Customer Reviews

Tunes for Bears to Dance to

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Once again, Cormier causes the reader to pause and think aboutreal world issues that teens encounter: moral reasoning (questioningright versus wrong), questions of identity, prejudice, violence, and obeying authority figures.

Henry Cassavant is essentially "good"; he does as he is told, is respectful of others, holds an after school job, and is responsible. However, Henry is not without problems as his family has experieced the death of his older brother causing his father to be emotionally unstable requiring hospitalization/therapy. This puts a financial strain on the family as Henry's mother works as a waitress to make ends meet; Henry works for the grocer Mr. Hariston. Hariston has contempt for all races and religions other than the Aryan perspective. Clearly, Hariston is the antagonist as he serves as Henry's chief nemesis. Hariston comments on his own personnae: "I was like a dictator, the way they treated me. I was a dictator. Because I had control over them." Hariston likes control. He purposefully and emotionally manipulates Henry to commit an anti-semitic act against kindly Mr.Levine. Henry vacilates questioning "why?" but Hariston's argument is "why not"; Hariston threatens the welfare of Henry's family if Henry does not comply. Reluctantly,Henry participates in the treachery against Mr. Levine by destroying the hand carved village, which served as a memorial to Holocaust survivors and victims. When the deed is done, the Grinch-like Harriston accosts Henry and offers him the rewards for the deed. Henry refuses and reflects: "It was he was after all the time. Not just the old man and his village. He didn't want me to be good anymore." This title is a "quick" read yet provides the reader with several themes that can be explored: racism, prejudice, violence, mental health, good versus evil. Clearly, Cormier's writing is constructed in a manner that it draws the audience in and causes the reader to reflect about the message far beyond the initial reading.

The book Tunes for Bears to Dance to, by Robert Cormier, is a juvenile fiction novel. In it, the protagonist Henry faces some real problems. His brother had recently died and this had thrown the whole family into sorrow. His father did not work; his mother was forced to hold down to jobs for little pay at all. Henry works in a grocery store for Mr. Hariston, an evil bigot who would like noting more than to stare out his store window throwing nasty comments about passing people. Henry, innocent to Mr. Hairiston's bigotry trust him to provide a means of income for his struggling family. In due coarse Henry encounters and befriends Mr. Levine, an old Holocaust survivor with an amazing talent. Every day Mr. Levine goes to the town craft center and widdles out of wood an exact replica of his old village that was destroyed by the Nazis during WWII. Henry innocently tells his boss about this along with his desire for a monument for his brother's grave. Mr. Hariston then tells Henry that he will get the monument, his mother will get a raise, and he himself will keep his job if he does "one easy task". That task is to destroy the old man's wooden village. Henry is now faced with a quandary on whether to destroy the village or not. I believe this book, me being an 8th grade reader, is sophisticated enough to get a real impact from. In addition, the problem was introduced late in the story and then was resolved quickly and abruptly. On the other hand the book illustrated the, theme bigotry and abuse of power very well. Both sides of the story were described and the reader got an understanding of the choice Henry could have made and the choice he did actually make. The book has characters that seem real and the struggles Henry faces are those many children around his age face in some way or another.

Your brother has just died, your dad is in a deep stage of depression, your mom is never home and you've just moved to a new town where you know no one. This sounds like most peoples nightmare but this is Henry's life in the book Tunes for Bears to Dance to by Robert Cormier. Since his father is in no condition to work Henry most work at the store down the street from his house. He doesn't really like it there because his boss is extremely rude and disregards peoples feelings. Mr. Hairston (Henry's boss) has never bothered him until he find out he has befriended a holocaust survivor, Mr. Levine. Mr. Hairston suddenly puts Henry in a compromising position, does he hurt his new friend or does he keep his job?
I found the book extremely enjoyable. Like most of Cormier's books, I couldn't put it down. I felt like I was at Busch Gardens on Montu because there was so many twists. I felt that is was a little short and could have had more details about what happens once he moves back, but other then that it was good. If you have ever read any of Cormier's books and liked them you should read Tunes for Bears to Dance. The end will totally surprise you, the only way to find out is to read it so go to the nearest library and check it out you will not be disappointed.

With the troops from WWII just reentering the job market, eleven-year-old Henry Cassavant is lucky to work at the Corner Market owned by Mr. Hairston. Even if his boss is a bigot.

Henry's family is going through hard times. His brother recently died, and his family's moved to a new town to work through the grieving process. His mother is working multiple jobs to help pay the bills. His father is hit the hardest, falling into a deep depression that sends him to "the hospital across town" for help.

Through simple curiosity, Henry befriends the elderly Mr. Levine, a Holocaust survivor who lives in the "Crazy House" next door to Henry's family. His friendship with the old man, contrasted with the racism of his boss, makes for a crazy end to the story.

Don't let this novel's length deceive you...TUNES FOR BEARS TO DANCE TO is a short, powerful little read that tackles the deep topics of racism, depression, and child abuse. Henry's story will no doubt leave readers thinking and wondering: What would we do in the same situation? What does it mean to be a good person? How far would we go to make ends meet?

With cutthroat tension, Robert Cormier reminds us all that sometimes the greatest evils lurk in the most familiar of places. Sometimes, they're inside ourselves.

--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

Well I'm only in 7th grade right now and well we read this for our class. The first thing i thought was "oh a book....joy?? not gonna read this one". But As I read a couple chapters the book just locked me into it. I felt as I was in the book myself. It was very interesting and a good plot. The story was based on the Holocost which to me was very scary. I sure didn't know much on that subject but the book helped me understand the meaning of it. Also had great vocabuly. I rated it a 4 1/2 stars. I think it was probably one of the better books that i've read in my class or outside.

This compelling novel written by Robert Cormier is about a young boy, named Henry who moves to a new town after the death of his brother. Henry works at a grocery store. His boss, Mr. Hairston, hears about Henry's new friend, Mr. Levine. When Mr. Hairston found out that Mr. Levine was a jew he ordered Henry to ruin Mr. Levine's model village that he had worked so hard on. If Henry does not do what he is told his life would be ruined. Henry is faced with a very important decision. To find out whether he makes the right decision you will need to read the book.

A newcomer in the town of Wicksburg, Henry finds a summer job working at the local grocery store. Over the summer Henry develops a special bond with Mr.Levine, an elderly man. Mr.Levine is creating a miniature replica of his village that was destroyed by the Nazi's during W.W.II. Henry's boss, Mr. Hairston a manipulator and abuser of control, authority and power learns of Henry's new friendship. Using fear tactics and threats Mr. Hairston toys with Henry's pure goodness by asking him to do the unthinkable, Henry must destroy Mr. Levine's prized village. Can Henry hurt the only friend he has in Wicksburg?

I was reading the reviews for this book and I was appalled at some of the renditions of the plot. What most of the reviews failed to convey was the true emotion and power of a young boy struggling with the decision of his life. Henry's childlike innocence makes it possible for this story to be told. There is a bit of Henry in all of us and Cormier does a tremendous job of showing this.

This book really makes you think. I finished it in a short amount of time, and I rememebr closing the book my head spinning. Usually after you finish a book you know right away if you did or didn't like it. I found with this book however that I was left so stunned that I could not even answer that question. It's about a boy who will be given everything he needs, money, a raise in his mother's paycheck, etc. for completing one act. Not just any act either, he must destroy something very dear to an elderly friend of his. I won't give away the ending, but this book leaves you wondering what would I do, and what is the right thing to do?

This book really captures you. Once you start it is hard to put down. Some chracters were not developed enough. And the friendship between the main character and the jewish man was not developed either. The book lacks some awnsers to questions you may have. However, the idea, or theme of the story is very good and makes the book really worth reading.