The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
by Rodman Pilbrick
Text from video: Welcome everyone.
This video is about the Mostly
True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, written by Rodman Philbrick. Homer and his older brother, Harold, are
orphans under the care of their rotten Uncle Squinton Leach. When Harold stops Uncle Squint from beating
Homer, Uncle Squint sells Harold to the Union Army where he must serve three
years or until he dies. Homer knows that
it was wrong to sell Harold because Harold is only seventeen, and not old
enough to be sworn into the army. Homer is worried about Harold and wants to
rescue Harold before he is killed in the war.
Homer leaves Uncle Squints farm and travels through Maine. Where he meets slave catchers and scoundrels
who steal his horse and make him stop at a house on the Underground
Railroad. Homer tricks the scoundrels
and helps the slaves continue on their journey to freedom. Mr. Brewster rewards Homer with a trip on a
steamship to New York so he can find Harold.
While on the steamship Homer’s guardian is bamboozled and Homer is
locked in the steerage with pigs. Once in
New York, Homer joins a traveling medicine show that follows the Union wagon
trains. Homer has one adventure after
another and even ends up on a hot air balloon that takes him to a battle where
he meets Coronel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.
Will Homer ever find Harold? Will
they serve the union army well? Find out
by reading The Mostly True Adventures of
Homer P. Figg
Title: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
Author: Rodman Philbrick
Publisher: Scholastic
Year: 2011
c 2009
ISBN: 978-0-439-66821-7
Genre: Fiction/Adventure/Historic
This book is for Ages:
9-14
Awards:
Newbery Honor Book, ALA Notable Book.
AR Points: 7.0
Subjects/Themes: Runaways,
Orphans, Brother, Self Reliance, Family, Civil War
Plot Summary: 12-year-old Homer P. Figg runs away from
his horrible uncle to rescue his brother Harold. Harold was tricked into joining the union
army. Homer travels from Maine to
Gettysburg hoping to free his brother and protect him from the dangers of
war. As Homer travels he meets, bandits,
a Quaker, thieves and spies. The book is dedicated “To everyone whoever lied
and found their way back to the truth”. Homer
is a boy like any other but his experiences are amazing.
Review: This book is a wild ride from beginning to
end. Homer’s tale will make you
laugh. It is an excellent read-aloud
story you won’t want to put down. Homer struggles with right, wrong and telling
the truth. His story deals with serious
issues like war and slavery from the point of view of a child. Homer understands the dangers of war and is
determined to save his brother.
Philbrick’s detailed descriptions bring this story to life. I will miss Homer and his adventures. I liked that the book includes a special
section at the back with a recipe for Union hard tack and trivia about the
Civil War.
If you like this book
you may also like: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by
Mark Twain.
