soracine's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in middle school, and it stuck with me. The hardest thing for me to overcome (at the time) was the beginning, I didn’t get it, because (SMALL SPOILER WARNING) they were roleplaying and that confused me. But after that it was smooth sailing.
Now I’m in college and as I write this review, some of the details of this book are coming flooding back. So so expertly crafted. 10/10
Now I’m in college and as I write this review, some of the details of this book are coming flooding back. So so expertly crafted. 10/10
kkleven's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
daisey's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this story although I have not read Elijah of Buxton. It started off fairly slowly in chapters told from the alternating perspectives of Benji and Red. The pace picked up and the story became more entertaining once Benji and Red actually met. I liked the development of the characters and the relationships between them.
* I received an electronic ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
* I received an electronic ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
If you loved Elijah of Buxton you'll enjoy this chance to revisit the town and see what happens 40 years later. If you didn't love Elijah it's probably because you haven't read it yet - so go do so after you read this companion novel. It doesn't matter, really, which order you read them in.
The titular Madman is, of course, isn't as Big and Scary as a one might assume from the title; he is, on the other hand, a necessary means to bring the two main characters together. As a work of historical fiction this is less jarringly "other", and the adventures the boys have will seem familiar to adults reading this with their middle grade readers.
The titular Madman is, of course, isn't as Big and Scary as a one might assume from the title; he is, on the other hand, a necessary means to bring the two main characters together. As a work of historical fiction this is less jarringly "other", and the adventures the boys have will seem familiar to adults reading this with their middle grade readers.
yapha's review against another edition
5.0
This companion novel to Elijah of Buxton takes place 40 years later and follows the lives of Benji, an African-Canadian, and Red, an Irish-Canadian from the neighboring town of Chatham. A chance encounter while cheering on their friends at an oratory competition turns these seemingly opposite boys into good friends. This book looks at how the ways in which we deal with our difficult times shapes who we become as we grow older. Recommended for grades 5-8.
allen_h's review against another edition
3.0
The last 100 pages pulled this up to 3 stars. It's not my favorite by the author, but it's not my least favorite of his either.
ajacks's review against another edition
5.0
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.org
renatasnacks's review against another edition
4.0
This is a companion to [b:Elijah of Buxton|638689|Elijah of Buxton|Christopher Paul Curtis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328843610s/638689.jpg|2247514], which I haven't read. I think this book holds its own--Elijah is a minor character in this one. I'm interested now to go back and read his story, though.
This is a historical-adventure story with an interesting setting--a black community (and an Irish community) in Canada in 1901. It's a good lens for looking at slavery and the Civil War from a relatively close distance, and Curtis does it well, in an age-appropriate way. It's also rare for kids lit to touch on the shitty treatment Irish immigrants got and how that contributed to racism in its own way.
I liked the friendship between Red and Benji, and the gradual reveal of the "Madman" was great. (I wonder how differently that would read if I had read Elijah of Buxton? Not sure.)
Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this to middle-grade readers who are interested in historical fiction, but also ones who are interested in science or journalism. (Red and Benji are very interested in science and journalism, respectively.)
This is a historical-adventure story with an interesting setting--a black community (and an Irish community) in Canada in 1901. It's a good lens for looking at slavery and the Civil War from a relatively close distance, and Curtis does it well, in an age-appropriate way. It's also rare for kids lit to touch on the shitty treatment Irish immigrants got and how that contributed to racism in its own way.
I liked the friendship between Red and Benji, and the gradual reveal of the "Madman" was great. (I wonder how differently that would read if I had read Elijah of Buxton? Not sure.)
Anyway, I'd definitely recommend this to middle-grade readers who are interested in historical fiction, but also ones who are interested in science or journalism. (Red and Benji are very interested in science and journalism, respectively.)
wags33's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me awhile to get into. The book is two parallel stories that do eventually connect into one cohesive story. I like the characters Curtis created, they are easy to relate to and come across as very real. While the story itself was very enjoyable, I feel like Curtis could have delved deeper into the many topics that this book could bring up. Some of the main topics seemed glossed over or only slightly mentioned. All in all, after the first 50-75 pages, the book really did grab me.