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89th out of 185 books
—
56 voters
The House of Sixty Fathers
Tien Pao is all alone in enemy territory. Only a few days before, his family had escaped from the Japanese army, fleeing downriver by boat. Then came the terrible rainstorm. Tien Pao was fast asleep in the little sampan when the boat broke loose from its moorings and drifted right back to the Japanese soldiers. With only his lucky pig for company, Tien Pao must begin a lon...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
August 28th 1987
by HarperCollins
(first published 1956)
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Jul 19, 2009
Leslie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
man, woman and child
Shelves:
children-s-lit
Here's one I've picked up for my little guy's library. We can't resist a book with a shiny medal on the cover. I like to read kid books between my "grownup" books because they are easier to focus on during my "book hangovers". You know, when a particular book is so thought provoking that your mind is foggy with it's images and characters that it's rather hard to begin another book.
Okay, well now that I've read it I will declare it to be one of my new all time favorites. I can't believe I haven...more
Okay, well now that I've read it I will declare it to be one of my new all time favorites. I can't believe I haven...more
Yaya: I wish that there were five stars, but nobody else wanted five stars. I find it was cool when Tien Pao floated away by the bulls in the water and he didn't notice that one of them undid the twig. So then, how did they float away? They floated away when the pig was running and Tien Pao was screaming and running at the same time. I found it scary when the man didn't try to get him when it was raining with the umbrella. It was funny when the two mans found him and it was funny when they took...more
The House of Sixty Fathers is a book I listed with the theme of war and overcoming adversity in a reading list I compiled recently. Teaching lower secondary students, I wanted to expand my knowledge of Young Adult (YA) fiction which explains my foray into them. I had this book for a while, but bumped it up my reading list to commemorate the passing of its illustrator, Maurice Sendak. I bought his book from the local independent bookstore that specialises in picture books, www.woodsinthebooks.sg,...more
Dec 05, 2009
Natalie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Natalie by:
Newberry Honor, NEH Classics
Shelves:
young-adult-books
Tien Pao is all alone behind enemy lines. He had fled with his family from the invading Japanese, but before his family returned from seeking work one day, a heavy rainstorm arose and tore the houseboat from its moorings. Tien Pao, with his pet pig “Glory of the Republic” is swept deep into enemy territory, back to the area where his village had been.
Now he must find his way on foot back upstream to his family. He comes close to starving, but encounters an American airman, and together they mak...more
Now he must find his way on foot back upstream to his family. He comes close to starving, but encounters an American airman, and together they mak...more
Separated from his parents and set adrift on a river in Japanese occupied China, Tien Pao learns the meaning of extreme hunger and exhaustion as he tries to find his way back to Hengyang, the city he drifted away from. He sets out on land, trekking through barren plains and scraggly foothills with only his family pig as company. One day he finds an injured American airman and helps him escape from a company of Japanese soldiers who saw the plane crash. Before these two get very far they are capt...more
Tien Pao is a little boy all alone in his war torn country when his family's boat breaks free from it's moorings. I may be a sucker for books about kids trying to make it despite all adversities, and only a small cute animal to help them along. This is a quick read with an excellent plot, plenty of danger, adventure, and historic information.
This novel is an interesting look at Japanese occupied China during WWII. Japanese soldiers are bombing villages and killing families. American troops are...more
This novel is an interesting look at Japanese occupied China during WWII. Japanese soldiers are bombing villages and killing families. American troops are...more
This book has all the traumatic, shocking events of TREE GIRL, but with better writing and more heart. Pros: likeable characters, wholly engrossing plot, and emotional resonance. Cons: no explanation of Japan's actions (which is fine if you are older, but if I was a kid, I would have HATED the Japanese after reading this book), superficial/stereotypical actions of the main character, and be prepared to be plunged into fathomless depths of depression because, despite this fictional happy ending,...more
By Meindert Dejong total Pages:208
The book The House Of Sixty Fathers by Meindert Dejong is about a young boy named Tien pao who lived in a small town in China but had 2 leave because the Japanese were coming to attack. Tien Pao lives with his mother and father but they leave him alone everyday in the sampan which is like a small little hut. After many days of being in the sampan alone Tien Pao gets used to the same routines and kind of lifestyle he now lives everyday. But one day some water b...more
The book The House Of Sixty Fathers by Meindert Dejong is about a young boy named Tien pao who lived in a small town in China but had 2 leave because the Japanese were coming to attack. Tien Pao lives with his mother and father but they leave him alone everyday in the sampan which is like a small little hut. After many days of being in the sampan alone Tien Pao gets used to the same routines and kind of lifestyle he now lives everyday. But one day some water b...more
Meindert DeJong is one of the great authors at writing interesting, emotionally involved stories for younger readers, using the kind of uncomplicated sentence structures that have universal appeal while also serving as a superb introduction to fine literature.
The House of Sixty Fathers is a classic type of adventure book, with the main character Tien Pao becoming hopelessly separated from his parents in China near the story's beginning. Danger surrounds the boy at every turn; the Japanese army...more
The House of Sixty Fathers is a classic type of adventure book, with the main character Tien Pao becoming hopelessly separated from his parents in China near the story's beginning. Danger surrounds the boy at every turn; the Japanese army...more
Ugh. Had to read this book for school. Very boring and goes on and on and on about simple details that could be said in one sentence. A lot of places in the book where your reading along and there's just this random word thats way out of the vocabulary of the age group the book was intended for. Though the ending seems to work out in the main characters favor, it is not at all believable and was not how I thought it should've ended. :(
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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WHY: this is for when Logan's older, but I wanted to note it because so few books about WWII focus on the Japanese occupation of China. A Chinese boy and is pig are on his family's sampan when it breaks loose from it's moorings and they end up floating into Japanese territory. How will he find his way home? I love that the pig's name is Glory-of-the-Republic. And I read that Sendak's illustrations are amazing.
Imagine you are separated from your parents when the boat you and your pet pig are sleeping in breaks loose, setting you on a long and dangerous journey to find your family.
Packed with adventure, survival, and many surprises. Read this aloud as a family. Read this aloud to a class. Recommend it to young readers ages 9 - 12. Reading level: 5.5, A.R. points: 6.0.
Packed with adventure, survival, and many surprises. Read this aloud as a family. Read this aloud to a class. Recommend it to young readers ages 9 - 12. Reading level: 5.5, A.R. points: 6.0.
Tien Pao lives in China when the Japanese are trying to take over. He gets separated from his family while on the sampan alone, which washes away.
He carries his little pug "Glory" with him.
He helps an American airman.
He is latter brought to the American where the "60" fathers take care of him and help him find his family.
A story of courage.
He carries his little pug "Glory" with him.
He helps an American airman.
He is latter brought to the American where the "60" fathers take care of him and help him find his family.
A story of courage.
The book was a good book about a boy who is separated from his family in war-torn China. He is very resourceful and determined. It may not be for young children because of the war violence. It is very pro-American and exciting, and yes, I cried at the end. My husband said, "If you liked Where the Red Fern Grows, then you will like this book."
Dec 08, 2012
Beverly Scofield
added it
Touching, frightening, informative, interesting. I give this book high marks in every measure. It was hard to put down. Little Tien Pao was so lovable, so resourceful in the face of horrendous difficulties, and so deserving of each bit of goodness that came his way, that I hoped with each turn of the page that a miracle would occur for him.
Aug 07, 2010
Meghan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
american,
asian,
award-winning,
childrens,
challenge,
chinese,
historical-fiction,
japanese,
own,
war,
young-adult
It makes me a bit sad to read this book and know that once upon a time, not that long ago, the USA and China were actually allies once. Being an American living in China, I see all the potential of that long forgotten friendship and the realities of such cultural differences.
This is a sweet story of hope and continues to give young readers a taste of another side to WWII--the part of the war that isn't readily taught in history classes at school.
Having read several adult books on this era, I fin...more
This is a sweet story of hope and continues to give young readers a taste of another side to WWII--the part of the war that isn't readily taught in history classes at school.
Having read several adult books on this era, I fin...more
Jan 04, 2010
penelopewanders
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
work-related-read
Read this to see if it would work for my up-coming EFL class with a WWII theme. Still on a fence. The beginning was slow, but then I got into it. It might seem too juvenile to my class. Also the actual events described are not very broad-reaching... but maybe that's ok. Still don't know.
Tien Pao is a little boy separated from his mother during the Sino-Japanese War in the early twentieth century. Alone in the countryside, he is starving but determined to find his mother again. His rescuers, a barracks of American soldiers, are the sixty fathers.
May 24, 2012
Laura
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
4th and up
Shelves:
2012
A wonderful classic about a boy who tries to find his parents after being separated from them during a Japaneses attack. This story is a perfect blend of Chinese culture, history, US military pride, and endearing family story - beautiful in every way.
I think this is a wonderful, yet sad book about world war two. I love it because it is so moving that I could cry. It is heartwarming and there is so much love that you can't help being warm, and sad when you finish.
This book was a little boring... I read it in sixth grade so I don't remember everything. It was still pretty good, I think, but I just don't think it deserved the silver medal for a Newbery.
This is one of the most gripping read-alouds we've read (and re-read), about a little Chinese boy lost during war time and hiding from the Japanese. It's probably one of the most graphic children's books we've read (it describes starving children eating mud and grass) but the story is beautifully told, with a happy ending, and we love this author.
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Just read this aloud for the 3rd time because 10-year-old Josh couldn't remember it at all....more
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Just read this aloud for the 3rd time because 10-year-old Josh couldn't remember it at all....more
this is one of my all time favourite books, a friend and i found a copy in a second hand bookstore so i suggested she buy it, and reminded me to add it to my shelves.
A young boy is separated from his family. His will to survive and reunite with them is inspiring. I wonder if kids these days would have that much resilience.
I grew up with this book and it is like a wonderful friend. Still my favourite, gripping, heart-rending, terrifying, loveliest bed-time story ever!
written in the fifties about chinaduring WWll, the book has "jap" in a half dozen places. unexpected to read something like that today.
A lyrical adventure story that is so much more. Would make a wonderful read aloud and maybe also upper elementary book club selection.
Tien Pao's desperation got a tad long...but it was a good story. We all enjoyed reading about Glory-of-the-Republic!
Courage, self-reliance, determination, resilience are eventually rewarded. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
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Meindert De Jong(4 March 1906 – 16 July 1991) was an award-winning author of children's books. He was born in the village of Wierum, of the province of Friesland, in the Netherlands.
De Jong immigrated to the United States with his family in 1914. He attended Dutch Calvinist secondary schools and Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and entered the University of Chicago, but left without grad...more
More about Meindert DeJong...
De Jong immigrated to the United States with his family in 1914. He attended Dutch Calvinist secondary schools and Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and entered the University of Chicago, but left without grad...more
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Mar 21, 2013 01:57pm