The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
Rodman Philbrick has crafted an entertaining Civil War era story for young readers. But, as Homer P. Figg tells us up front, the tale is only “mostly” true. It is true that in early 1863 the Union is paying bounties to enlistees. In Maine, Homer’s abusive Uncle Squint forces his 17-year-old nephew Harold to join the Union Army in exchange for such an award. Squint lies about Harold’s age because he wants to pocket the $250 bounty for himself. Homer is not going to sit still for that. The crafty and determined 12-year-old escapes from his uncle’s root cellar, steals the farm horse, and sets off to find and rescue his brother Harold from the war. And thus begin his “almost totally true” adventures. “Please, dear Lord, let him be okay, wherever his is, and tell him someone is coming,” Homer prays. The improbable story unfolds through a series of mishaps and weird situations. To survive and continue his search, Homer uses his gift for storytelling and embellishment again and again. These fabrications make this tale an interesting read as the reader asks, “What will this kid come up with next?” Middle school teachers of English composition should be warned, however, about the author’s use of unorthodox grammar. But parents and social studies teachers should find this novel an enjoyable way for young readers to learn a bit about the Civil War. Reviewer: Dr. Michael J. Deeb Dr. Michael J. Deeb is author of The Drieborg Chronicles, www.civilwarnovels.com
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223 pp., 2009, The Blue Sky Press,