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This is my second Avi book and I enjoyed it almost as much as I did the first (which was about pirates, so you know I liked it more). Avi is great at placing readers into historical settings, and really captures the emotions of his young characters well. I enjoyed this book (despite being a little uneasy about the relationship between the main character and his stepfather, though that worked out in the end).
Peter York: By the grace of God, in the spring of 1768, he survived a terrible fever which swept through his town. That same fever, however, took the lives of everyone else in his whole family. Peter York was suddenly made an orphan at the age of 12, with nothing to call his own except an old mare horse named Jumper. The night of the funeral, the townspeople gathered at the minister’s house to decide what to do with Peter. “Who will take him?” Everyone wondered. Peter wondered, too. The minister...
“What Price, Freedom?” It is less than a decade before the American Revolution in Pennsylvania, across from the Jersey shore, when twelve-year-oldPeter York finds himself an orphan--obliged to move in with a kindly but stern Quaker patriarch named Shinn. When the man assumes ownership of Peter’s horse, Peter feels disloyalty bubbling up within his breast. But matters come to a head when local men, bounty hunters as it were, demand Shinn’s aid (as Justice of the Peace) in searching for two runaw
This book is a good option for children, especially pre-teens. It is definitely not engaging enough for adults. The story and narration are very simple and straightforward without much dept. So it is a very quick read. You can finish it just a couple of hours. I will not recommend it for adults, but Ok for children if they want to start reading classics without taking on more difficult books.Book SummaryPeter York, an orphaned boy, is taken into the care of the Justice of the Peace. He lives and...
This story was alright although it really didn't much of a plot going on with it. You have a young person who loses anything to start everything off and they aren't content that they have been blessed so as a result they want to start trouble at the expense of someone else. And as a result he learns that there are some things that you are better off with instead of losing and that the human bias when met with your conscious may give you an altogether different view if you just human enough. The
Peter York’s parent died in 1767 when Peter was twelve years old. A devout Quaker family adopted him but Peter found the strict and nearly silent Mr. Shinn, difficult. Peter learns that a large reward is offered for the return of two escaped bondsmen. Peter hopes to earn the reward so Mr. Shinn can buy a horse and return Peter’s horse to him. Peter joins Mr. Shinn and a group of men searching for the runaways. Peter spends the night on a deserted island with Mr. Shinn yearning for the chance to
Set on the banks of the Delaware River in 1768, Peter York, age 12, finds himself in a big predicament. First of all, he has recently become an orphan and has been taken in by a Quaker family. His new foster father is very distant and strict according to the law of the Quakers. One evening all the neighbors are called upon to search for two indentured servants who have run away. Peter joins in the hunt with a sort of success, for he finds the servants, only to learn they are two helpless childre...
An exciting adventure story that takes place in the past. Peter York is a young boy who is orphaned and adopted by a Quaker farmer who is very religious. Peter is not happy with his new situation, although he is well fed and taken care of. When neighbors alert Peter's caretaker about some escaped indentured servants, Peter sees a chance for adventure and maybe some reward money. When he is separated from his caretaker and faces life-and-death decisions, this book is hard to put down. It is short...
gr 4-6 143 pgs1768, Pennsylvania. 12 year old orphan Peter doesn't understand his guardian's reluctance when they are invited to help hunt for two escaped indentured servants. When Peter accidentally comes face to face with one of them, a girl, Peter finds himself empathizing with her. Now he faces a difficult decision. Should he turn her in or help her escape?I liked this book between than the companion/sequel "Encounter at Easton"
Quaker secondary character--not a bad pictoral of Quakers of the 1700's and their role in law enforcement, despite disagreement with the slave-trade. I like that Avi's not too preachy and resists the temptation to glorify difficult choices the main character makes. Not a thriller story, kind of sleepy and slow, but truthful to the times.
A short but very exciting adventure from Avi, different from other books of his that I've read. trying not to give too much away, I particularly enjoy the interaction between the main character Peter York and Mister Shin. It's nice to see an action book that takes as much time and effort to focus on what is right and just versus what is the law.
Young Adult Historical fiction about an indentured servant boy trying to find his way. He is taken in by a minister who seems cold and distant. When runaways are on the loose, everyone is sent out to look. Does Peter help them or risk his own safety? Indentured servitude must have been an awful situation. This book helps us see what it might have been like. Important questions are raised.
Avi is a masterful children's story teller, though I would argue the tales are for all ages. His tales (at least the ones I've read) tackle subjects that are harder to swallow, and this tale is no different, along the lines of when the law must be bent and when it must be adhered to. I recommend all read this at their leisure.
Avi is really an interesting writer, loved this book. Read it with my 6th graders two years ago. They enjoyed it too. Great grade school writer. Love the eras in which he writes also. May have to pick up a few more for quick reads this summer.
Somehow a heartwarming story. Although it was somewhat obvious at times the fact that it turned out as you are lead to suspect it will is actually the heartwarming part. Excellent YA read, as are most of Avi's works that I have read.
Peter thinks he wants the reward money for catching escaped indentured servants. Then he thinks he wants to help them escape. Then he thinks he wants to go with them. Then... he doesn't know what he wants!
Avi has done it again. He is a talented author.
Kind of a weird one-sided view of Quakers, but otherwise interesting. Nice that the boy protagonist is not perfect and makes some big mistakes.
This chapter book combines both history and some adventure. This award-winning author is well known for his well-researched settings and stories with kid-appeal.
Good book. I enjoyed it, although it was somewhat too short for me as I read it in 45 minutes. As always, Avi writes well. This was rather interesting.
Another book I wish I had available as a teen, I am slowly catching up on all I have missed. This one was very good and again moving for me.
Another book I wouldn't have read if it had not been required by mother.
A solid 3 1/2 stars. Set in pre-revolution America, this short book is great for sparking discussions about civil disobedience, rule of law, and justice vs. mercy.
Quick read. Adventurous and enough historical tidbits to make it interesting.
Excellent source of historical fiction for junior high or upper elementary. The topics of indentured servitude, and the Quaker religion bring the conflict to its peak.
Predictable story of a boy attempting to do what's morally right instead of what the law states is right.
Avi is one of my favorite authors. It’s been years since I read this one, but it was a fun short read.
Truly, a living book, this story will cause your heart to beat faster, your breath to be held, and the pages to turn rapid fire.
Got better as it went on. Not amazing, but a decent choice for our Revolutionary time period. Highlights the mistreatment and injustice that could happen with indentured servants.
This book deals with a boy's desire to prove his manhood, in 1768. He learns that all morality is not just black-and-white.