Family

I read this book in fourth grade.

While I remember hardly nothing of the book itself, I remember that I truly hated it. ( )

Newbery Medal 1960. Andy is the only person who can understand Onion John. The story develops as the people in the town set out to help Onion John. It turns into a study of the relationship between a 12 year old boy and the father he loves. ( )

Too bad about this cover. The book was wonderful! I'm sorry that it took me so long to get around to reading it. I'm grateful that my bookgroup chose it. A great story of friendship and coming of age. I'm so glad that the father and son were finally able to communicate at a deep level. As a child I wonder if I would have appreciated that? I remember my reaction to Boxcar Children getting rescued and felt the same about poor Onion John. Andy's growing up reminded me of my discovery that there was no Santa Claus. My fear that such knowledge would end the goodies. I hated to see him lose the magic. Good discussion with my Vintage Book Circle friends. We all enjoyed this one. Another Newbery that I love as an adult, but didn't quite get as a kid. ( )

Onion John is a genial, eccentric old tramp in the town of Serenity. 12-year old Andrew becomes best friends with the old man, who barely speaks a word of English. Yet, somehow, Andrew can understand him.
At first, Andrew's father wants to keep his son away from the old man, because he wants his boy to grow up to be an engineer, and Onion John's crazy superstitions are, he believes, hazardous to his son's education. But in time, his father decides the town should help out Onion John... by building him a new house. One that Onion John himself doesn't want. But he's too nice to risk hurting anyone's feelings about it.
Although it seems through most of the book that Andy and his relationship with Onion John are the focus, the real point of the story is his relationship with his father. ( )