Johnny Tremain Book Summary

In 'Johnny Tremain', a young silversmith apprentice in colonial Boston faces a life-altering accident that disrupts his ambitions. As he grapples with his new identity and the onset of the American Revolution, he becomes entangled in a world of political intrigue and rebellion. With vivid characters like Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, Johnny must navigate loyalty and courage in turbulent times. His journey from boyhood to adulthood is marked by moments of triumph and tragedy that highlight the quest for freedom. Will Johnny emerge as a hero, or will history swallow him whole?

By Esther Forbes

Published: 1943

"It is not what we have but what we do that defines us."

Book Review of Johnny Tremain

Johnny Tremain, winner of the 1944 Newbery Medal, is one of the finest historical novels ever written for children. As compelling today as it was seventy years ago, to read this riveting novel is to live through the defining events leading up to the American Revolutionary War. Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith with a bright future ahead of him, injures his hand in a tragic accident, forcing him to look for other work. In his new job as a horse-boy, riding for the patriotic newspaper, The Boston Observer, and as a messenger for the Sons of Liberty, he encounters John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Dr. Joseph Warren. Soon Johnny is involved in the pivotal events shaping the American Revolution from the Boston Tea Party to the first shots fired at Lexington. Powerful illustrations by American artist Michael McCurdy bring to life Esther Forbes's quintessential novel of the American Revolution.

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It is not what we have but what we do that defines us.

Johnny Tremain

By Esther Forbes