The Saxon Boy

First Children of Farmington

Children - Social Issues
32 Pages
Reviewed on 05/03/2016
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Set in a small village in post Civil War Wisconsin, The Saxon Boy: First Children of Farmington by Lisa Lickel revolves around eight-year-old John Klessig who loses his father suddenly, and finds himself with a new father when his mother remarries. His stepfather is very different from his father, and John finds it hard to accept him as his father. Then one day a fire starts and threatens to destroy their village as it spreads through the wheat and barley fields. Everyone was helping each other, but John could not see Mr Ernst, his stepfather, anywhere in sight. As the story progresses, readers see how John learns to accept and respect his stepfather and discover a friend in him. A beautiful story with a beautiful message, this book with its many layers will definitely teach young readers a lot of good things.

I found the story simple yet beautiful. The message conveyed is effective and explains how fear can make everyone work harder for the things they love. The illustrations are cute and make the book more eye-catching. It also speaks about acceptance and how important it is to accept certain things that happen in life without too much resistance. The author connects well with readers with her concept and message. It's a good bedtime storybook and can also be used for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries. All the characters are appealing and they give good support to the main characters, John and Mr Ernst.