The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

While this 2010 Newbery honor winner isn't up to par with some other Newbery books, I did enjoy this tale and it was worth the read.

Set in the time of the American Civil War, Homer and his brother are orphans living in Maine with their near do well Uncle.

Sleeping in a barn surrounded by animals, with little to eat, their Uncle berates them and reminds them of the burden they are. When he can make money by selling Harold, Uncle Squint gladly hands him to the US government to fight in the Civil War.

Homer runs away to find Harold, and we follow him as he has great adventures helping the underground railroad hide slaves bound for Canada, riding high in the sky in a silk hot air balloon, and joining a side show traveling with the medicine show more man.

Within the first sentences of the book, Homer lets the reader know that "telling the truth don't come easy to me." Thus, one never knows if Homer's adventures are true or fabricated.

Creatively written, the book is captivating both for the humor contained in Homer's descriptions contrasted with the serious and realistic depiction of the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania battlefield. show less

Even though I truly enjoyed this story, I'm going to start off with a bummer. David Shannon, what were you thinking with the cover art? Homer looks like a young girly, doofy Severus Snape. Not a fan.

Moving on, there are many things to love about Homer P. Figg. He's an orphan from Maine (and a world class fibber) who worships his older brother and caretaker Harold. So when Harold is forced to join the army and fight in the Civil War, Homer sets off to rescue him.

In his travels Homer comes across two evil slave catchers, a rich Quaker named Mr. Brewster who houses a station for the Underground Railroad, a couple of scheming con artists, a group of medicine show performers, a hot air balloon captain, and lots of young soldiers. He's show more driven by his love for his brother and it leads him all the way to the Battle of Gettysburg.

This books moves fast. It has both humor and horror, plus a lot of rich historical detail. Super highly recommended. show less

This book is a winner. Set in the 1860s, Homer P. Figg and his brother Harold have a miserable existence in the care of the “meanest man in Maine,” Squinton Leach,

“A man so mean he squeezed the good out of the Holy Bible and beat us with it, and swore that God Himself had inflicted me and Harold on him, like he was Job and we was Boils and Pestilence.”

When Squinton Leach illegally sells Harold into service in the Union Army as a replacement, Homer P. Figg sets off to find him. This sounds like the set-up for a sorrow-filled tale of the Civil War. But, add in the fact that Homer P. Figg is as keen a liar and observer of human nature as was ever created by the likes of Mark Twain, you’ve got yourself a tale that, although full show more of lies, lies more likely near the truth. Homer Figg shows us comedy in times of tragedy and dogged perseverance against adversity.

On his quest to free his brother from his illegal conscription, Homer meets an array of colorful characters and shares his wry observations,

as in this passage when he is travelling with an aspiring pastor,

“Dear Kate has been waiting for me all her life. She knew it the moment she looked into my eyes.” Homer wryly notes, “That does it. It can’t be true love. Mr. Willow has eyes like a sick kitten. You might love a sick kitten buy you don’t marry it, you keep it as a pet.”

Later, Homer is directed to bathe by Professor Fleabottom, his new employer and proprietor of Professor Fleabottom’s Caravan of Miracles,

“The pungent perfume of the pig is still upon you. The suffocating scent of the swine exudes from your person. In a word sir, you stink.” To which Homer declares, “Far as I’m concerned, taking a bath is sort of like drowning, with soap. Never could abide it…”

Homer’s spunk, his determination, and his ability to find joy in life during the direst of circumstances, makes him a winning hero. Yes, there is war and death and dishonesty; but there is also hope. show less

I would have given this book the Newbery over the one that actually won. It was a great read, would definitely appeal to kids, made me laugh, and painted a vivid picture of a boy's experience of the Civil War. Homer is an abused orphan who never spends a moment feeling sorry for himself. He is clever, spunky, and courageous. His adventures while on the road to find his older brother make for great storytelling. Great read for boys and girls in Gr. 5-8.

"I say my "true" adventures because I told a fib to a writer once, who went and put it in the newspapers about me and my big brother, Harold, winning the battle at Gettysburg, and how we shot each other dead but lived to tell the tale. That's partly true, about winning the battle, but mostways it's a lie."Homer and his brother Harold are orphans living with the meanest man in Pine Swamp, Maine: their uncle, Squinton Leach. Although Harold is only 17, Leach sells him to be a replacement in the Union Army (someone who takes the place of another, usually a rich man's son). Homer runs away to try to catch up with Harold and the army, prove he is underage and free him. His trip southward to Pennsylvania is one adventure-filled disaster after show more another: from escaped slaves and the underground railroad, to a traveling show, to stealing a hot-air balloon and riding it into the Battle at Gettysburg. This will make you laugh, especially the wild lies that just seem to come flying out of Homer whenever he opens his mouth, but the historical details are accurate and interesting also! Good historical fiction for 6th grade and up. show less

This book takes a different look at the Civil War through the lens of two orphaned boys from Vermont. I think that most young readers will engage off the bat with the way that the tale begins. Trying to avenge their cruel uncle, Homer strikes out to find and become reunited with his older brother who has been illegally signed up in the Union Army by his drunken uncle after another misadventure with their uncle. The main characters in the story are believable and Philbrick has done a good job in presenting a historically accurate setting and course of events during the Civil War. This story also is laid out well as an accessible complex text for readers making it easier to follow.

Homer and his brother live with their horrible uncle in his barn where he barely feeds them, until their uncle sells Harold into the Union Army in place of someone else. Homer overhears the plan to illegally get rid of Harold after he is marched off and goes an an adventure to get Harold out of the army. Along the way he encounters the Underground Railroad, a Medicine Show, is captured by the Rebel Army and participates in Gettysburg.

Homer is a pretty funny kid who pushes the bounds of the reliable narrator. He lies his butt off pretty much constantly and I found myself wondering how many exaggerations were left in his tale. There was clearly a lot of research done into the Civil War Draft policy, medicine shows etc. The historical show more notes at the end were very interesting and extended beyond the the scope of the book which I thought was neat. I wish there were more Homer P. Figg adventures b/c he seems like a character you could really get a lot of mileage out of. show less