Andrea Bennington

One of my favorite books of all time. I discovered it at 12 years of age and found Francie to be a kindred spirit. I’m certain that sounds strange to people who know that I grew up in Texas in the 1970’s- 80’s and my family was well off, but it’s true. This story is timeless. I’ve read it through at least 10 times and my favorite parts of it dozens of times. Even as a child of 12, I felt this had to be the author’s true story, because no one could have written this if they had not lived it. I found out much later that Francie is author Betty Smith.

I read and re-read this book in 5th grade and it was my favorite that year along with “The Endless Steppe” by Esther Hautzig. I am 54 years old now and while going through the hundreds upon hundreds of books in our house trying to find some we can agree to give away, I found “Johnny Tremain” and decided to read it again. I have to say it has not lost anything over the years. I understood more than I did as a child and some things meant so much more to me as an adult than they did when I was a child. For example, while the ending always brought me to tears when I was young, another part of the book has great meaning and does so now, as well: When James Otis speaks to the gathered Observers and states what we are truly fighting this revolution for, “That a man can stand up” and prophesies what the American Revolution will mean for France, Russia, all the world: “...the peasants of France, the serfs of Russia. Hardly more than animals now. But because we fight, they shall see freedom like a new sun rising in the West” well not only am I crying while reading this, but my heart is nearly bursting. “We are lucky men, for we have a cause worth dying for. This honor is not given to every generation.”-Joseph Warren If you like well researched historical fiction, you will love “Johnny Tremain”.