The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (Scholastic Gold)

Grandson likes it

Fluid in its telling, this story moves with boyish imagination, never losing sight of its purpose. Characters jump to life, imagery often surprises, and a powerful word of wisdom awaits the reader as the tale closes.While I've yet to enter my dotage, I'm well beyond my youth. Had not a treasured nephew recommended this to me I would have missed a marvelous and compelling read. I'm glad I listened to him.

I am pleased to introduce a guest blogger/reviewer today. Neal, my ten year old son, is willingly writing this review to earn a later bedtime (because I'm cruel like that).My mom read The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick to us in the car while we were going on trips this summer. It is a book about a twelve-year-old boy trying to save his brother who was recruited to fight for the Union in the Civil War when he was underage. Homer has many adventures. At one point he's trapped in a pen of pigs and becomes part of a small traveling circus as the "Amazing Pig Boy". Homer likes Professor Fleabottom, who runs the circus, but he might not be who he says he is. He escapes in a silk reconnaissance balloon only to discover that he's landed on the wrong side of the war.This is a very interesting and funny book. I learned a lot about the Civil War. Homer is a daring and brave kid. He and his brother are orphans so his brother is the only family he's got. He is very good about getting out of scary situations. He thinks quickly on his feet and he can sure tell a whopper. Homer is also very smart.I recommend this book to anyone from 10 to 95 years old. Actually my five-year-old brother liked it too.

This book keeps a student on the edge of their seat wondering what will happen next, laughing at interesting names of characters or events, understanding the frustration of the main character, and wanting to continue reading to see what comes next. As a parent, I encouraged my child to read to me and I found myself saying "then what happened?!" The reading level is about 6-7th grade..vocabulary, for the most part, is common language with a few (maybe about 4-5) older terms that you may have to explain to generation Y or Z. Overall, this has encouraged even my students who have Dyslexia to read or at least try to read and want to read.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is reminiscent of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn but unlike Twain, Rodman Philbrick is writing for a middle grade and YA audience. Rodman Philbrick, best known for the classic Freak the Mighty, created a wonderful protagonist in Homer P.Figg. He is loyal, smart, scrappy and laugh-out-loud funny. When Homer's evil uncle sells Homer's little brother into the union army, Homer runs away to save him. To complete his quest, Homer must: rescue a free black man from slave traders, escape from abductors, survive being robbed, and join a traveling circus, to name a few of his adventures and misadventures. The clever, humorous names of the characters Homer encounters (Uncle Squinton, Smelt, Professor Fleabottom) are entertaining enough to hold a reluctant reader's attention, but Homer's number one survival skill, telling whopper fibs, will keep readers anxiously awaiting the next adventure which usually comes in the next chapter. Reader's will admire Homer's determination, quick wit and very original problem solving skills, learn a little about the Civil War and probably go looking for a sequel which sadly does not exist - yet.

My 12 year old son loved this book. As a requirement for Newbery Award book, others were not a fun read. My son learned some real things that happened in Civil War and also enjoyed a young boy’s imagination on his journey.

My 9 year old son really enjoyed this book. He has now requested to read other books by this same author. He enjoyed the humor and history that were intertwined in this book.

My grandson's class read this book in 5th grade and he told me how much he enjoyed it. We discussed it several times while they slowly read through the chapters over a couple of weeks. I very much enjoyed the time together discussing the subject matter. He suggested I get the book and read it myself , so I did. Great book for the appropriate age bracket , as this has some fairly graphic content about the civil war and slavery. I wouldn't suggest for under 5 grade , and would read along with an adult. Great discussion material.