Sunday, August 01, 2004
Night Journeys by Avi
Night Journeys features Peter York, an orphan in colonial America. Peter has been taken in by a Quaker Justice of the Peace and his family. Though well cared for and treated as part of the family, Peter chafes against the confines of the family, their Quaker ways, and his place with them.
As Justice of the Peace Mr. Shinn must aid in the capture of escaped indentured servants. Two such servants are in the area and Peter joins the search party with the reward shining in his mind.
The reward starts to tarnish when Peter meets one of the escaped servants, a young girl who is a branded felon.
The story is somewhat one sided with little note being given to the circumstances of servitude and the responsibility the servants had to their master. It is assumed throughout the book that they are right to escape. I don't think the issue is that clear cut.
There is a sequel to this book Encounter at Easton that continues the story as the escaped servants interact with another boy. I reviewed it here.
I have recommended this book to a 4th grade girl and both a 3rd grade teacher and a 4-6th grade teacher for their class library. My copy of Night Journeys, purchased at a thrift store, is meant for a classroom with space in the front for class and school identification and discussion questions in the back.
As Justice of the Peace Mr. Shinn must aid in the capture of escaped indentured servants. Two such servants are in the area and Peter joins the search party with the reward shining in his mind.
The reward starts to tarnish when Peter meets one of the escaped servants, a young girl who is a branded felon.
The story is somewhat one sided with little note being given to the circumstances of servitude and the responsibility the servants had to their master. It is assumed throughout the book that they are right to escape. I don't think the issue is that clear cut.
There is a sequel to this book Encounter at Easton that continues the story as the escaped servants interact with another boy. I reviewed it here.
I have recommended this book to a 4th grade girl and both a 3rd grade teacher and a 4-6th grade teacher for their class library. My copy of Night Journeys, purchased at a thrift store, is meant for a classroom with space in the front for class and school identification and discussion questions in the back.
# posted by JJ @ 2:15 PM 
