Summer of the Monkeys
by Wilson Rawls
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Summer of the Monkeys.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 917)
Read in May, 2008
So I'm still reading this book. My husband recommended it to me as a fun quick read...kids book. I actually do like it. It's one of those that you can put down and pick up weeks later and still remember what's going on. Hopefully I will finish it soon; but so far I give it 4 stars!
Ok, I finished the book and loved it. Sure it took me months to read it but it's one of those that you can put down and pick back up without being lost. It's a sweet story of a young boy whose life long dream...more
Ok, I finished the book and loved it. Sure it took me months to read it but it's one of those that you can put down and pick back up without being lost. It's a sweet story of a young boy whose life long dream...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
everyone
Well I'm finally posting a book! Yippee. I have found myself reading more Hop on Pop and kindergarten books in my reading time....(Of course I've had a reading partner.) Well Hunter and I read Summer of the Monkey's. It is about a boy in his youth who grows up in the Ozark hills. A circus train wrecks and all their monkey's escape. The leader of the monkey's is very clever and escapes any traps Jay Berry sets for him. It is a delightful story, especially for youth. Hunter is only 6 and l...more
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
Read in January, 2007
recommended to Jennifer by:
My Grannyrecommends it for: Anyone.
I actually read this book this past year. I should mention I'm 28 and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it!! I actually laughed until I cried. It was definitely a memorable book. It rates right up there with To Kill a Mockingbird on my list. I started reading it to my 3rd grade son and I did notice he was having trouble understanding the strong country dialect. So I put it away and have high hopes he will be able to try to enjoy it next year. I have not seen the movie as of yet and after reading reviews on...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1989
recommends it for:
kids and their dads
My dad was a fifth grade teacher. He read this book and Where the Red Fern Grows aloud to his class every year. When I was in around fifth grade, we read it together. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to read the same book outloud to a class of kids every year for like ten years in a row. Probably a pretty interesting exercise.
Has anyone else heard the story of Wilson Rawls? About how he burned up five novels he wrote because he was ashamed of his barely literate writing ability, but ...more
Has anyone else heard the story of Wilson Rawls? About how he burned up five novels he wrote because he was ashamed of his barely literate writing ability, but ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
No one describes the Ozark mountains in the late 1800s like Wilson Rawls. I have been a long-time fan of his most popular book, Where the Red Fern Grows, and this one was nearly as good. My only complaint is that it is so similar to the Red Fern story. The grandpa storekeeper, the Cherokee land, a miraculous natural event, everyone's grandest wishes coming true at the end... but despite these similarities, I was drawn into the adventure of a young boy and his dreams. I will definitely read t...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Great book for kids 4th-6th grade. My 6th grade teacher read this to the class and I have always remembered it. I have used it for my daycare kids before and it will be my kids summer literature this summer.
A circus train has wrecked in the mountains and the monkeys have escaped. Jay Berry and his grandfather spend the rest of the summer trying to capture the monkeys so that Jay Berry can receive the reward, but these monkeys are smarter than the duo anticipated. They are being outsmarted a...more
A circus train has wrecked in the mountains and the monkeys have escaped. Jay Berry and his grandfather spend the rest of the summer trying to capture the monkeys so that Jay Berry can receive the reward, but these monkeys are smarter than the duo anticipated. They are being outsmarted a...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1999
recommended to Ron by:
Elbert Hillrecommends it for: Younger readers and readers who want t feel younger
I told someone I was reviewing all my top books first before I got to the duds. This was a reread when I was considering new books for my freshmen classes; then I didn't have freshmen anymore. I remember the tone of the book and the fine Okie feel of Rawls language. I read the book way back there somewhere and liked it then better than his classic "Where the Red Fern Grows". Jay Berry was such a good character that young readers could find likeable and the story was easy and entertaini...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1994
recommends it for:
All Middle School Students
This book is really touching. The story of the boy is so true to life. He's NOT perfect, he has realistic feelings, and he does dumb things. Yet, always, through it all, he's TRYING to do the right thing. It mirrors the way "tweens" often feel about their own lives, without having to relate specifically to them. This book is set far enough back that there's none of the silly pop-teen stuff in it to confuse people. It's definitely a book I will include in my son's library when he'...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1990
One of two books from my youth that had such a profound impact on me that I still reflect on it today in wonder. This fun story of a boy hunting down monkeys is every boy's dream. But Rawls's power rises above mere entertainment. I remember crying for the first time as I read a story when I saw one of the characters sacrifice something for his family. What a powerful setup to get to that point. It is a shame that Rawls only put out two novels, because both are incredibly strong.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This is a good book to just sit back, relax, and have some humorous times with a boy and his dogs while they find adventure through the Ozark mountains on search for monkeys. The monkeys give these two an adventure they'll never forget with getting them drunk, fighting them, and stealing all of their traps, food, and pants.
I read this book with my sixth graders, they said some parts were slow, but they enjoyed the book and said it was much better than the movie!!
I read this book with my sixth graders, they said some parts were slow, but they enjoyed the book and said it was much better than the movie!!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 1980
recommends it for:
Anyone
One of my all-time favorites. I've read it at least 3 times. A favorite partially because the situation resonated with my own childhood experience of growing up with little sisters with poor health. But a favorite mostly because of the moral. A real triumph of a young boy learning to think of others. A great book to read to with your kids.
Don't ruin your reading experience by watching Disney's movie version of this book. It's dismal. A real bomb.
Don't ruin your reading experience by watching Disney's movie version of this book. It's dismal. A real bomb.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2007
I read this book to my children and they loved it, so did Randon and I. This book captures perfectly the adventure and frustration and sometimes the confussion of youth. It is funny, and has a beautiful message at the end. This book knocked out sibbling contention during the summer for a whole week. Both my son and daughters enjoyed it equally.
GREAT BOOK! The movie stinks bad!
GREAT BOOK! The movie stinks bad!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
Read aloud to my kids- Great! Fun, good story, teaches love, faith, perseverance, (the consequences of alcohol consumption), strong brother/sister relations. You may want to help your kids with the ideas of fairy rings/man in the mountains and make sure they understand the real source of truth and faith. The father discusses it with his son regarding prayer- but I'd clarify it again.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I have always loved this book and have read it many times. Jay Berry wants a horse more than anything. He sets out to capture escaped monkeys to get the reward. In the final chapter Jay Berry discovers that for his 14 years he has believed the sun sets only on him and after an act of love he discovers the sun sets on all. He basically learns to give and be selfless.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Disney ruined this book when they made it into a movie. The novel is vastly different and so much better. A great read aloud that will have you both laughing and crying. I like this book much better than, Where the Red Fern Grows, which the author is more known for.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
1 comments
Read in April, 2008
recommended to Joelle by:
Merecommends it for: Anyone
This book was really well done. For some reason, I felt like I was right there with Jay and his dog. This story has a little bit of fiction in it, but it just adds to the story. I am now looking forward to reading,"where the red fern grows." The author did a great job, and I encourage anyone to read this. I love seeing peoples comments!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2007
This is an absolute favorite. I remember reading this when I was young and my son enjoyed it even more than I did. He asks on a regular basis when he can have a horse, a gun and a hound dog named Rowdy. What a fun book.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
1 comments
This was so popular at my elementary school library, that it was always checked out. My fifth grade teacher finally took pity on all of us who were waiting for it and read it aloud to our class. I remember everyone looking at me when he read the part about the fairy rings because the story includes a girl named Luann.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2003
recommended to Julene by:
Paul & Bonnie Lillywhite
The author of this book also wrote the more famous book "Where the Red Fern Grows," but I love this one way more! My parents read it to us kids when I was little and I have read it several times since. It is very humorous and very touching. (I haven't seen the movie recently made of it, but I hear it was awful!)
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone, especially reluctant readers in grades 4 - 8
A great book for 4th grade and up. If you enjoyed Wilson Rawls' Where the Red Fern Grows, you will also love Summer of the Monkeys. Family values, faith, perseverence, and heart are woven into a wonderful story. Would be a great read-aloud for a parent or grandparent to share with grandchildren from age 8 to 60!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
