Sam Patch: Daredevil Jumper [Hardcover]

Julie Cummins (Author), Michael Allen Austin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Folks say that when Sam Patch was born, he jumped right into his mother's arms. That was just the beginning! When he jumped into Niagara Falls, news of his death-defying leap swept the nation--and Sam Patch Jumped right into American Legend.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Once again bringing the high jinks of a lesser-known daredevil to light, Cummins (Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills, and Frills) chronicles the short life of early-19th-century stuntman Sam Patch. "Folks say that when he was born, he jumped right into his mother's arms," the author invitingly opens. The conversational style briskly moves the tale from Sam's childhood jumping exploits to the showstopping stunts of his brief but world-famous career. Austin's (The Horned Toad Prince) sepia-infused acrylics set a tone alternating between whimsical and haunting. The dynamic illustrations make exaggerated use of light and perspective. In one spread, readers look up at the soles of Sam's boots as he plummets from a ship's masthead; in another, Sam steps from a cliff ledge right out of the picture and into the pages' white space. A long black scarf (Sam's trademark) partially borders each illustration, while the darkening palette portends the abrupt ending to the book (and Sam's life). Ages 4–8. (Feb.)
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From School Library Journal

Grade 3–5—The true story of daredevil jumper Sam Patch (1807–1829) begins like a tall tale. "Folks say that when he was born, he jumped right into his mother's arms." He earned the nickname the Jersey Jumper by jumping into Passaic Falls and repeated the same feat a year later. By twice jumping into Niagara Falls, Sam Patch became a national hero as well as a showman. He set the stage for his jump into Genesee Falls near Rochester, NY, by first pushing his pet bear into the water 100 feet below and waiting until the bear swam to shore before jumping himself. Sam Patch performed his last jump on Friday, November 13, 1829. After climbing to a 25-foot platform built above Genesee Falls and knotting his black silk handkerchief around his waist, he leaped but never surfaced. His frozen body was discovered in the icy river the following March. With careful documentation balancing her storyteller's voice, Cummins presents a daredevil who became a folk hero. Austin's sepia-toned acrylic paintings and unusual perspectives reinforce Sam Patch's larger-than-life image. For those building their tall-tale collections, this is a lively addition.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (January 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823417417
• ISBN-13: 978-0823417414
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,568,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars looking risk in the eye--and staring it down, November 23, 2011

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Experienced Editor (Illinois, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sam Patch: Daredevil Jumper (Hardcover)

Sam Patch, Daredevil Jumper reads like a legend, but Sam was a real person in the early nineteenth century. From childhood he loved to jump: "If Sam could look up at it, he would jump from it." As he grew, so did the height of his jumps, attracting huge crowds as he leaped from bridges, ships' masts, and waterfalls.

Fluent language gives Sam's story the flavor of a folk tale, yet closer reading reveals how carefully each word was chosen and each phrase constructed. Outstanding acrylic paintings are fully a match for the skillful text. Muted colors and misty landscapes reinforce the atmosphere of a legend, while unexpected perspectives and elongated figures add a surprising yet pleasing sophistication. A brief author's note mentions the difficulty of researching historical figures and offers sources for further reading.

Sam Patch was only 22 years old when he made his last leap, plunging over the Genesee Falls on Friday the Thirteenth in November 1829. His body was found beneath the ice the following spring. But folks around Genesee Falls say that sometimes he can still be seen atop the falls, just at twilight, on November 13.