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Adam of the Road (Puffin Modern Classics) Review

Adam of the Road is a children's novel written by Elizabeth Janet Gray and illustrated by Robert Lawson. It won the Newbery Medal in 1943. Adam of the Road chronicles the adventures of Adam, an eleven year old minstrel in thirteenth-century England, as he travels with his father and dog.

Adam of the Road is over 300 pages, making it rather long for a children's novel (perhaps in this post-Harry Potter era, this is not the case, although Adam of the Road is geared to a younger audience). Adam's adventures keep the book moving fairly well, although it does tend to drag a little toward the end.

The book may hold some interest for adults as well, although they may be off-put by the fairly one-dimensional supporting characters and the narrator's constant explanation of Adam's emotional state (at least in children's fiction these writing flaws are defensible, and even deliberate). Some great degree of suspense is lost, however, if the reader scans the back of the cover. The reader knows what the dramatic crises of the book will be, then waits half the book for them to occur. As the book approaches its end, the reader may well become impatient for the inevitable satisfactory resolutions.

What Gray does well is give an excellent depiction of the thirteenth century. She immerses the reader in the medieval world to a degree reminiscent of Twain's The Prince and the Pauper (even if it is somewhat sanitized for children). She uses the terminology of the day, too, so even adults would be advised to keep a dictionary handy.

Adam of the Road is a fine children's novel, even if it is a little flawed. It's definitely worth a read by anyone with in interest in medieval life.

Adam of the Road (Puffin Modern Classics) Feature

ISBN13: 9780142406595
Condition: New
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Adam of the Road (Puffin Modern Classics) Overview

Eleven-year-old Adam loved to travel throughout thirteenthcentury England with his father, a wandering minstrel, and his dog, Nick. But when Nick is stolen and his father disappears, Adam suddenly finds himself alone. He searches the same roads he traveled with his father, meeting various people along the way. But will Adam ever find his father and dog and end his desperate search?

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Customer Reviews

11 yr old's view point - -
I think that this book was kind of good at some parts and kind of slow in other parts.[I like exciting books].There were two exciting parts that I was on the edge of my seat but all the other parts gave me a headache. Some parts are just too descriptive and some parts you could just take out of the story and you woudn't even notice that it was gone. But if you like slow books, this is the kind of book you would want to read. But I do not recomend this book for readers that like high adventure and such.

13th Century Road Book - Ken C. - MA
If you're a fan of "road books," (or, as they're more fancifully called, "picaresques"), then ADAM OF THE ROAD should be in your to-be-read pile. The 317 pages -- seemingly too many for a kids' book -- turn like some book in a spring breeze thanks to the ease of its style and the friendliness of its young protagonist, 11-year-old Adam. The boy, a minstrel like his father, Roger, is thoroughly modern in that he loves adventure, dogs, showing off, and being in the thick of the action. This last trait will serve the reader well once Adam gets separated from his father and sees his dog, Nick, snatched. While searching desperately for both, Adam meets all manner of medieval folk, kind and surly, rich and poor, through the rest of the novel. Meanwhile, author Elizabeth Janet Gray embeds details of everyday life in England back then, especially the ins and outs of minstrelsy.

It's hard to believe that young readers would object to such an accessible book, but if it's assigned in class, the length and the slow start (typical of older books, where exposition at a book's beginning was de rigueur) may prove two strikes against it from the get-go. A teacher should also take time to introduce it, share some background information on the history and vocabulary, and finally get it off the ground with some spirited dramatic reading. With all that, I see no reason why kids would NOT enjoy Adam's vicarious friendship as he wanders about England on his quest. Really. It's old-school charming and fun, the type of book we adults read and say, "How did I miss THIS as a kid?" Luckily, for the young at heart, books can take you back to the halcyon days with the greatest of ease. Recommended.

Adam the young minstrel - L. Michalek - Rochester, NY
This book provides a very accurate piture of the life of a minstrel in England in the late 1200's. The Magna Charta and the beginning of the House of Commons is mentioned, which was the first time in Eland's history when the common people were included in representative government. This is an enjoyable story as we travel with young Adam through England as he finds himself alone searching for his dog and father while meeting many interesting people.

Good Book - Took years to finale read it - Du Weldenvarden -
I have had this book on my book shelve for a very long time. I can always remember seeing it when I was younger but I never read it. I guess I thought it was too long. Even when I went through my book shelves to give books away for some reason I kept this book. Finale last year I picked it up and started reading it. I found it to be a very enjoyable book Adam is a great character and I understand his love and bond for his dog Nick. When Adam dives off a ferry to get to Nick. I said "I would have done the same thing". Its also nice reading a book that is based on life during the 13 century. Seems it would have been quite an adventure to be a traveling minstrel. I think this is a book that both children and adults will enjoy.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 09, 2010 17:01:04

Children's Books

Thursday, September 9, 2010