The Chestry Oak

The author actually claims in the back that it's "real" but apparently she means in the same sense as "Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus." Too bad. Books should be either fiction or not. I mean, I know history is subject to various inaccuracies due to various issues, but Seredy seems to want this book to be used in history class, not in literature, and that's just too much of a stretch, imo.

Starts out very slow, imo. So much Proud Brave Hungarians just like so many other works by Seredy. But I persevered, and the ending, though awfully happy, was engaging, and made the journey worthwhile. The Americans, salt of the earth you know, are proud and brave, too. I just wish Michael were a bit older, so he could be more believable... nothing show more would have been different as far as I could see. And I'm not sure about Pop's action at the end because there are different kinds of oaks, and who's to say an American of whatever species could pass for a Hungarian? And there seemed to be a confusion of languages - all too often it seemed that *everyone* knew both English and Hungarian.

Beautifully written. The craftsmanship of the sentences, the grace of the metaphors, the effortless flow of the songs and ritual verses... just lovely. I'm not sure if that's enough to engage youngsters today, and I know I wouldn't have liked this when I was a child, but I do like it now and recommend it to interested adults. show less

This is my all time, number one, favorite story. It is about a boy in Hungary during WWII, who loves and loses a horse. The boy ends up on a farm in the US, and makes a new life there. And then..

As he watches his homeland of Hungary being taken over and run by invaders from Nazi Germany, young Prince Michael of Chestry strives to retain his identity and integrity during one of the most dangerous seasons in human history.

Michael carries an acorn all the way from his castle home in Chestry Valley to the warm soil of the Hudson Valley farm in the USA where he makes a new home after WWII.

One of my favorite books.

I first read it because it had a horse on the cover; and indeed, although the horse does have a part, the Chestry Oak is not about the horse.

The Chestry Oak is a model of honesty, intregity, honor, unselfish love, self sacrifice.

I cry from start to finish, in every chapter, when I read it. I read it aloud once to each of my daughters, and I cried all the way through it. (They didn't cry until the end, however!).

I have read other Kate Seredy books, but none compare to the Chestry Oak.

Hardcover, DJ torn, First edition