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No matter how many times I read this book at Christmas, it always restores some of my faith in humankind - Doyle's stunning ability to walk the fine line between tragedy and comedy is no where more beautifully exhibited than in this lovely novel about the first Christmas after the war, the Christmas where Sammy's father has been assaulted because he's Jewish, where Tommy undertakes to find out "who dunnit" and does and where the true spirit of Christmas is woven into the rich tapestry that Doyle...
This book is funny.
Fun read -- especially since it was from a young boy's pov.
Just finished reading this again with Conor, what a fantastic story! Definitely just as enjoyable reading for the second or third time.
I can't remember the last time I read a book with such a slow build up to the climax.This book follows the life of a young boy named Tommy, just a month before the first Christmas after the second world war has ended. Tommy lives with his dad, Aunt Dottie, as well as his mentally deficient sister who is two years older than him. An interesting factor in Tommy’s life are his friends, because of the division between society, Tommy’s friends come from different cultural groups. His very best friend...
I'd forgotten about this book for a long time. Read it in grade school and my memory is a bit foggy, ergo the "middle of the road" 3 star rating. I should re-read to be more accurate.Funny and poignant.
A boy works to solve the mystery of who beat up his best friend's dad.I didn't like it. There was nobody that I loved, and was rooting for. I guess, ya, the boy had a bunch of stuff to work through - mental illness in the family, school yard fights, his friend's dad in the hospital - but I just didn't care about him enough...to care. In terms of being a microcosm of a macro world, or a metaphor for what was happening in the global political climate at the time, the boy's conflict just wasn't imp...
Even though I have not read this book in years, for some reason it sticks with me to this day.
This was a good book in its premise, but I felt it lacked an advanced enough vocabulary to semi-challenge even a grade seven student, making it seem a bit childish and uneducatedly written. It also has unapologetic sexist remarks against women within it. I do realize that that was the view most men had in the time frame this book when it was set, yet it bothers me to not have a small note before or after the story saying the author doesn't feel that way.
Having finally read this book, I understand why teachers love this book. Set in Ottawa's Lowertown just after the end of WWII, Brian Doyle has created a rich literary environment with real children. Sparse text leaves a lot up to the interpretation of the reader. It is a very quick read that will appeal to the weak or struggling reader. It's frank depiction of violence in working class life will make this a boys' favourite. Warning: There are mature themes and language, so Grade 6 up only.
YA novel read with ESL students
I wanted to read this book because it had historical information and it was about an area in Ottawa that I lived in 27 years later. It was so great to picture the different streets and places that they lived in and went to.The book showed what a different age it was right after the war.Even though rationing was over, it was still hard to find some types of food at certain times. Turkey and even Chickens were really scarce the Christmas after the war ended. It was a very enlightening book even if...
It’s just not a very deep layered book, I don’t care about any of the characters. Wouldn’t have read this if it wasn’t for school.
From Grade 7 i remember reading it around Christmas time, it was quite the good read if you wanted to just pick it up, really enjoyable and the author is local :)
A reluctant reader in grade eight had never read an entire book, but he read this one, and as soon as he finished it, he started over and read it again over the next couple of weeks. Can't get higher praise than that. Still, when I introduced the novel in class, I read a bit that had another kid actually fall out of his desk with laughter. Doyle's books read, to me, like comic books; I can't really explain what that means, but that's how it struck (and strikes me now). That's just what it felt l...
I didn't really enjoy this, but it really is aimed at kids.
