A book review…
Erin, Lisa, and Cat host A Good Book and A Cup of Tea Monthly Bookish Blog Party each month. Life continues on here at Haus der Mitte. In case you don’t know, or haven’t been around from the start, my maternal grandparents came from good German stock, on both sides, I believe. So, that’s why I refer to our home as das Haus der Mitte which means the House of the Middle. I actually didn’t even have to google that which is surprising because it’s been a few decades since I took German in high school! Anyway, after a bit of prompting, gentle reminders, and even a bit of arm twisting, I am writing my second book review.
A little history…
As most of you know, I taught fourth grade for about half of my teaching career. In my humble opinion, fourth graders are the absolute best! They are young enough to still think you’re (you…the teacher) are cool. They work independently, and they still kinda like school. Plus they have the best sense of humor…usually having to do with bodily functions…but still funny! In fact, they are the reason why I do Would You Rathers for 10 on the 10th (which I need to get going on). So, my kids had lunch at noon, followed by recess until 12:55. Fourth graders get hot and sweaty at recess. For most of my teaching career, we didn’t have air conditioning in the classrooms, so they were really, really hot and sweaty. I would always read to them for about 15-20 (more like 20-30) minutes after they’d come in from recess. I discovered Richard Peck after mistaking him for Robert Newton Peck who wrote A Day No Pigs Would Die.
A little more history…
Now, Robert Newton Peck plays into this because our reading textbooks waaaay back then were anthologies which meant they were collections of short stories. I was a Resource Teacher and had to get a third grader caught up after a long absence. I remembered reading A Day No Pigs Would Die with him. Only, here’s why some teachers really didn’t like anthologies…the publishers would often only publish an excerpt of the book. I recently read the entire book (I’m not reviewing that one here), and I kept thinking, “There’s no way this is what we read in third grade because they wouldn’t be able to handle the themes in it.” So, I’m sure it was a fairly easy part of the book in the anthology. But, in looking for Robert Newton Peck, I discovered Richard Peck, the author of the book I am reviewing.
My review…
The Teachers Funeral, A Comedy in Three Parts is told from the point of view of Russell, a 15 year old boy who lives in…Indiana!!! In fact, he identifies towns and counties relatively close to me! Anyway, it’s the end of summer, and the teacher has just died. Russell and his little brother, Lloyd, are somewhat overjoyed upon learning of Miss Myrt’s death. Of course, the boys, along with their sister, Tansy, Aunt Maud, and dad attend the funeral. While there, Tansy removes the pointer from Miss Myrt’s hands. Russell notices but doesn’t think much of it. Tansy is in high school and must be around 16 or 17 and hoping to go back to school and maybe even attend the Normal School. A Normal School was where teachers were once trained. Russell suspects Miss Myrt never stepped foot inside a Normal School but also has no idea of Tansy’s plans. Russell believes the school in Hominy Ridge will close with Miss Myrt’s death. He’s very much mistaken in that!
A little more…
Along the way, we meet several more characters…Charley Parr is Russell’s best friend. Both intend to leave school and head for the Dakotas and farm there. Other students at the school are Pearl Nearing, who is a bit of a drama queen, Lester Kriegbaum, the brain, Floyd “Flopears” Lumley, Beaulah, “Little Britches,” Bradley, and Glenn Tarbox. Glenn is in his late teens and can’t read a lick. I forgot to mention…this is all taking place in a one room schoolhouse so lessons take place for just about everyone. Tansy turns out to be a pretty fine teacher, and everyone progresses quite well. Eventually, she is examined by the school superintendent and is awarded her provisional teaching certificate.
Even more…
Many adventures and misadventures occur throughout the book. There’s the addition of Aunt Fanny Hamline who owns property close to the school. She decides to come to the school to warn off whoever is stealing her apples. In doing so, she has to cross the crick (that’s the way they’d pronounce it though I call it a creek) and ends up breaking the board that bridges it. Of course, Aunt Fanny is stuck in the crick, facing downward with her backside somewhat exposed. The students work together to get her out of the crick, and she repays their kindness with threats! Eventually, we learn Glenn is staying with her as his family is not known for approving of education. He begins coming to school with better clothes and meals actually worth eating. She never suspects he had been stealing her apples.
A skosh more…
Surprisingly, for a kids’ book, there is a love story going through the book. It appears Tansy is quite the catch though Russell just can’t see it! There’s Glenn who fancies her as well as Charley. This is so abominable to Russell because a) it’s his sister, and b) he and Charley are supposed to go to the Dakotas where, apparently, the crops are spun gold or something! There’s also a fellow from an automobile company, the Overland Automobile Company, named Eugene Hammond. He shows his love by sending all kinds of nifty things to this little impoverished school. Pencils, embossed with the car company’s name, a real for sure baseball, and many other things make their way to the school…all in order to impress Tansy.
Finally…kinda…
There is so much more to this book than what I’ve just written. There is humor, heart, and lots and lots of insight into the one room schoolhouse culture. You get an idea of what it was like in those days. The writing is wonderful, and Richard Peck picks up on so many idiosyncrasies of early Hoosier life. While Peck is not a Hoosier, he did graduate from DePauw University in Greencastle which is a hop, skip, and a jump from me! He earned a bachelor’s degree in English there. This is not my favorite Peck book, but it’s the one I just read. I think my favorite is A Long Way from Chicago. I read that one aloud to my students, too. These books are made to be read aloud with just the hint of an accent. My kids laughed as much as I did. There were times I had to explain things to them, but they quickly cottoned onto the idea of a one room schoolhouse. If you’re looking to reminisce a bit (if you’re close to my age), this book will have you chuckling and nodding along. If you’re a Hoosier or even from the states surrounding Indiana, I think you’ll enjoy it, too. Peck wrote several books in his many years, but I really enjoyed the books centered around life in rural areas.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I am terrible at writing reviews, but I gave it a good shot. I always think of my seventh grade teacher who said a report shouldn’t be a retelling. But, I think that’s different than a review. I want you to know just a bit about the book to entice you to read it! So, can we talk? Do you enjoy reading children’s literature? Have you been able to find books written about the area in which you live? How did/do you feel about being read aloud to? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Thank you!
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