Reviews

Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

ivy_wisteria's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

storiesandsours's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective fast-paced

3.5

protoman21's review against another edition

3.0

I was actually kinda bored by this book. I've read the Hatchet books recently about a boy surviving alone and they were a lot easier to relate to and connect with than Call It Courage. The end was emotionally powerful though.

roseleaf24's review against another edition

Medal Winner 1941

jennymock's review against another edition

4.0

Great cultural study and time period survival story. Short novel.

papidoc's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of those wonderful tales that is simple, yet profound, and engaging to young and old alike. It would be a particularly good book to read aloud to boys and girls under the age of ten, and might prompt conversations about such outmoded concepts as courage, loyalty, honor, patience, and so forth. It would also be good in the classroom, for much the same reasons, and in fact their are teaching guides for using it in the classroom. Mafatu is a boy with whom many of us can identify in our youth, and the steps he takes to prove himself can be easily brought into our own culture and time. Though primarily intended for children, it is a marvelous example of the hero's journey as put forth by Joseph Campbell.

(2022) I recorded this book for my grandkids - one of several I have done to date. It was as good as I remembered it, though it is clearly a product of its time.

javablue's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

gossamer_lens's review against another edition

3.75

Overall it was an enjoyable and intriguing listen. I wanted to read this when I was younger and never got to it. The tale of a young boy training to gain his courage is fun and light. I think this story would be a fun and quick introduction for young readers to the pacific islanders. I do think it is solidly of its times as the only characters mentioned as being black are called "man-eaters". But that is overt enough I think it could lend itself to an insightful discussion with young readers about how books are products of their times and how culture has evolved and how just because something is written doesn't make it right or good.

balletbookworm's review against another edition

2.0

Eh, definitely a book of it's time. And despite the specifics of setting this among a Polynesian culture, it's very much a "huntin' shootin' and fishin'" book that could have any number of interchangeable white protagonists in any mid-century "boy's" narrative.

Moana does a similar narrative many times better, imo.

sqeeker's review against another edition

2.0

- I am doing really well with my Newbery goal this month! I'm proud of me!

- This book definitely shows its age, but it wasn't as bad as previous Newbery books. The writing was more enjoyable. Most of the story was kinda slow though.

- I liked Maftu's journey in finding his courage. It didn't come all at once. He had to face a few things before we tackled his biggest fear.

- I loved that Maftu wasn't completely alone. He had his dog.

- I'm hoping the 40s had better books than the 30s