Sandy 5 - 6.5
Wanted a light read but this version of Lord of the Flies gone sweet wasn't it. It wasn't what she had hoped for, being more a predictable middle school type book. She was expecting more history, more background information on say, the principal. He was kind. That's it. His wondering how they would have raised a girl on an island with 100 boys was intriguing. Now there's a story. Liked the stealing locket scene. Liked all the characters and was disappointed they didn't stay in closer contact after they left the school. It was too bad there weren't more of these types of schools available to kids.
Becky 8
She liked the boys and thought the author did a good job describing them, especially Charles who was rough but a good person with no social system to fall back on and had to survive on his own. Many of the characters were complex and well developed. It often seemed predictable. She figured they would get caught visiting Faneuil Hall, but then but she also thought Lucifer would be put down, so maybe not. Liked the principal and his struggle with the educational philosophies of the day. The contrast between him and his wife was interesting and there could have been more of this. Liked the structure for the boys, found Dec hilarious. These boys did wicked things, but were not wicked boys.
Miles 6.5
The book was an easy read and likable. Its forte' was the dialogue and relationships of the boys. But overall it was a bit milquetoast. Late 1800 Boston wharves were gritty, while these were slightly sugar coated. The story had a soft, easy, almost comfortable tone. It's doubtful that it was any of those things. Told by a different author the story would have reflected that. Wondered if the story had been whittled down by the editor as several storylines seem to just disappear. Caleb the bully, the affair with the teacher. Miles found the title awkward and thought it would have done better with a different one.
Maggie 7
Thought she would never get through it at first but became engaged right away. Loved the first part with the boys living on the streets, though it's distressing to think of kids doing so. Something was lost once they arrived on the island. The pace of the narrative dropped. Noted with Aiden's Irish heritage that prejudice never goes away, its target just changes. Thought it a bit stereotypical, what with the alcoholic Irish mother and Bess the prostitute with a heart of gold. It was inevitable that kids in their situation would eventually have to earn a living stealing. Interesting that only well-behaved kids were invited. Loved the interaction between all the boys, and how hard Charles and Aiden worked at keeping up their story. Thought it tied up nicely with the performance at Faneuil Hall, and was surprised to find the guy they knifed didn't die.
Pat 7
I too enjoyed the descriptions of life on the streets. The dialogue between Aiden and Charles stood out to me as well. I liked how Charles was the leader of the two, but that Aiden was no pushover. Would have liked more background and information on Bradley. It often felt flat, but was a good story. Not sure exactly what was missing. Good interplay between all boys. Sweet, but not syrupy. Discussions and events always seemed plausible, yet I found myself wanting more.
Letitia 7
K'Lynn 5
I really enjoyed the first 100 pages or so of this book. After that I felt that the story kind of lagged. Some predictability with events at the farm school that I felt it just kind of went downhill.
I couldn’t help but feel for these two young boys even as they steal to survive. Charles being “street wise” at 12 after his mother’s death 2 years prior. Aiden was a gentler soul and perhaps a little naive in the way of the streets. Gets caught up in crime to help his alcoholic mother & younger sister. The boys become fast friends and join forces just to survive. They end up in really dark situations rolling drunks in alleys. Super scary
In the first part of the book, I loved the descriptions of Boston in 1889 and having visited Boston when Dave’s sister got married I recognized the names of many of the places. Others I had to look up and learned that Scollay Square is now Government Center. It's hard to imagine that this was a place full of bars, and theaters and prostitutes. I loved putting myself in the modern day locations and imagining them in the past - The Common, Beacon Street.
When they end up at Boston Farm School on Thompson Island, trying to save themselves after a robbery gone wrong, they are grateful to have food and a place to sleep away from the law. However, it's not an easy place to be with rules and work and fitting into this new world and all the while having to make everyone believe that they are newly orphaned brothers. Of course things don't go as planned, and we come to know these boys as well as the superintendent Charles H. Bradley, in whose memory the author dedicates the book. While Charles and Aiden are fictional characters, Bradley is not .
The characters and the story appealed to me in so many ways. They were victims of their circumstances and it's hard not to root for these young boys and admire Bradley.
I often wonder where authors get their ideas to write books and I love that this author told us explicitly in the afterward.
Carolyn 7
Really enjoyed this book. Thought the title appropriate and begged the question who is worthy and who is not? Judging a book or person by its cover is never recommended. Was reminded of private schools that you have to apply for. These schools are often very successful because students are hand picked. Liked the relationship Charles had with Bess, and how she did so much to help them escape. Didn't like the Miss Turner affair, and found it odd that the boys could enter teachers' apartments so easily. Liked that the bed boxes had false bottoms and that Bradley knew about them. The cottages were cool. Here she thought bad things would happen to Charles and Aiden and waited for the boys to be mean to them, but they never really were. Always likes a bit of history and this school did a lot of good work.
Comments