Rodman Philbrick’s newest novel for children, The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is an adventure story set in the thick of the Civil War, full of danger, humor, scrapes & escapes, and scoundrels and kind-hearted characters.
Homer’s older brother has been tricked and sold illegally into the Union Army by their ruthless guardian. Homer runs away from their home in Maine to find his brother and save him from the war. Along the way, Homer, who has a knack for stretching the truth, meets some period characters: swindlers, a Quaker, slave catchers & a conductor on the Underground railroad, a snake-oil salesman with a traveling circus, and both Union and Southern soldiers.
Philbrick’s story is engaging historical fiction, portraying a critical time in American history through the clear and observant eyes of a boy who is both courageous and funny. As the colorful and sometimes tragic story unfolds, readers will cheer for their friend Homer while learning about one of the most important periods in our country’s history and the human struggle behind the historical facts.
- Posted by Cori