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The Good Master
by
Kate Seredy
No child should miss out on the adventures of headstrong Kate, a girl from Budapest who spends summers with her cousin Jancsi on his father's ranch in Hungary. Horseback races across the plains, country fairs and festivals, a dangerous run-in with gypsies, and the chores and the joys — and the colorful cultural trappings — of daily life in pre-war Europe create a vivid, un...more
196 pages
Published
(first published 1935)
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Community Reviews
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1,874)
Jul 10, 2012
Kristine
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
juvenile,
newbury-winner-honor
The author-illustrator Kate Seredy was born in 1899 in Hungary where she spent some youthful summers on the plains of Hungary that inspired her work of juvenile fiction THE GOOD MASTER, a Newbery Honor Book for 1935. (It was a runner-up to that year's winner CADDIE WOODLAWN, which Kate Seredy had illustrated!) NOTE: There is a follow-up to The Good Master called THE SINGING TREE, published in 1939, and that book also received a Newbery Honor Book award.
Kate Seredy, apparently, considered herse...more
Kate Seredy, apparently, considered herse...more
The story tells of a young boy growing up on a large ranch in pre-WWI Hungary. His cousin Kate from Budapest comes to stay with the family -- allegedly to recover strength after the measles but, in truth, because she is spoiled and naughty and her widower father cannot control her. (Yes, think Kate from Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, though I have no idea if the author intended the connection.) Over the course of a year and many exciting adventures (saved from drowning! kidnapped by gypsies!...more
Jan 12, 2011
Bonnie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Zoli, Ditta, Kata and Sharon
Recommended to Bonnie by:
Jean Hinckely
After reading the author's book, Peter and the Tree, and saw that this book, The Good Master, was a Newbery Honor book, I thought I'd give it a look-see. Liking what I saw, I whizzed through this beautiful little book in no time at all. Having a dear Hungarian friend for some 14 years or so now, and knowing very little of his country, I fell in love with the idyllic countryside from where this book hales.
The author introduces a citified spoiled and somewhat mean-spirited girl cousin into the li...more
The author introduces a citified spoiled and somewhat mean-spirited girl cousin into the li...more
Sometimes a reader comes across a book that makes a deeper mark than the usual just by blessed luck. I found my beautiful old copy of The Good Master in a bookshop that I don't frequent. I picked it up for it's gorgeous dust jacket...and set it back. I actually left the store, and hours later, at a coffee shop a short walk away decided I *had* to go back for that book. I'm so glad I did...not only is it a visual treat with the above mentioned dust jacket and endearing illustrations throughout bu...more
A frail city girl who needs fresh country air is being sent to the Jansi's house. The "frail city girl's" name is Kate. Jansi and Kate are cousins..... and there around the same age! But Kate is not at all what uncle Sandor his name is said she was like. Truth is Kate is really a Snobby, yelling brat who sometimes looks like an angel but is just getting into more and more trouble. Fredrick, his mother, and father soon find that out! But as time goes on Kate changes. It takes a lot of time for he...more
This morning I was thinking about the books Jocelyn had listed for Easter and my mind suddenly remembered this marvelous book. I can't tell you why I have loved it over the years but I have. It's an overall tender and sweet and funny story...touching in it's simplicity. It's a book that ought to be read with the family...a chapter at a time...or just quietly curled up by yourself.
I had a neighbor who was from Hungarian descent. And one Easter time we were all chased by the dad who sprinkled us w...more
I had a neighbor who was from Hungarian descent. And one Easter time we were all chased by the dad who sprinkled us w...more
The children's book from the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read list was, happily, time better spent than time spent reading adult books this week. The Good Master is the story of a boy who lives with his family on a farm in Hungary. His city cousin comes to stay with the family to recuperate from illness and the boy and his cousin have a number of adventures, including a kidnapping by gypsies. The copyright date of 1935 brings a feeling of authenticity to the story of a boy who genuinely plans...more
This is a very sweet book, with magical illustrations (done by the author).
A simple tale of childhood in Hungary a century or so past, this book offers nothing indelible to the adult reader, but I would happily give this to a child who liked Little House on the Prairie or Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. (The later has emotional weight, I think, but is similarly a glimpse into the traditions of another culture and time.) Cute and heartwarming.
A simple tale of childhood in Hungary a century or so past, this book offers nothing indelible to the adult reader, but I would happily give this to a child who liked Little House on the Prairie or Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. (The later has emotional weight, I think, but is similarly a glimpse into the traditions of another culture and time.) Cute and heartwarming.
Jancsi lives happily with his parents in preWorld War 2 Hungary, on a prosperous ranch where life is busy but satisfying. When his city cousin Kate comes to recuperate after illness he is at first excited but then astounded at her headstrong, sometimes thoughtless behavior. The two children have a variety of adventures and become fast friends, under the paternal tutelage of Jancsi's father, the Good Master of the title. Except for the usual comments about girls' inferiority to boys, and the deme...more
Overall, this story is about a city girl, Kate, who comes to live with her Uncle Marton and his family in the country. It's a coming of age story as a spoiled city girl confronts a harder side of life and grows from it. She becomes a very capable "farm hand" to Uncle Marton, alongside her cousin Jansci.
Amidst this story are several short stories, ranging from the tale of Santa Claus to cowboys. Each of those stories stand alone, while still adding to the overall theme. As Kate stays in the count...more
Amidst this story are several short stories, ranging from the tale of Santa Claus to cowboys. Each of those stories stand alone, while still adding to the overall theme. As Kate stays in the count...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Feb 18, 2010
Gloria
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Ages 7-11
Recommended to Gloria by:
Teacher
Shelves:
junior-high
This story just did not resonate for me, and I have to say that I do not think many children today would list it as a favorite. It is soundly constructed, but it is simply outdated. The book jacket says it is a story that 9- to 12-year-olds should not miss, but I think today’s pre-teens in many ways are “older” today and as such this book would probably stop appealing to any child over 10 years old.
There are references that, if left unexplained, would not have the same impact with today’s youth....more
There are references that, if left unexplained, would not have the same impact with today’s youth....more
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This sweet 1935 Newbery Honor book is about a boy and girl (around age 10) and their adventures on the Hungarian plains. I read this to my children years ago and remember loving it, so I just reread it to 11 year old Josh. I wanted to reread it because it's full of Hungarian folklore and traditions, and Hungary borders Ukraine (where my missionary son is serving). Josh loved the adventures: hiding in the rafters and eating the winter sausages stored there, racing on horses, nearly drowning, etc....more
Picking nits.
A Newberry Honor Book with lots of small, but annoying inaccuracies about Hungarian culture, myths and folklore.
Kate Seredy uses Hungarian names of everything like coat=suba, prairie=puszta, and names like Jancsi and Árpád without giving notes on pronounciation or origins. I would think this confuses the young reader.
The only character with a name with an Americanized spelling, "Kati" is actually "Kate", a name that could never be a Hungarian name, not even in the capital city. Wh...more
A Newberry Honor Book with lots of small, but annoying inaccuracies about Hungarian culture, myths and folklore.
Kate Seredy uses Hungarian names of everything like coat=suba, prairie=puszta, and names like Jancsi and Árpád without giving notes on pronounciation or origins. I would think this confuses the young reader.
The only character with a name with an Americanized spelling, "Kati" is actually "Kate", a name that could never be a Hungarian name, not even in the capital city. Wh...more
Feb 12, 2010
Angela Alcorn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Angela by:
Bruce Alcorn
Shelves:
we-own,
kids,
kids-1001,
kids-1001-8plus,
kids-8plus,
a-great-list-of-top-kids-books,
bruce-recommends,
friends-recommend,
literature,
young-adult,
1930-1939,
a-great-list-of-top-books-to-read,
history,
fiction,
biographies-autobiographies-memoirs,
ange-recommends,
20th-century,
kids-educational-material,
read-2010,
young-adult-educational-material,
we-own-multiple-copies,
kids-authors-jennie-list
This was a charming book, with lots of good lessons for kids on how to be a decent person. The day to day life of the farm was idyllic and peaceful - yes there's work involved, but it's a simple sort of work with real importance and value.
There are several times where value is placed on quality of life, working for love and building things that last rather than just being a part of the daily grind. Certainly worth recommending to someone with a work-life balance issue.
Throughout the book are lo...more
There are several times where value is placed on quality of life, working for love and building things that last rather than just being a part of the daily grind. Certainly worth recommending to someone with a work-life balance issue.
Throughout the book are lo...more
I read this book as a young teen in the 1950's, and it has been one of those books i could not forget. I have always loved horses, and as a teen, there was nothing more in this life I wanted than a horse. So of course, the picture of these two young teens riding horses over the fields of hungary bareback, was one of my favorites and i read it many times. If i could find a copy now, I wouls read it again. Highly recommended
i read this book, intended for 9-12 year olds, to reconnect with my childhood on the hungarian plains, where decorating the family horse cart with geraniums and getting kidnapped by gypsies was all in a day's work. it was irresistible in that anne of green gables kind of way. more often than not, the brow-furrowing of adults morphed rapidly into hearty laughs accompanied by the affectionate ruffling of naughty children's hair and the realization that grownups can learn as much from youth as can...more
This is a sweet story. A nice way to string several Hungarian stories together with the unfolding of a new story. This became the favorite story of a teacher with whom I work after her third grade teacher read it to her. I love the idea of reading stories to children that others also loved at that age, especially stories that the children may otherwise never choose on their own. Yet one more way to weave stories together.
Jancsi's cousin, Kate, comes to live with his family in the country. At first she is described as a screaming monkey, but with love and hard farm work she become a delightful young lady, though still a bit of a tomboy. This book paints a beautiful picture of 20th century Hungary, while intertwining some of their folklore. Also, Kate's antics keep you interested and guessing.
Age: 4th-5th grade, for advanced readers
Awards: Newbery
"Jancsi is overjoyed to hear that his cousin from Budapest is coming to spend the summer on his father's ranch on the Hungarian plains. But their summer proves more adventurous than he had hoped when headstrong Kate arrives, as together they share horseback races across the plains, country fairs and festivals, and a dangerous run-in with the gypsies" (Goodreads featured review).
Seredy provides a unique female character that remains true to h...more
Awards: Newbery
"Jancsi is overjoyed to hear that his cousin from Budapest is coming to spend the summer on his father's ranch on the Hungarian plains. But their summer proves more adventurous than he had hoped when headstrong Kate arrives, as together they share horseback races across the plains, country fairs and festivals, and a dangerous run-in with the gypsies" (Goodreads featured review).
Seredy provides a unique female character that remains true to h...more
I really enjoyed this look back in time which shows life in the country. Kate is a strong willed child who her uncle wonders if they will ever get under control. But being in the country under the guidance of "the good master" does wonderful things for the girl and she blossoms under his care. The book is also filled with stories from the country it is written about.
Jancsi and his father, Marton, don't know wha they're getting into when they pick up Kate, Jancsi's cousin from the city, at the train station. Her father had written that she was "delicate" and had "had the measles" recently. They expect a shy little girl. They don't know that Kate's father had LIED about her!
Meh, wasn't crazy about it. Old-timey Newbery Honor winner by the same author who wrote the White Stag. Learned a little about life for 19th century Hungarian farmers but it wasn't a gripping tale at all. wouldn't read it again or recommend it.
Apr 22, 2010
Rebecca
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
historical-fiction
Great story for kids! Not a great literary work but very effectively eaches a lot about the rural lifestyle, culture and history of Hungary through the medium of engaging stories about the adventures of two cousins. Reinforces good values.
Part of my fondness for this story is that it was a childhood favorite of mine. Set in rural Hungary, it is a dear story about a city cousin staying with a country cousin and learning new ways. The illustrations are wonderful as well.
I remember loving this story as a child. However I found a scene with some frankly racist commentary on the "thieving, dirty gypsies" jarring in such a good-hearted tale. I'd like to go back in time and edit...
Jul 25, 2008
Laurie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Preteens
Shelves:
juvenile
Someone recommended this book to me as one of their most favorite horse stories growing up. While I wouldn't call it a horse story (it has horses in it, but it is not about the horses), I enjoyed reading it. The Good Master is an old-fashioned children's chapter book. In the story, which takes place in Hungary just before WWI, a city girl, Kate, is sent to live with her uncle's family out in the country. She and her cousin Jansci have many adventures and, over the summer, Kate learns some life l...more
See review for this book's sequel, The Singing Tree. I read these as a young adult, and has always been a favorite. Plan to send my copies to my new twin sisters-in-law (ages: 12).
My kids enjoyed this. It's reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie, only in Hungary. I gained a better understanding of gypsies and Hungary's rich agricultural history.
Stories of life on a Hungarian farm in the years before World War I. Not as mature as The Singing Tree, but still fun. I really love Kate Seredy's illustrations. Beautiful!
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Seredy (Serédy Kató) was a gifted writer and illustrator, born in Hungary, who moved to the United States in 1922. She is best known for The Good Master, written in 1935, and for the Newbery Award winner, The White Stag.
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