This book was a childhood favorite. It’s something of an embellished memoir written from the perspective of a rural Utah catholic kid growing up in the fictional town of Adenville at the end of the 19th century. Ostensibly, the book is about “the great brain” the author’s brother, who thinks up ingenious plans to make life more interesting, maybe a bit like 19th century Phineas and Ferb, but with a bit less in the way of the downright unbelievable.
Rereading as an adult, the book is much more than that. It details some interesting dynamics about the history and feel of my state and people. It deals with the challenges of parenting, social ostracism and bullying, religious and ethnic discrimination, death, and disease, all from the perspective of the book’s 19th-century characters. Simultaneously, It paints a bucolic picture of frontier life and of childhood.
The book is pretty brief, about four hours total, but it’s ingeniously organized so that each of the six chapters can stand independently or be woven together into a single narrative. The result is an entertaining and at times moving story that would be a great listen on a family drive. The best news is that if you like it there are two sequels that are just about as good!
“After all, there’s nothing as tolerant and understanding as a kid you can whip.” – T.D. Fitzgerald