Stick and Whittle [Hardcover]

Sid Hite (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000 | Age Level: 10 and up

In 1872, while journeying from Texas to Kansas, a Civil War veteran named Melvin meets a sixteen-year-old orphan, another Melvin, and they give each other nicknames and become partners and traveling companions on an exciting adventure.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Twenty-seven-year-old Melvin Fitchett (a.k.a. Stick) and 16-year-old Melvin Smyte (Whittle) may have the same first name, but they couldn't be more different. Stick is a disenchanted ex-Confederate soldier who's been searching for his lost sweetheart for eight long years. Whittle is a rough and tumble orphan who's seeking his fortune in whatever direction fate may take him. Together, they travel the wilderness in pursuit of adventure, or the whereabouts of Stick's beloved Evelyn--whichever comes first. They get a taste of both when Stick answers an advertisement to rescue a rich man's kidnapped daughter from an evil outlaw, and discovers that the daughter's governess is none other than his dear Evelyn! Stick and Whittle trace the bandit to his lair with the assistance of the shady Only Olsen and a helpful Cheyenne pair, Talking Rock and Brings the Rain. Along with gunshots, galloping horses, and blazing tumbleweeds, there's a happy ending.

Despite Stick and Whittle's somewhat sanitized take on the Old West, the playful banter between the two unlikely friends will tickle the funny bones of younger teens.

'If you're thirsty, Whittle, you ought not talk so much. Words use up moisture when you say them.'
'If that's true, you must be dryer than dust.'

Author Sid Hite takes his time jump-starting the action, but when Stick and Whittle finally get around to saving Evelyn, the skirmish is positively page-turning. A good Western read for the middle school set that will definitely rustle up a few laughs. (Ages 10 to 14) --Jennifer Hubert

From Publishers Weekly

Seasoned with the same tall-tale flavor as the author's Dithers books, this tongue-in-cheek post-Civil War novel combines rip-roaring adventure with Hite's familiar themes of unrequited love, enduring friendship and the mysterious power of fate. Two strangers named Melvin are down on their luck when they meet on the Great Staked Plains of north Texas, team up and take on the nicknames of the title. Whittle, who claims to be 16, has just narrowly escaped the Chicago fire; Stick, 27 and an ex-Confederate soldier, is searching for his old sweetheart, who believes he was killed in the war. In their travels, the pair makes the acquaintance of two Cheyenne Indians, wise Talking Rock and his beautiful young granddaughter, Brings the Rain. The pace gains considerable momentum when Stick learns the whereabouts of his lost love (she has been kidnapped by bandits). While it's pretty clear that the good guys will emerge victorious and the bad guys will get their just deserts, readers will want to follow Hite's labyrinth of curious plot developments (e.g., at one point, Whittle is carried off by a twister). Hite's offbeat western is sure to draw new fans as they relish the book's dry humor, colorful language and passel of surprises. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; 1st edition (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439098289
• ISBN-13: 978-0439098281
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,427,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stick&Whittle, October 25, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Stick And Whittle (Paperback)

Stick & Whittle

This book is about two boys that meet up and venture of together. First Melvin Fitchett (Stick) travels out to find his long lost sweetheart,Evelyn. He met Melvin Smyte when he when he arrived at a river with his horse named Mercy. While looking for Evelyn Stick answers to a governor's help poster to rescue his daughter. It happened to be that Evelyn was the one he was supposed to save. Stick and Whittle track down Leon's gang (the one who kidnapped Evelyn) with some help from to Native Americans named Talking Rock and Brings the Rain, and also a man named Only Olsen. Together they defeat Leon's gang and rescue Evelyn. So they all set off to Wichita happily ever after.

There are two main characters in this story, Stick and Whittle. Stick is mostly joking around, unless it comes to finding Evelyn or luck. I think he is a typical caring person, besides the fact he believes in luck. Whittle is a wild person who lets fate decide his next move or action. I think it is easy to make friends with him because he can strike up a conversation quick.

The conflict in this story is that Stick needs to find Evelyn. Whittle had a journey to carry out but made way for Stick's journey first. At the end Stick accomplished his goal but Whittle seemed to forget his. Another problem was Leon's gang. All these problems were solved except Whittle's.

As they traveled along to find Leon's lair they got some friends to help. Without their friends help they would have never rescued Evelyn. Leon's gang was though to beat, if it weren't for Talking Rock Whittle wouldn't have been alive. All of Stick and Whittle's problems were solved.

I think this book is only interesting when you sit down and read it for a long time. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy action, adventure, and old country books. I like this book it tells you not to forget about your dreams. I hope you decide to read Stick & Whittle because I enjoyed it very much.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB, November 8, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Stick And Whittle (Paperback)

The book Stick and Whittle was written by Sid Hite. It is fiction and it is an adventure novel. I enjoyed reading the book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good book to read and to anyone who likes adventure books.

Stick and Whittle is about two men who meet each other and become friends. Stick is a Civil War veteran who is looking for his long lost sweetheart. Whittle is an orphan who feels he owes the world a favor. They get involved in a kidnapping and are faced with a dramatic rescue mission. I liked this book because it had an exciting plot that kept me wanting to read it. Something was constantly happening. I also liked the book because it was an adventure book. Adventure books have a lot of action, which gets me excited when I read it. I liked how the characters were described in great detail. Another reason why I liked the book was because the ending. The ending really tied together the book.

Stick and Whittle is an exciting adventure book about two men who get in trouble in the old west. It was something new to me and I liked it. There was a lot of action. The only reason why I disliked the book was because it was a little too predictable.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stick and Whittle, March 27, 2002

By 

David N. 1st period. (Grand Island, NE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stick and Whittle (Hardcover)

Adventure,shoot-outs and pickeld eggs? You'll find all of this in the exciting novel about the old westr.

Sitck, a Civil war hero, who is troubled by his gory past meets up with a teenage orphan,Whittle, an adventorus young lad looking for fun and a little bit of trouble meets up with the vetran and they become partners and friends.

The duo is faced with a kidnapping delema, and they decide to accept the challeng. When going along their adventure, they meet up with harden convicts and criminals, pretty native americans, tough warriors and old flames.

This is one of my personsal favorite books. my favorite part is on page 197 when taling rock takes out that guy. My 2nd favorite is when they go to the town on page 94.