Young Billy Creekmore has a life that could have beaten him down, still as each tragedy presented itself, he was able to overcome the travesty life gave him. While his father sends a yearly post card, Billy cannot understand why he doesn't come to claim him. When the book begins he lives in an orphanage wherein the owner sells the children to work at a dangerous glass factory. Knowing his fate, Billy runs away.

He then is rescued by an Aunt and Uncle who claim to take him home with them. They treat him well, but alas times are hard and he decides to follow his Uncle into the West Virginia coal mine. When there is a mining accident which occurred because of unsafe conditions, the miners take a hard line and try to unionize. Tragically, his Uncle is killed by thugs who are called in to break up the union. He is now on the run trying to save his life.

He joins a circus and is treated very well. Fate places him in the path of his father who works for a rival circus. A smooth talking, fast drinking man, it doesn't take long for Billy to learn that his father is not the person he wants to emulate.

He returns to the reputable circus, and is welcomed back. The book ends on a hopeful note that Billy has a happy life.

The author The author taught courses in the study of echild later and children's rights. Therefore, the common theme in each of these circumstances that present themselves to Billy is that at this point in history children were open to be exploited ( )

A great story about an orphan who fends for himself by jumping from place to place to find a home. Billy remains a good hearted boy throughout the book despite his bad luck. ( )

Billy is an orphan in WV who lives in a place where he is not treated well. Instead of being put to work in the dangerous glass factories, he plans to run away but is rescued by an uncle he didn’t know he had. Life is good for Billy for awhile with his aunt and uncle. He learns to drive a mule and begins working in the coal mines where his uncle and friends work. After a cave-in where a friend of Billy is killed, the men decide to join the UMW. This is not something mine owners wanted miners to do during this time in history, so a brief battle ensues where Billy’s uncle is killed and he is forced to flee for his life. He ends up joining a good circus (that really existed, by the way) and has things going well until he meets up with someone unexpected. This person works for a dishonest circus group works up a sideshow where Billy is the Boy Seer from the East and tells fortunes. Eventually, Billy gets angry and leaves. He does finally find the "family" that he has been seeking, and the book ends well. The book ends with him with his new “family” and happy once again.
I think this is a great book for 4 – 8 graders, although it would probably appeal more to the younger ones. The themes of family (different as his family may be) and honesty are good ones. Billy is a positive young boy who doesn’t whine about his situation but makes the most of it. He is a teller of tall tales, but he learns through the book that lying isn’t the answer. I would highly recommend this book. Although the subject seems serious, and it is, it’s treated in a light-hearted manner.
( )

This was a good novel that addressed an issue that I have not seen too many books written about. It was written really well, and although it could have been very boring, the author wrote it very well, making it more intriguing. I think a lot of young men would enjoy this novel and enjoy the adventure that Billy Creekmore goes through.

Billy Creekmore has been raised in an orphanage in West Virginia run by a greedy man and his wife who then send the boys on to work in a Glass Works and get a cut, while the kids get maimed. Just before he is to be sent off, an unknown uncle shows up and claims him. Billy's mother died in childbirth and his dad ran off without telling his aunt and uncle about him. In fact they had been told he'd died too. Uncle Jim takes him to the mining town where he lives and after attending school for a year, Billy starts working in the mine as a mule skinner at age 12. This is a better job than most boys have and after his best friend and 18 other miners are killed in a cave in, the miners start to prepare for a strike and to bring in the United Mine Workers. The guard company attacks the miners, and Billy runs off and eventually joins a circus. Billy is a wonderful character. At first he is one to tell grand stories and not worry about truth, but as he matures, he sees the importance of honesty. That's until he meets up with his scoundrel father. ( )