Heavy. Well researched. ( )

Gr 5-8-When nine-year-old Ethan leaves his family to be bound out to Mr. Lyman, his father tries to make it sound like an adventure and an opportunity to learn a trade. But Ethan knows that it is a necessity: his father has no other way to pay off his debts to the wealthy shopkeeper. The Lymans' other indentured servant is a surly teenager who rebuffs Ethan's attempts at friendship. Mr. Lyman is initially affectionate and gracious to Ethan and warns him against spending too much time with Daniel, a "difficult boy" whom the Lymans call Paddy to underscore his Irish inferiority. But when Ethan accidentally breaks a plate, he witnesses how quickly the man's benevolent demeanor can transform into violent rage, and, after a vicious beating, he and Daniel begin to form a bond. But to the town, and even to Ethan's parents, the man is a shining example of virtue, teaching these boys a trade and "disciplining" them only when their misdeeds warrant it. As the boys' friendship grows stronger, Ethan learns more of Daniel's tragic past and the circumstances that have bound him to the Lymans. How Ethan and Daniel bolster each other and escape Mr. Lyman's tyranny makes for a memorable tale of friendship and a fascinating glimpse into mid-19th-century Massachusetts. Like L. M. Elliott's Give Me Liberty (HarperCollins, 2006), this is an eye-opening look at indentured servitude in American history.-Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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This was an elegantly written book filled with danger, friendship and heart. Highly recommended! ( )

Ethan Root and Daniel Linnehan are indentured servants to Mr. Lyman. Both of the boys are beaten mercilessly by Mr. Lyman, but Daniel takes the brunt of it. Despite the fact that Daniel (cruelly nicknamed Paddy) is somewhat surly and never smiles, Ethan takes a liking to him even after he’s been warned to stay clear of him. Ethan sees how good Daniel is with the mare, Ivy, and appreciates his other qualities. Barker does a wonderful job of telling this story. The ending of every chapter leaves you anxious to continue reading.

I would recommend this book for Middle School students. An excellent lesson in empathy and finding the good in people, this would be a good choice for purchase for any library. ( )

With hardly enough money to keep a roof over their heads, Ethan Root’s parents sign a contract with the local store owner, Mr. Lyman, to put their son into indentured servanthood for nine years. Thus, at the tender age of 9, Ethan must leave his family and move in with the Lymans. In exchange for his hard physical labor, Ethan receives room, board, and one set of clothing per year. In addition, he has the opportunity to learn two trades: husbandry at the Lyman’s family farm and business at Mr. Lyman’s general store. Ethan is put under the charge of another indentured servant, the surly-tempered, Irish-born Daniel. When life with the Lymans turns out to be harsher than Ethan anticipated, he finds an unlikely ally in Daniel.

Children reading this book will gain an understanding of the intricacies of an indenture as Ethan asks questions to understand his situation. Children will also get an appreciation of the hard manual labor that Ethan and Daniel (and the children of the time that the boys represent) had to endure just to fill basic needs such as food and clothing. Meanwhile, through Ethan’s attempts to learn business at Lyman’s store, children will receive an introduction into some basic (and some not so basic) finance concepts.

The author has clearly done a lot of research on the customs and colloquialism of the time to create an accurate pictorial of New England in the mid-1800s. In addition, she portrays characters that are well-developed yet constantly evolving as the story progresses. However, this is a dense read with a lot for children to digest -- but it is well worth the effort.

I did this review for EconKids. See the full review here: http://www.fas.rutgers.edu/cms/econkids/index.php?option=com_content&task=vi... ( )