7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A SATISFYING STORY VERY WELL READ, December 30, 2004
Witty, refreshing, and heartwarming all describe Richard Peck's stories. One of the most lauded authors of fiction for young adults, Peck has received a National Humanities Medal, the Newbery Medal, and a Newbery Honor. Each richly deserved.
Equally merited is the Tony nomination gifted voice performer Dylan Baker received. His narration of this story set in 1904 Indiana is warm and moving. As an adult Russell Ciulver looks back on the year he was 15 when all he wanted was to cut out of backwoods Indiana and head for the Dakotas. Then it seemed opportunity knocked: "If your teacher has to die," says Russell, "August isn't a bad time of year for it."
Surely, he thought a new teacher wouldn't be hired for the half dozen students at Hominy Ridge School. He was forced to think again as his older sister, Tansy, was appointed to the post. She took it on with relish. As many a younger brother would, Russell decided it was time for a little subversion, such as a snake in her desk or a fire in the boy's privy plus sundry other bits of irritation.
Tansy was not about to be thwarted, certainly not by Russell.
This is a story the entire family will enjoy. Give a listen and return to simpler times.
- Gail Cooke
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, April 24, 2006
This book was so funny, my son and I had a wonderful time reading it. I would read aloud, and could hear my husband in the next room laughing. It was great.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Suprised the reviews aren't better!, June 8, 2008
I had already read this book with my boys before I read the reviews and was very suprised as we thought the story was a hoot from start to finish. The humour was fantastic and references to other novels such as Treasure Island (which we had read aloud during the winter) kept us all on our toes. Keep in mind this is exactly what it says on the cover, a comedy, not a historical novel. This is a perfect read aloud as kids and adults will love the comments about school being up hill both ways "As it was in those days." We have read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, The Yearling, as well as freshly written novels about farming communities such as Dust. All fabulous in their own right and this one fits right up there with these. My three boys who are 12, 10 and 8 loved to make connections with the exagerated stories told to them by both their grandfathers and the hardships, and adventures of their rural childhoods. I do think this is best read aloud as the humour is contagious, and some kids reading this to themselves might not hear the humour in their heads, but give it a try!
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