the fun—from making tripods in the woods and “snicking” up the rug, to raising chicks and even discovering a meteor (well, maybe). It doesn’t feel like there’s life beyond Marshfield, Massachusetts. Then one day Dad’s new job moves the family to Chicago, and there’s so much Ralph has to leave behind. In this humorous and captivating memoir, Ralph Fletcher traces the roots of his storytelling.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Fletcher reminisces about growing up in Marshfield, VT, recalling boyhood friendships, sibling attachments, and romps through the woods. We found all kinds of mushrooms. Some were edible, others were poisonous toadstools. Mom said to think of them as strangers–some are good, some are bad, and since you couldn't tell the difference it was best to leave them alone. Fletcher grew up in a Catholic family that grew larger each year, and when another baby was on the way, he'd learn the news from a girl in his class. Family and friendships were fulfilling, enriching, and perplexing. The author thinks about the loss of Dad's goodnight kisses as he grew up, and the adolescent predicament of being pressed between a girl's body and a wall that housed a giant beehive. Fletcher's connection to nature and the environment infuse every aspect of his life. Written with sagacious eloquence and gentle humor, this work stands strong in the ranks of authors' memoirs and autobiographies. –Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. Fletcher, author of numerous books, including some on the writing process, pens a dreamy reminiscence of growing up in the 1950s and 1960s in a Massachusetts coastal town. The oldest of his nine siblings, he notes that his "Mom had a baby every year." Embarrassingly enough, a know-it-all classmate usually informed him a new addition was on the way because Mom tended to tell her friends first. This bumper crop of siblings made for some boisterously good times, marked by escapades with backyard roosters and games in the woods. Readers may be particularly intrigued by Fletcher's memories of his great-grandmother, who buried the kids' old teeth in the garden. Many of the vignettes have a choppy style and a heavy nostalgic tone, but for readers who enjoy imagining what it was like to be a kid in days of yore, this has a certain charm. Anne O'Malley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 183 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition, 2nd Printing edition (August 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080507242X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805072426
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ralph Fletcher is a friend of young writers and readers as well as writing teachers. He has written or co-authored many books for writing teachers includng Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Teaching the Qualities of Writing, Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. Ralph has worked with teachers around the U.S. and abroad, helping them find wiser ways of teaching writing.

Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, warm, poignant author memoir October 9, 2006

By Deborah

Format:Hardcover

In 35 short chapters, Ralph Fletcher shares stories of his childhood neighborhood, family, and friends. Covering topics that include a description of his neighborhood, his feelings and memories of the important people in his life, games he played, school days, pets, and childhood illnesses, this story kept me entranced from start to finish. I loved the author's simple yet moving revelation of his own feelings, especially the poignant chapter about his father, "Last Kiss."

Publisher information sets reader age at grades 5 to 8, but the kid-friendly layout of this book will appeal to readers in grades 2-4, particularly if read aloud. Teens working on author reports or personal essays will find the book interesting as well. Teachers will find this memoir a handy tool in writing workshops, if used in conjunction with specific writing topics such as description, characterization, or dialogue. Fletcher's use of details brings his stories to life. Student writers can learn much about turning ordinary life events and feelings into effective stories.

As an adult reader, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's got a little something for every reader. I can't recommend this book enough for teachers. If you assign journal writing for young writers, this book will provide infinite topic inspiration.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club.com May 5, 2011

By Cynthia Hudson

Format:Hardcover

Children's author Ralph Fletcher seemed to live an ideal life for a child. The oldest of a large clan in the small town of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Fletcher had nearby woods to roam in, numerous bothers and neighbors to recruit for games, and parents who loved him. Fletcher recounts stories from his young days in Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid.

Like Fletcher's other books, this memoir is written for young readers aged 9 to 12. But moms and dads (and younger kids too) will be equally charmed and drawn in by accounts of mud puppies, raising chickens, new babies arriving almost every year, and bouts of chicken pox and mumps. As I read I found myself wanting to visit Fletcher's home on Acorn St. myself and explore all the areas he talked about. Reading Marshfield Dreams with your child could bring up stories to share from your own childhood. Kids of today are likely to marvel at the relative freedom children had growing up in the `60s and the amount of time many of them spent outdoors.

The chapters are short and accessible. It's also fun to look at the family photos that appear at the start of each chapter. Fletcher's family moved away from Marshfield to Chicago when he was 13. This tribute to his boyhood home shows how much his life on Acorn St. continues to live on in his memory.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Memorable Moments August 21, 2008

By Book Addict

Format:Hardcover

As a teacher, I find Fletcher's collection of small moments to be a great teaching resource. Each short story is carefully crafted with great detail. I use this book to model writing small moments. The children in my class ask me to read a story before writing or when they "get stuck." Marshfield Dreams is a must have for teaching small moments or memoirs.