Shaking the Nickel Bush [Hardcover]

Ralph Moody (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1976 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Skinny and suffering from diabetes, Ralph Moody is ordered by a Boston doctor to seek a more healthful climate. Going west again is a delightful prospect. His childhood adventures on a Colorado ranch were described in Little Britches and Man of the Family, also Bison Books. Now nineteen years old, he strikes out into new territory hustling odd jobs, facing the problem of getting fresh milk and leafy green vegetables. He scrapes around to survive, risking his neck as a stunt rider for a movie company. With an improvident buddy named Lonnie, he camps out in an Arizona canyon and "shakes the nickel bush" by sculpting plaster of paris busts of lawyers and bankers. This is 1918, and the young men travel through the Southwest not on horses but in a Ford aptly named Shiftless. New readers and old will enjoy this entry in the continuing saga of Ralph Moody.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Moody, author of Little Britches, here continues his life story in these three illustrated volumes. LJ's reviewer dubbed Horse "a glorious recollection of the pre-Dust Bowl, pre-Depression days" (LJ 9/1/68), while Nickel Bush was "highly recommended" (LJ 6/1/62). All offer views of an America long gone.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"Social historians of the future, seeking material on the life of American boys during the first few decades of the [twentieth] century will ignore the books of Ralph Moody at their peril. . . . [Moody] has a splendid talent for bringing the ashes of the past into life."—Chicago Sunday Tribune

(Chicago Sunday Tribune )

"A sentimental reminiscence rich in good humor and courage, and in Americana. It is a story simply told of a young man''s unself-pitying and successful struggle against what seem the unsurmountable odds of dire poverty and desperate illness."—New York Herald Tribune Books

(New York Herald Tribune Books ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Amereon Limited (December 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0848811089
• ISBN-13: 978-0848811082
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,181,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great family book from Ralph Moody, December 3, 2002

By 

Rebecca P. Dhaemers (Western Grove, Arkansas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shaking the Nickel Bush (Paperback)

I first read this book aloud with my family as an adolescent about 30 years ago. I read it with my own children, and now it is time to think about reading it with my grandchildren. This book tells of the great adventure of life, lived with the eternal knowledge that--though mistakes and poor judgment will be made by all of us--they can all be made right with determination, responsibility, and faith. This story of two boys facing overwhelming challenges together, and discovering that there are few problems that don't have at least one solution, and you're sure to find it if you just don't give up. Exciting, encouraging, challenging, funny, and inspiring--all can be said about this book.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Books, September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shaking the Nickel Bush (Paperback)

All of the Ralph Moody books are great. Check out Little Britches and continue on the path. These books are full of Great Values like hard work and honesty. Kids love them as do adults. Great for family reading time.

30 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dissappointing compared with rest of series, December 10, 2001

By 

K. Paris "momslibrary" (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shaking the Nickel Bush (Paperback)

The first few books in this series were so good - this one was dissappointing. I enjoyed the wholesome nature of the early books (and the last two), but this book was written entirely about the time when Ralph was lying to his family about his whereabouts and employment, hanging around with shady company and engaging in questionable activities. The author wrote about his own life, but some details about the lying and stealing could have been ommitted and made the book more consistent with the wholesome tone of the early books in the series. The book is interesting and more action-packed than most of the later books, but I would not recommend this one for family reading. The early emphasis on honesty and integrity are entirely lost in this book, with no apparant remorse over the loss. The series is often advertised as being perfect for families, but the later books are not materials I would endorse for young people. It's an entertaining book, but I don't feel I'm a better person for having read it. It does not come close to the standard set in the early books in the series.