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Book Reviews of Johnny Tremain

Johnny Tremain
Johnny Tremain
Author: Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward (Illustrator)
ISBN-13: 9780440942504
ISBN-10: 0440942500
Publication Date: 11/3/1987
Pages: 272
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 84

4.1 stars, based on 84 ratings
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

30 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I truly enjoyed Johnny Tremain which was a 1944 Newbery Award winning book. This book is historical fiction, set during the beginning of the American Revolution. The weaving in of historical figures such as Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock was quite interesting and lended a great deal of authenticity to the book. The build-up of tension in the colonies to the point of the first battle of the American Revolution was quite intense.

Johnny Tremain is also a wonderful story about the transition of an arrogant, self-centered boy into a sensitive teenager. Johnny Tremain is the apprentice to a silversmith and he is far and away one of the best silversmith apprentices in the area. He is also attractive, strong, and intelligent. The combination of gifts in his life make him overly proud and often unkind to those around him.

Due to a practical joke that goes horribly wrong, Johnny loses the use of his right hand for any kind of detail work. Therefore, all of his dreams of becoming a silversmith are destroyed. The challenges he encounters as he deals with his new limitations and the kind and evil people he meets combine to slowly change Johnny's personality for the better.

I highly recommend the book to anybody who enjoys excellent historical fiction.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Classic coming-of-age tale set in Revolutionary-era colonies. Great for ages 10 and up. Makes history come alive!
SouthernChelz avatar reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 216 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
A great book to read aloud to one another as a family or just read by yourself. Tells the story of one boy's life in the time of the revolution of our country. He was filled with a pride that was brought low. His character developed into someone who could go on after a tragedy and be a benefit to those around him. Nothing boring in this book and will keep you turning the pages until the end.
buzzby avatar reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 6062 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Written in 1941, great children's historical fiction, probably for students from 4th grade on. I liked it partly because it follows what we know about Boston at the time, and as far as I know, Esther Forbes did not feel it necessary to change dates, events, or characters to tell the story.
AimeeM avatar reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 124 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Beautiful, tender, poetic. Classic!
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 144 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Great Book - a sure read for every young person who wants to understand the story of Boston in revolt against the British.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
It's a classic... one of the firsts of the genre.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 17 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A fantasticly written book on the life of a young boy during the American Revolution.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
One of my favorite books for students learning about the U. S. Revolutionary War. Includes excellent character development, beautifully written.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 93 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A great historical fiction about the revolutionary war.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 157 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great historical fiction about American Revolution and a boy who learns and grows while dealing with challenges and his own pride.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 38 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
One of my boys favorite books!
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 85 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A story filled with danger and excitement, Johnny Tremain tells of the turbulant, passionate time in Boston just before the Revolutionary War. Johnny, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in a dramatic involvement with James Otis, John Handcock, and John and Samuel Adams. A historical fiction, portraying Revolutionaary Boston as a living drama through the shrewd eyes of an observant boy.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This story of a tragically injured young silversmith who ends up hip-deep in the American Revolution is inspiring, exciting, and sad. Winner of the prestigious Newbery Award in 1944, Esther Forbes's story has lasted these 50-plus years by including adventure, loss, courage, and history in a wonderfully written, very dramatic package. It's probably not great for little guys but mature 11-year-olds or older will find it a great adventure.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 8 more book reviews
Excellent book from Revolutionary War era. Makes a great read-aloud.
buzzby avatar reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 6062 more book reviews
One of my favorite books from childhood, I'm glad it's still popular.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 391 more book reviews
A Newberry Award WINNER. This is a story filled with danger and excitement (excellent for reluctant pre-teen males)
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 21 more book reviews
This is a great book! I really came to find a new understanding of this time period through the book. It is like a history book in the guise of a novel. A wonderful book for anyone who loves history. You won't be disappointed.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on
Fascinating adventure! Couldn't put it down. (Oh--and education.)
Syngirl avatar reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 4 more book reviews
Read this book the first time in 5th grade, and many many times since, even 20 years later I'll still pick this up and read it again. Great Historical Fiction (and non-fiction).
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 89 more book reviews
One of my favorites when I was a teen.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 141 more book reviews
Perfect historical fiction for middle school-ages students.
Chycole avatar reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 479 more book reviews
A story filled with danger and excitement, Johnny Tremain tells of the turbulent, passionate times in Boston just before the Revolutionary War. Johnny, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in a dramatic involvement with James Otis, John Hancock, and John and Samuel Adams in the exciting currents and undercurrents that were to lead to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington--and finally, a touching resolution of Johnny's personal life.

Johnny Tremain is historical fiction at its best, portraying Revolutionary Boston as a living drama, through the shrewd eyes of an observant boy.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 29 more book reviews
Johnny grows up during thr Revolttionary War and is caught up in the undercurrents as the colonies rebel against England.
jrw avatar reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 33 more book reviews
The story is about a young boy dealing with injury in a time of war. The plot in addition to the reading level make for a good book for youths to enjoy. I still remember it fondly after reading it in sixth grade.
reviewed Johnny Tremain on
Great historical fiction!
reviewed Johnny Tremain on
My 10 year old son loves this book. It is his all time favorite. He can read it over and over again!
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 56 more book reviews
I used this book for my son for homeschooling; historical fiction to help cement the events into his memory. This was a good book for that. Important people were talked about that Johnny Tremain came to know and you got the feeling of what it might have been like to live at that time in history.
Paul-RLT avatar reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 176 more book reviews
Old book (1943) with somewhat yellowed, but intact pages
reviewed Johnny Tremain on + 22 more book reviews
A story filled with danger and excitement, Johnny Tremain tells of the turbulent, passionate times in Boston just before the Revolutionary War. Johhny, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in a dramatic involvement with James Otis, John Hancock, and John and Samuel Adams in the exciting currents and undercurrents that were to lead to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington, and finally, a touching resolution of Johnny's personal life.
Johnny Tremain is historical fiction at its best, portraying Revolutionary Boston as a living drama, through the shrewd eyes of an observant boy.