A masterful portrayal of hatred, prejudice and manipulation that challenges readers to examine how they would behave in the face of evil. Henry mee...
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reviews
Apr 01, 2008
Anne
rated it: 
Tunes for Bears To Dance To by Robert Cormier
Eleven year old Henry Cassavant, with his father and mother, moves to a new town in Vermont after the sudden death of Henry’s much-loved older brother. They are poor, lonely, and grief-stricken. Henry takes a part time job at Mr. Hairston’s grocery store and also becomes friends with Jacob Levine, an elderly Holocaust survivor who works out his sorrows by carving a replica of his village which was destroyed by the Nazis. Mr. Hairst More...
Eleven year old Henry Cassavant, with his father and mother, moves to a new town in Vermont after the sudden death of Henry’s much-loved older brother. They are poor, lonely, and grief-stricken. Henry takes a part time job at Mr. Hairston’s grocery store and also becomes friends with Jacob Levine, an elderly Holocaust survivor who works out his sorrows by carving a replica of his village which was destroyed by the Nazis. Mr. Hairst More...
Feb 17, 2010
Meaghan
rated it: 
This Cormier book is suited for a younger audience, from about age eight on up, and lacks the violence and sex that often appears in his other books. Just because it's not as explicit, however, does not mean it's a fluffy read: it tackles weighty issues of prejudice and the need to take a stand against evil. 11-year-old Henry's family has been torn apart by the sudden death of his brother, but he finds solace in his friendship with Mr. Levine, a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Then Henry's boss, a ch
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Nov 27, 2010
Megan
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 14, 2010
Josiah
rated it: 
The master of young adult fiction has created yet another riveting masterpiece of intensely blended emotion that will take hold of the reader's heart and mind and hold them fast.
The storyline is simple enough; deceptive in its simplicity, almost. Young Henry Cassavant forms a rare kind of friendship with Mr. Levine, an aged survivor of the Jewish Holocaust whose entire family was wiped out when the Nazi forces took over his town and commenced the systematic extermination of the Jew More...
The storyline is simple enough; deceptive in its simplicity, almost. Young Henry Cassavant forms a rare kind of friendship with Mr. Levine, an aged survivor of the Jewish Holocaust whose entire family was wiped out when the Nazi forces took over his town and commenced the systematic extermination of the Jew More...
Jun 02, 2011
David
rated it:
Quick read but leaves you wondering if there is more depth to the story that warrants revisiting the story. The characters each play an interesting role in this story about what happens when you make a deal with the devil.
The ending is kind of a sad one for a typical young adult novel. You may be left wondering if the protagonist finds redemption or not, or if the women who suffer at the hands of men in their lives find any sense of hope.
Another theme in the book I found More...
The ending is kind of a sad one for a typical young adult novel. You may be left wondering if the protagonist finds redemption or not, or if the women who suffer at the hands of men in their lives find any sense of hope.
Another theme in the book I found More...
Feb 06, 2012
Colin
rated it:
In "Tunes for Bears to Dance To", Henry is a poor boy with a depressed father and a hard working mother. When he looks out his window every morning, he sees a strange sight- an old man walking somewhere from the crazy house. After following this man, he finds that he is going to a local art shop to work, he becomes friends with him, and watches him carve a beautiful village. Henry's boss, however, doesn't approve of his relationship, and makes golden promises to Henry if he does someth
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Sep 29, 2009
Erin
rated it: 
I know Robert Cormier gets lots of praise for his books, but I tried to read I am the Cheese and couldn't, and I only read this book b/c it was assigned. I was glad Tunes for Bears was short. Henry, the 11-year-old main character, is a nice boy, trying to help his parents pay the bills. His father is depressed and his mother works double shifts b/c his older brother was recently killed in a hit-and-run accident. Henry is manipulated by his evil grocer boss to [spoiler alert:] destroy a work of a
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Feb 07, 2012
Taya
rated it: 
Tunes for Bears to Dance to, is a story about a young boy named Henry, who lives in Germany after the time of the Holocaust, and is dealing with the challenges of losing his older brother.Henry encounters many bad influences and works hard not to give in the the evil and racism that lurks around in Germany. The story is written in third person narration, and has an interesting but predictable storyline. Towards the end of the book, the story takes a sad, but unsurprising when Henry is forced to
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Feb 06, 2012
Gavin
rated it:
Tunes for Bears to Dance To by Robert Cormier takes place in a small town right after WWII. The main character, Henry, is trying to rebuild his life after his brother dies. He can make a choice between something he wants and crushing an old mans morale, an old man that he has managed to brefriend. The plot is very original and can be boring, (unless you like to hear about an old man carving a village out of wood.) The story takes place in Wickerburg a small town. The characters are all trying to
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Oct 12, 2009
Carol
rated it:
Cormier weaves a dark, haunting story in the aftermath of World War II. Henry, whose parents are grief-stricken over the death of Henry's older brother, have moved to a new town. Henry befriends a Jewish man from the insane asylum down the street who spends his days at a shelter carving a replica of the village he had lost. The boy works for a shopkeeper, Mr. Hairston, who manipulates Henry, promising him that his mother will get a promotion at work and he will be able to keep his job if he w
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Jul 19, 2011
Brianne
rated it:
I loved this book!! I thought that it was very well written! I would love to read another Robert Cormier book to see how I would like it. I wasn't sure what this book was going to be about and I didn't want to wait until the end to figure everything out. Thankfully, I didn't have to. The way this book is written is really nice because it is short and it tells you all the facts shortly after they are mentioned. I love reading books like that because I hate sitting there in suspense wondering what
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Feb 17, 2011
Peggy
rated it:
This is a book that would be a good read for tweens and early teens. The main character is dealing with the death of his brother, a clinically depressed father, a mother working too many hours to try to support the family, and a racist boss. He does his best to deal with the blows life has given him, but he lacks the maturity to be able to properly deal with the situation. The adults in the book are so involved with trying to cope with everything that he feels he cannot burden them with his p
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May 05, 2011
Alanah
rated it:
This was a great book! It's only 101 pages so I read it as I was walking to my classes one day and I never would have guessed what a big message such a little book could hold. I would recommend this book to everyone because it talks about hate and prejudice in an effective way. I think everyone could benefit from the message and learn to love those around them who may be different.
Rating System (1=Low and 5=High)
Religion 3
Language 0
Alcohol 0
Sex/Body 0
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Rating System (1=Low and 5=High)
Religion 3
Language 0
Alcohol 0
Sex/Body 0
More...
Nov 24, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
Racism / Hatred
Henry struggles to figure out his place in his family after his brother dies, and makes friends with an elderly Jewish man who teaches him how to carve wood. Henry also works for Mr. Hairston, an utterly evil man, who offers Henry everything that he could want--if he just does one thing for Mr. Hairston. Robert Cormier is known for his heavy, bleak novels, and although Tunes for Bears to Dance to is lighter than most of his books, it still deals with difficult themes and More...
Henry struggles to figure out his place in his family after his brother dies, and makes friends with an elderly Jewish man who teaches him how to carve wood. Henry also works for Mr. Hairston, an utterly evil man, who offers Henry everything that he could want--if he just does one thing for Mr. Hairston. Robert Cormier is known for his heavy, bleak novels, and although Tunes for Bears to Dance to is lighter than most of his books, it still deals with difficult themes and More...
Dec 08, 2010
Becky
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Feb 10, 2011
Kay
rated it:
01-10
Reading it for lit class and I'm pretty impressed with it. My favorite character is George Graham, the (in this case) BFG.
01-19
I read something that Doris said today. She said that even though her father is awful to her and her mother, she knows that deep down he loves them and only abuses them because he wants them to be perfect. How's that for Father of the Year?
02-02
Okay ya I know it is taking me forever to finish this tiny book but my teacher is only lettin More...
Reading it for lit class and I'm pretty impressed with it. My favorite character is George Graham, the (in this case) BFG.
01-19
I read something that Doris said today. She said that even though her father is awful to her and her mother, she knows that deep down he loves them and only abuses them because he wants them to be perfect. How's that for Father of the Year?
02-02
Okay ya I know it is taking me forever to finish this tiny book but my teacher is only lettin More...
Sep 01, 2009
Sandra
rated it:
Excellent and mature book, though very short (101 pages). Henry’s brother is killed by a hit and run driver, destroying his father, who wallows in depression, and almost ruining the family. The family moves to a new town, where Henry meets two fateful people: old Mr. Levine, a survivor of the Holocaust who obsessively carves a miniature of his childhood village, destroyed by the Nazis, and Mr. Hairston, Henry’s irascible boss. The theme of the book deals with moral choices and the deliberat
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Dec 08, 2010
Kiera
rated it:
Genre: bleak lit
Summary: Henry is a good boy who only wants to do what is best. His boss, Mr. Harriston is one of the worst villains I have ever come across in literature. He blackmails Henry into destroying a Holocaust survivors craft village just because he wants Henry to do the wrong thing, to be bad.
Response: Now, I rated this book that I liked it, but it wasn't an easy thing to choose. I was terribly nervous to read Cormier, especially after breiefly talking about him in class. H More...
Summary: Henry is a good boy who only wants to do what is best. His boss, Mr. Harriston is one of the worst villains I have ever come across in literature. He blackmails Henry into destroying a Holocaust survivors craft village just because he wants Henry to do the wrong thing, to be bad.
Response: Now, I rated this book that I liked it, but it wasn't an easy thing to choose. I was terribly nervous to read Cormier, especially after breiefly talking about him in class. H More...
Aug 13, 2010
Kate
rated it:
Robert Cormier was the sweetest author I ever met and I never cease to be startled by the darkness and power of his books. Our post-WWII young hero this time is a boy still damaged by the death of his older brother. He has a job working for a rather nasty man, a father in the depths of depression, and an interest in an old man who leaves the madhouse next door each day and returns again in the evening. The Twainish simplicity of the setup, and the slimness of the book, hide the traditional Co
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Dec 05, 2009
Lindsay
rated it:
This bleak fiction novel is definitely Cormieresque. Though it is one of his more mellow novels, it still has those attributes. This book is about a boy that moves to a new town that happens to be by a mental institution. His brother had recently passed away and his father is in oblivion, not working, and still in mourning. His mother is a waitress and trying to support the family. He befriends a Jew from the mental institution that lost his family in the holocaust and is currently making a scal
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Feb 06, 2012
Sam
rated it:
Tunes for Bears to Dance to takes place during the Cold War in the late 20th century in a small town in America. The 3rd person narration follows the protagonist, Henry, as He befriends a Holocaust survivor, Mr. Levine, who is carving a replica of the village he lived in before the Holocaust. Eventually Henry is forced to make a terrible choice regarding Mr. Levine. This books explores themes such as death, choices, redemption, and Anti-Semitism. The plot is well constructed and takes natur
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Apr 30, 2009
Patrick
rated it:
Henry is forced into a difficult situation with Mr. Hairston. he is painted into a corner and it seems he has to make particular choices and decide what he wants. The genre of the book is a bit more serious, maybe drama. I would say the reading level could be 3rd through maybe 5th grade. I would say this is independent reading or a shared reading for the classroom. this book can be portrayed as sad and sometimes its not a good book for children if, as a teacher, you want them reading happie
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Mar 29, 2011
Devyn
rated it:
This is a book about a young boy after WWII who meets a surviving Jew and decides to spend time with him. He goes to an arts store and watches him rebuild his village that was destroyed when the natzis came. The boy is then asked by his employer to destroy the village the old man is creating. Now he is faced with a very difficult choice, lose everything he has or stay loyal to this Jewish man.
I liked this book, and I felt it was a bit predictable. It was interesting to see the boy's thought More...
I liked this book, and I felt it was a bit predictable. It was interesting to see the boy's thought More...
Dec 09, 2010
Clarissa
rated it:
Tunes for Bears to Dance To Holocaust/Evil/Deception/Manipulation/
Your brother is dead, your mother is working two jobs to make ends meet, your dad has finally stopped gambling, but all he does is lie in bed all day. Henry's only choice is to help supplement the family income and go to work for Mr. Hairston, the crotchety old man who runs the market down the street. He realizes Mr. Hairston isn't the easiest person to work for, but he's in good standing in the com More...
Your brother is dead, your mother is working two jobs to make ends meet, your dad has finally stopped gambling, but all he does is lie in bed all day. Henry's only choice is to help supplement the family income and go to work for Mr. Hairston, the crotchety old man who runs the market down the street. He realizes Mr. Hairston isn't the easiest person to work for, but he's in good standing in the com More...
Feb 10, 2012
Joseph
rated it:
Tunes for Bears to Dance to is about a young boy living in a life that wants him to lose his childhood innocence. Each day he faces new, terrifying, areas of life, leading up to his most daring decision. This book is an interesting look into the fears of many during the cold war.
Tunes for bears to dance to may be a person to person conflict book, but it gives an interesting look into person vs. society as well. The 3rd person point of view is credible, as well as descriptive a More...
Tunes for bears to dance to may be a person to person conflict book, but it gives an interesting look into person vs. society as well. The 3rd person point of view is credible, as well as descriptive a More...
Dec 07, 2011
Claire
rated it:
I must admit, I was expecting a little bit more from Cormier. Maybe it was due to the fact that we have talked so much about what a controversial writer he is, but for the most part I didn't really feel like this book was that shocking. It wasn't so much that I WANTED it to be really dark or anything, but I think it just didn't have enough time to develop for me. I read it in a little over an hour and a half which may have been part of my problem (it is just over 100 very small pages). The cruel
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Nov 30, 2008
Brandy
rated it:
Not my favorite of Cormier's books. It's got some interesting ideas, but the plot comes together too easily, and even though it's set in (I guess?) the early '50s and the language is trying to capture that, some of the terms the bigoted boss uses are offensive by 1992 standards. I get why they were used, but it just didn't feel true to the time to me. Or something. I dunno. This book just didn't do it for me, though I liked the title an awful lot.
This may be among my least useful revi More...
This may be among my least useful revi More...
Jan 30, 2009
Tommy
rated it:
Incredible book. Written in Cormier style, of evaluating complex social and personal conflicts through the story telling of a typical boy with a rough background. In this case, he spotlights on the origin of social evil and the moral journey that accompanies teenagers. Your normal coming of age story with a slight variation, such as a dead older brother, a dysfunctional family and the struggle between doing what's profitable over whats right, but then again doesn't all coming of age story do
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Sep 24, 2008
Cherina
rated it:
Summary: Henri, works for Mr. Harrison, the local grocer. He lives right across for a mental institution. One day, Henri notices an old man walking out of the mental institution and decides to follow him. The old man enters a building but Henri is too scared to follow him in. Henri follows the old man again and is welcomed into the building by a large man. Inside, Henri meets the old man officially. The old man is a wood carver working on recreating the village he grew up in. Henri is ve
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Sep 13, 2011
Evelyn
rated it:
Very short, but very much to the point. I found this to be a great young adult novel that would supplement a unit on the Holocaust very well. Perhaps it would be well read with The Diary of Anne Frank, Man's Search for Meaning, Number the Stars, Night, etc. Cormier graciously set up quick but believable characters stuck in a sticky situation. It made me ask myself what I would have done in the main characters position--sacrifice my integrity? Or act maliciously to serve my family.
