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The Great Wheel
Newbery Honor book
"Your fortune lies to the west. Keep your face to the sunset . . . and one day you'll ride the greatest wheel in all the world."
When Aunt Honora reads this fortune in his tea leaves, Conn Kilroy knows he is destined for greater things than his small Irish village can offer. A letter from his uncle Michael in America offering Conn a partnership in his New York contracting company sets Conn on his western adventure. Just a few short months later Conn's Uncle Patrick lures him even farther west to Chicago, where they join the hardworking crew building what some called Ferris's Folly-the first Ferris wheel-then the largest wheel in the world and the showpiece of Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
"Your fortune lies to the west. Keep your face to the sunset . . . and one day you'll ride the greatest wheel in all the world."
When Aunt Honora reads this fortune in his tea leaves, Conn Kilroy knows he is destined for greater things than his small Irish village can offer. A letter from his uncle Michael in America offering Conn a partnership in his New York contracting company sets Conn on his western adventure. Just a few short months later Conn's Uncle Patrick lures him even farther west to Chicago, where they join the hardworking crew building what some called Ferris's Folly-the first Ferris wheel-then the largest wheel in the world and the showpiece of Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
21 people are currently reading
1184 people want to read
About the author
Robert Lawson
121 books78 followersBorn in New York City, Lawson spent his early life in Montclair, New Jersey. Following high school, he studied art for three years under illustrator Howard Giles (an advocate of dynamic symmetry as conceived by Jay Hambidge) at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (now Parsons School of Design), marrying fellow artist and illustrator Marie Abrams in 1922. His career as an illustrator began in 1914, when his illustration for a poem about the invasion of Belgium was published in Harper's Weekly. He went on to publish in other magazines, including the Ladies Home Journal, Everybody's Magazine, Century Magazine, Vogue, and Designer.
During World War I, Lawson was a member of the first U.S. Army camouflage unit (called the American Camouflage Corps), in connection with which he served in France with other artists, such as Barry Faulkner, Sherry Edmundson Fry, William Twigg-Smith and Kerr Eby. In his autobiography, Faulkner recalls that Lawson had a remarkable "sense of fantasy and humor", which made him especially valuable when the camoufleurs put on musical shows for the children of the French women who worked with them on camouflage
After the war, Lawson resumed his work as an artist, and in 1922, illustrated his first children's book, The Wonderful Adventures of Little Prince Toofat. Subsequently he illustrated dozens of children's books by other authors, including such well-known titles as The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (which later became an animated film by the Walt Disney Studios) and Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. In total, he illustrated as many as forty books by other authors, and another seventeen books that he himself was author of, including Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His Good Mouse Amos and Rabbit Hill. His work was widely admired, and he became the first, and so far only, person to be given both the Caldecott Medal (They Were Strong and Good, 1941) and the Newbery Medal (Rabbit Hill, 1945). Ben and Me earned a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1961.
Lawson was a witty and inventive author, and his children's fiction is no less engaging for grown-ups. One of his inventive themes was the idea of a person's life as seen through the eyes of a companion animal, an approach that he first realized in Ben and Me. Some of his later books employed the same device (which was compatible with his style of illustration) to other figures, such as Christopher Columbus (I Discover Columbus) and Paul Revere (Mr. Revere and I). Captain Kidd's Cat, which he both wrote and illustrated, is narrated by the feline in the title, named McDermot, who tells the story of the famous pirate's ill-starred voyage, in the process of which he is shown to have been a brave, upright, honest, hen-pecked man betrayed by his friends and calumniated by posterity. His artistic witticism and creativity can be seen in The Story of Ferdinand the Bull, where he illustrates a cork tree as a tree that bears corks as fruits, ready to be picked and placed into bottles.
In the early 1930s, Lawson became interested in etching. One of the resulting prints was awarded the John Taylor Arms Prize by the Society of American Etchers.
Lawson died in 1957 at his home in Westport, Connecticut, in a house that he referred to as Rabbit Hill, since it had been the setting for his book of the same name. He was 64. He is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. An annual conference is held in his honor in Westport.
The Robert Lawson Papers are in the University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections.
During World War I, Lawson was a member of the first U.S. Army camouflage unit (called the American Camouflage Corps), in connection with which he served in France with other artists, such as Barry Faulkner, Sherry Edmundson Fry, William Twigg-Smith and Kerr Eby. In his autobiography, Faulkner recalls that Lawson had a remarkable "sense of fantasy and humor", which made him especially valuable when the camoufleurs put on musical shows for the children of the French women who worked with them on camouflage
After the war, Lawson resumed his work as an artist, and in 1922, illustrated his first children's book, The Wonderful Adventures of Little Prince Toofat. Subsequently he illustrated dozens of children's books by other authors, including such well-known titles as The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (which later became an animated film by the Walt Disney Studios) and Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. In total, he illustrated as many as forty books by other authors, and another seventeen books that he himself was author of, including Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His Good Mouse Amos and Rabbit Hill. His work was widely admired, and he became the first, and so far only, person to be given both the Caldecott Medal (They Were Strong and Good, 1941) and the Newbery Medal (Rabbit Hill, 1945). Ben and Me earned a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1961.
Lawson was a witty and inventive author, and his children's fiction is no less engaging for grown-ups. One of his inventive themes was the idea of a person's life as seen through the eyes of a companion animal, an approach that he first realized in Ben and Me. Some of his later books employed the same device (which was compatible with his style of illustration) to other figures, such as Christopher Columbus (I Discover Columbus) and Paul Revere (Mr. Revere and I). Captain Kidd's Cat, which he both wrote and illustrated, is narrated by the feline in the title, named McDermot, who tells the story of the famous pirate's ill-starred voyage, in the process of which he is shown to have been a brave, upright, honest, hen-pecked man betrayed by his friends and calumniated by posterity. His artistic witticism and creativity can be seen in The Story of Ferdinand the Bull, where he illustrates a cork tree as a tree that bears corks as fruits, ready to be picked and placed into bottles.
In the early 1930s, Lawson became interested in etching. One of the resulting prints was awarded the John Taylor Arms Prize by the Society of American Etchers.
Lawson died in 1957 at his home in Westport, Connecticut, in a house that he referred to as Rabbit Hill, since it had been the setting for his book of the same name. He was 64. He is buried in Mountain Grove Cemetery, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. An annual conference is held in his honor in Westport.
The Robert Lawson Papers are in the University of Minnesota Children's Literature Research Collections.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
June 16, 2022
Protagonist is a young Irish immigrant brought over by uncles for his labor. First in New York with one uncle, he travels to Chicago with another to work on the Columbiana World Fair White City Ferris Wheel. This invention was America’s answer to France’s Eiffel Tower at the Fair they hosted 4 years prior. The story is a mashup coming of age, a superficial portrait of an innovative engineer, and a love story that lacks any spice, with snippets of American society at the end of the 19th century, gender, racial and class. Fine for young readers. Not enough umph on any of the themes for others.
January 11, 2019
Excellent historical fiction. A little laudatory, a smidge 'racist,' (not to worry, but do let your children know that people from Ireland generally don't want to be called 'Micks' for example), and a bit draggy in the middle for those of us not fascinated by every detail of engineering.
But it also has plenty of Lawson's distinctive illustrations, and a more interesting people story towards the end (which, to be fair, might be more boring to those who liked the heart of the book about the construction of the wheel).
I wish we lived in the America portrayed here. And maybe we did, back in 1893. Possibly even, for some, in 1957 (when the book was published). It is an inspiring read and maybe a few youngsters can work hard and accomplish great things even now.
It's not too long of a read; I made it through in one afternoon.
I do recommend it to those interested in immigrants, the era, civil engineering, Lawson's oeuvre, or the Newberys.
But it also has plenty of Lawson's distinctive illustrations, and a more interesting people story towards the end (which, to be fair, might be more boring to those who liked the heart of the book about the construction of the wheel).
I wish we lived in the America portrayed here. And maybe we did, back in 1893. Possibly even, for some, in 1957 (when the book was published). It is an inspiring read and maybe a few youngsters can work hard and accomplish great things even now.
It's not too long of a read; I made it through in one afternoon.
I do recommend it to those interested in immigrants, the era, civil engineering, Lawson's oeuvre, or the Newberys.
December 8, 2024
One could call it a pity Robert Lawson didn't live to see his final book, The Great Wheel, cited for a 1958 Newbery Honor. He won the 1945 Newbery Medal for the classic Rabbit Hill, but it would have been nice to see Lawson, an all-time great author-illustrator, take one more major plaudit before he passed away in May 1957. Conn Kilroy is twelve years old at the opening of The Great Wheel when Aunt Honora reads his fortune in her tea leaves. His destiny lies to the west, she proclaims; if he follows it, "one day you'll ride the greatest wheel in all the world." At age eighteen Conn is sent for by his uncle Michael to leave Ireland and come work for him in the United States. Uneasy as Conn is to leave his homeland, he boards a ship for New York and migrates west.
Conn strikes up friendship during the voyage with Martin Brennan, a hearty little Irishman who has a gimpy leg but terrific skills as a mechanic. Conn won't forget Martin when the ship docks in New York, but he's more captured by Trudy, a young German woman. They tell each other their dreams for the future; Conn even relates the details of Aunt Honora's "great wheel" fortune. Trudy could laugh at his grand visions, or readily accept that she and Conn are likely to be permanently separated when she joins her family in "Witsconsin", but she regards Conn with solemn affection. His fortune said he would head west, so maybe Conn will find her in Wisconsin. As they part ways, Conn sets hard to work for Uncle Michael, inspired by hope of a reunion with Trudy.
Sewer work in New York is lucrative. Conn could spend the rest of his life building cash reserves and a family legacy, but when Uncle Patrick arrives with a daring project proposal, Conn remembers his goal of heading West. Uncle Patrick's employer, George Washington Gale Ferris, wishes to attempt an engineering feat for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois that few believe possible: a huge wheel jutting hundreds of feet skyward that paying customers can ride. Engineers say it's a structural impossibility, but Conn throws his lot in on the project. The year is 1893, and if Ferris's team pulls this off, it will be historic. As Conn and the men race to complete the Ferris wheel in time for the fair, Conn secretly hopes Trudy will show up. Whether or not his destiny is led by the stars, the future is a realm of mystery and beauty.
Rich in theme and feeling, The Great Wheel is a psalm of praise to diligent work. Every significant development in human history is the result of a goal widely considered impossible. Accomplishment in science, the arts, human rights, any area you can mention comes despite a scoffing majority saying it will never be. If you have ambition for the brief years of your mortal life, you must recognize that most things worth doing will face opposition. Men like Ferris stand on the shoulders of those who preceded them to reach heights inconceivable not long ago. If you, like Conn, want a part in it, you have to forsake the stability of the known and become a pioneer riding risky trails. Stockpiling your personal assets and never spending them leads to forfeited reward when this life is over.
The Great Wheel has weaknesses—so much text is committed to the technical aspects of building the wheel that at times the story drags—but any illusion I had of giving it an average rating was dissolved by the final chapters. Conn's faith that Trudy will find him and they'll create a mutual destiny runs throughout the book, and the ending is a lovely reassurance. Whether it's difference in social class or any other stumbling block, we mustn't allow outside judgment to keep us from love. I'll round my two-and-a-half star rating up, and might be persuaded to give the full three. Tedious as the middle can be, The Great Wheel is so vigorous and real I can only declare it an artistic success. Thank you, Robert Lawson, for a lifetime of dreams come true via story.
Conn strikes up friendship during the voyage with Martin Brennan, a hearty little Irishman who has a gimpy leg but terrific skills as a mechanic. Conn won't forget Martin when the ship docks in New York, but he's more captured by Trudy, a young German woman. They tell each other their dreams for the future; Conn even relates the details of Aunt Honora's "great wheel" fortune. Trudy could laugh at his grand visions, or readily accept that she and Conn are likely to be permanently separated when she joins her family in "Witsconsin", but she regards Conn with solemn affection. His fortune said he would head west, so maybe Conn will find her in Wisconsin. As they part ways, Conn sets hard to work for Uncle Michael, inspired by hope of a reunion with Trudy.
Sewer work in New York is lucrative. Conn could spend the rest of his life building cash reserves and a family legacy, but when Uncle Patrick arrives with a daring project proposal, Conn remembers his goal of heading West. Uncle Patrick's employer, George Washington Gale Ferris, wishes to attempt an engineering feat for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois that few believe possible: a huge wheel jutting hundreds of feet skyward that paying customers can ride. Engineers say it's a structural impossibility, but Conn throws his lot in on the project. The year is 1893, and if Ferris's team pulls this off, it will be historic. As Conn and the men race to complete the Ferris wheel in time for the fair, Conn secretly hopes Trudy will show up. Whether or not his destiny is led by the stars, the future is a realm of mystery and beauty.
Rich in theme and feeling, The Great Wheel is a psalm of praise to diligent work. Every significant development in human history is the result of a goal widely considered impossible. Accomplishment in science, the arts, human rights, any area you can mention comes despite a scoffing majority saying it will never be. If you have ambition for the brief years of your mortal life, you must recognize that most things worth doing will face opposition. Men like Ferris stand on the shoulders of those who preceded them to reach heights inconceivable not long ago. If you, like Conn, want a part in it, you have to forsake the stability of the known and become a pioneer riding risky trails. Stockpiling your personal assets and never spending them leads to forfeited reward when this life is over.
The Great Wheel has weaknesses—so much text is committed to the technical aspects of building the wheel that at times the story drags—but any illusion I had of giving it an average rating was dissolved by the final chapters. Conn's faith that Trudy will find him and they'll create a mutual destiny runs throughout the book, and the ending is a lovely reassurance. Whether it's difference in social class or any other stumbling block, we mustn't allow outside judgment to keep us from love. I'll round my two-and-a-half star rating up, and might be persuaded to give the full three. Tedious as the middle can be, The Great Wheel is so vigorous and real I can only declare it an artistic success. Thank you, Robert Lawson, for a lifetime of dreams come true via story.
March 20, 2020
I really enjoyed this historical fiction!
Learn about the vision and construction of the first Ferris Wheel. It was quite the engineering feat and one in which all of the engineers of its day thought wouldn't work - all except George Washington Gale Ferris. He had the vision and the brains to figure out just how to present the world with a ride they would never forget!
Told from the point of view of an Irish immigrant who worked on the wheel from start to finish, this book will be a fun read for the entire family!
Ages: 7 - 13
Cleanliness: an aunt reads a fortune in some tea leaves and it comes true for her nephew; so you'll want to be ready for a conversation with your kids.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
Learn about the vision and construction of the first Ferris Wheel. It was quite the engineering feat and one in which all of the engineers of its day thought wouldn't work - all except George Washington Gale Ferris. He had the vision and the brains to figure out just how to present the world with a ride they would never forget!
Told from the point of view of an Irish immigrant who worked on the wheel from start to finish, this book will be a fun read for the entire family!
Ages: 7 - 13
Cleanliness: an aunt reads a fortune in some tea leaves and it comes true for her nephew; so you'll want to be ready for a conversation with your kids.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
January 1, 2022
Lawson mixes an undercurrent of determinism into this story mostly about the value of independence, courage and hard work. He seems to believe that both fate and individual effort count in the quest for a satisfying life. He says, roughly, through an old song he quotes rather pointedly, that ‘the wheel of a man’s life is caught within the greater wheel of God’s plan,’ or something like that. These themes play out as we follow a young Irish immigrant to the US where he ends up working on the construction of the first Ferris Wheel in 1893 Chicago. So Lawson weaves the theme and story together around this big metaphorical wheel.
This was fun, with realistic doses of adventure tied to the excitement of new inventions and progress in a time when the idyllic in America was about to give way to industry. Probably the best lesson here for young readers, in my opinion, is how Lawson prepares them for the fact there is always someone around to discourage you from trying something bold and big and new. In other words, the ‘that’s-impossible’ people, or the ‘you’re-going-to-die-trying-that’ people, or, the nay-sayers. It’s good to let aspiring heroes know they have that in front of them. I would criticize though how he ignores the role of luck, and how sometimes it can be just bad. A little too sunshiney. But it’s a children’s book so no points off for that.
This was fun, with realistic doses of adventure tied to the excitement of new inventions and progress in a time when the idyllic in America was about to give way to industry. Probably the best lesson here for young readers, in my opinion, is how Lawson prepares them for the fact there is always someone around to discourage you from trying something bold and big and new. In other words, the ‘that’s-impossible’ people, or the ‘you’re-going-to-die-trying-that’ people, or, the nay-sayers. It’s good to let aspiring heroes know they have that in front of them. I would criticize though how he ignores the role of luck, and how sometimes it can be just bad. A little too sunshiney. But it’s a children’s book so no points off for that.
June 4, 2015
Early this year I came across a list of "100 Books Every Boy Should Read". The Great Wheel was one of the books on the list that I had apparently been deprived of as a boy, so I decided to correct the situation. This was a great find. Although it is written for younger readers, the story was uplifting and fun to read.
The life of a young Irish immigrant is changed in many ways when he is employed by Mr. George Washington Gale Ferris in the construction of the first Ferris Wheel for the 1893 World's Columbian Expostion in Chicago.
I was surprised to find insights which would probably only be fully appreciated by more mature readers. One of the characters is a Scottish ship rigging master who was severely injured in a fall. Although still able to perform his work exceptionally well, the fall left his body bent and crooked, which forces him to walk sideways; "crab-like". He shares his despair that any woman would ever consider such a man as a husband.
As a retired engineer, I was also surprised to find at a very insightful statement of my own feelings. Mr. Ferris says, "...you see we engineers, supposedly so hard-boiled and practical, are great dealers in dreams and visions. As much so as poets and artists. for everything we build is first only a dream-then we make the dream come true. Instead of brush or pen we do it with steel and concrete, with slide-rule, bolts and rivets-but first was the dream."
And finally, as the story comes to a conclusion, it is apparent the main theme is one of faith. Faith to accomplish that which is based on true principles, but has not been seen before. It was summed up in a tune the workers sang as they walked home in the twilight after work:
Ezekiel saw the wheel
Way in the middle of the air.
And the little wheel ran by faith
And the big wheel ran by the grace of God.
It's a wheel in a wheel
Way in the middle of the air.
The life of a young Irish immigrant is changed in many ways when he is employed by Mr. George Washington Gale Ferris in the construction of the first Ferris Wheel for the 1893 World's Columbian Expostion in Chicago.
I was surprised to find insights which would probably only be fully appreciated by more mature readers. One of the characters is a Scottish ship rigging master who was severely injured in a fall. Although still able to perform his work exceptionally well, the fall left his body bent and crooked, which forces him to walk sideways; "crab-like". He shares his despair that any woman would ever consider such a man as a husband.
As a retired engineer, I was also surprised to find at a very insightful statement of my own feelings. Mr. Ferris says, "...you see we engineers, supposedly so hard-boiled and practical, are great dealers in dreams and visions. As much so as poets and artists. for everything we build is first only a dream-then we make the dream come true. Instead of brush or pen we do it with steel and concrete, with slide-rule, bolts and rivets-but first was the dream."
And finally, as the story comes to a conclusion, it is apparent the main theme is one of faith. Faith to accomplish that which is based on true principles, but has not been seen before. It was summed up in a tune the workers sang as they walked home in the twilight after work:
Ezekiel saw the wheel
Way in the middle of the air.
And the little wheel ran by faith
And the big wheel ran by the grace of God.
It's a wheel in a wheel
Way in the middle of the air.
October 26, 2022
I absolutely loved this book as a read-aloud to my girls (ages 9-13)! I love stories of hard working immigrants and this is now a favorite. It beautifully portrayed many European immigrants who worked to build the Ferris wheel.
It was recently told to us that slaves were the ones who built our country. That is true and it is very sad that most of them did that without much choice. It is also true that white men worked very hard to build this beautiful country. I think it's important that we hear stories from many perspectives in order to truly appreciate how blessed we are to call ourselves Americans.
It was recently told to us that slaves were the ones who built our country. That is true and it is very sad that most of them did that without much choice. It is also true that white men worked very hard to build this beautiful country. I think it's important that we hear stories from many perspectives in order to truly appreciate how blessed we are to call ourselves Americans.
November 1, 2017
A nice historical fiction story. I'm not sure I agree with the choice of cover images, since it is a spoiler (the first 50 pages or so have us wondering about what this "great wheel" could possibly be). Lawson's drawings of Conn seem to make his head too small.
July 11, 2019
Lawson's Great Wheel is one of his very best novels, and alas, his last. He tells the story of the building of the Ferris Wheel at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1892 through the eyes of an Irish Immigrant, Conn Kilroy. There's romance, adventure, excitement and history - this is the kind of book that makes the reader want to know more upon finishing it. A truly charming book, and winner of a Newbery Honor
September 25, 2021
What a delightful story! It's one of those older, marvelous Scholastic books when I found them to be more educational, wholesome and enlightening per say instead of the depressing dystopian types now.... It's a story centered around the 1893 Chicago's world fair, immigrants from Ireland and other historical elements...quite interesting :) Even illustrations ; bonus. Worth the read I say.
November 14, 2024
Caleb enjoyed the middle section of the book (mostly filled with engineering details of how they built the ferris wheel) but thought that the beginning and ending of the book were boring. I felt the opposite— I appreciated the character building and plot-driven chapters at the beginning/end but slowly plodded through the middle chapters. Overall, not a favorite read for either of us 🤷🏻♀️
June 21, 2017
A sweet little story about a young man who helps build Ferris' big wheel for the Chicago World's Fair.
The details of the wheel's logistics were neat, and the parallel story of the young man immigrating to the U.S. was a nice complement.
The details of the wheel's logistics were neat, and the parallel story of the young man immigrating to the U.S. was a nice complement.
October 1, 2019
The Great Wheel by Robert Lawson is a uplifting book with a powerful ending. Although the beginning is a bit slow it evens out and is really good.
May 18, 2024
Historical fiction of the building of the Ferris wheel for the 1893 world's fair in Chicago as told from the perspective of an immigrant Irishman. It was okay.
October 8, 2025
Read aloud. Great historical fiction for kids.
April 24, 2021
Once upon a time Conn lived in Ireland and his Aunt Honora told him he'd go west and ride a great wheel. Soon after his Uncle Michael sent for him to come help with his sewer company in New York. Conn was given all kinds of advantages but apparently didn't want that so his Uncle Patrick gave him another opportunity to head to Chicago and build a great wheel. Mr. Ferris's wheel, to be exact. At this point there are many engineering descriptions that don't really make a lot of sense without any understanding of the vocabulary or any pictures.
Conn has all these family members helping him out but really he can only think about one thing: Trudy. Trudy is a random girl he met on the boat over which he talks himself into being in love with. Instead of writing back his cousins and family he just writes a bunch of love letters to a girl he many never see again.
I'm sure you can guess how the ending goes.
This book wasn't even close to the worst on the Newbery list and it wasn't even that painful to read, it was just very "meh." Conn wasn't a very likable character. I felt like his family was being so kind and helpful and he just took them all for granted because he couldn't stop obsessing about a girl he briefly met and knows next-to-nothing about.
One more book to check off the list!
Conn has all these family members helping him out but really he can only think about one thing: Trudy. Trudy is a random girl he met on the boat over which he talks himself into being in love with. Instead of writing back his cousins and family he just writes a bunch of love letters to a girl he many never see again.
I'm sure you can guess how the ending goes.
This book wasn't even close to the worst on the Newbery list and it wasn't even that painful to read, it was just very "meh." Conn wasn't a very likable character. I felt like his family was being so kind and helpful and he just took them all for granted because he couldn't stop obsessing about a girl he briefly met and knows next-to-nothing about.
One more book to check off the list!
Read
May 10, 2009Your fortune lies to the west. Keep your face to the sunset . . . and one day you’ll ride the greatest wheel in all the world.” When Aunt Honora reads this fortune in his tea leaves, Conn Kilroy knows he is destined for greater things than his small Irish village can offer. A letter from his uncle Michael in America offering Conn a partnership in his New York contracting company sets Conn on his western adventure. Just a few short months later Conn’s Uncle Patrick lures him even farther west to Chicago, where they join the hardworking crew building what some called Ferris’s Folly—the first Ferris wheel—then the largest wheel in the world and the showpiece of Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
July 12, 2017
I first read this charming story about 55 years ago. Upon rereading it yesterday I found that I remembered some of it but had forgotten a lot. Of course I now know much more about the historical context of the 1893 World's Fair and about late 19th-century immigration. That added to my appreciation of the tale about a young Irishman's experience as a crew member who built George Washington Gale Ferris's great wheel, one of the marvels of the World's Columbian Exposition.
Robert Lawson's pen-and-ink illustrations are wonderful.
Robert Lawson's pen-and-ink illustrations are wonderful.
August 1, 2017
This is a superb book about Conn, an Irish emigrant who crosses the great ocean to build sewers with his rich uncle and perhaps take over the business because Uncle Michael has no sons. But when big breezy Uncle Patrick comes and tells Conn of a better way to work, Conn decides to follow his star. Perhaps even as far as Wisconsin, and ride the greatest wheel of all. Well written and entertaining, with delightful illustrations by the author.
October 11, 2016
Enjoyable JF on the building of the first Ferris Wheel for the World's Fair in 1893. Admittedly, I've read other books on this Ferris Wheel so I'm not sure whether I'd have enjoyed this book as much if I didn't already have background on the events surrounding its construction. Enjoyed this one, though, and wish I could have taken a ride on this Ferris Wheel myself!
February 20, 2015
I really enjoyed it. Loved learning so much about the design and engineering of the ferris wheel. Also about irish immigrants, mr. Ferris, and the chicago world's fair. Loved the way the author wrapped it up too, but won't say more so as not to ruin the book for someone else.
December 9, 2021
Very interesting story about the construction of the first Ferris Wheel for the Chicago Exposition. My children and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the historical information, as well as the charming story woven throughout about a young man in search of his destiny.
January 16, 2025
A really fun read, especially out loud with lots of Irish accents and spirit.
September 12, 2024
Spoiler-free summary: Conn is a teenager living in Ireland in the late 19th century. When he was younger, his aunt read his fortune, telling him he’d head west and some day ride the greatest wheel in the world. Sure enough, he is asked by his uncle to come work in America, and on the trip, Conn meets a nice German girl named Trudy on her way to Wisconsin. Later, another uncle brings him farther west to Chicago to work with Gary Ferris on the first Ferris wheel, located at the 1893 World’s Fair, and many people doubt it can be done. This is a book without much tension and a forced romance subplot, but the historical information might be interesting.
February 20, 2022
This is a sweet book. It tells the story of a young Irish immigrant boy who helps to build the Ferris wheel at the 1893 World's Columbian Expedition in Chicago. The author has sanitized the book and the era to allow for crisp focus on the engineering of the wheel and the working style of its inventor George Washington Ferris. The explanation of the physics and mechanical engineering behind the design of the wheel is also pared down to something digestible for young readers and yet, because of that simplicity, it seemed confusing at times It seems some details must be missing because at one point, I had to look up pictures of the wheel to understand what was being described in the book. I feel like possibly it would have been useful to see blueprints as part of the illustration. Also, I kept expecting the wheel to be trued up as bicycle wheels are and that wasn't part of the story so I don't know if the description it as a bicycle wheel is inaccurate or if that part of the construction was left out of the book. Anyway, there is an emphasis on the American steel construction worker of that era, an emphasis on work ethic and an emphasis on the idea of America as a melting pot. It includes a love story which brought the book to gentle gliding end and though that was my least favorite part of the book, I thought it was fitting because one of my most favorite part of the book was the description of how the wheel was supple and quiet in stopping and starting. That was actually fascinating for me. I also thought the way the author depicted fear of heights and the country's fascination with height was a wonderful contribution to a running theme in many of the children's books of its time.
January 16, 2021
My 6th and 2nd grade boys and I read The Great Wheel together for our homeschool curriculum. We really enjoyed it! The story was both educational and engaging.
Conn is a poor young Irishman who leaves his home to come to America to work for his uncle in New York. But Conn knew that he had more of a journey ahead. Before leaving Ireland, his fortune-teller aunt told him that he will go to the west and ride the greatest wheel. After successfully working in NY for a while, Conn has the opportunity to work with a different uncle building a humongous wheel for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Fate seems to lead him west to build Mr. Ferris' great wheel.
The characters in the story kept it interesting and the details made it educational. From the history of the famine in Ireland to the Westward expansion in the US, there is a lot of history covered in this book. We also loved reading about the details of the Ferris wheel, from the very first concrete poured into huge holes with steam to keep it from freezing to the shiny brass number plates and huge windows in the passenger cars on the wheel. Conn works in every area, so the reader gets to see the challenges of his work and the celebrations of his accomplishments.
This is definitely a book that I would recommend for the kiddos. Some of the mechanical details made it a little tough for youngest to follow, but he liked the story overall. My oldest found those details fascinating and listened to me read with interest throughout the entire book.
Conn is a poor young Irishman who leaves his home to come to America to work for his uncle in New York. But Conn knew that he had more of a journey ahead. Before leaving Ireland, his fortune-teller aunt told him that he will go to the west and ride the greatest wheel. After successfully working in NY for a while, Conn has the opportunity to work with a different uncle building a humongous wheel for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Fate seems to lead him west to build Mr. Ferris' great wheel.
The characters in the story kept it interesting and the details made it educational. From the history of the famine in Ireland to the Westward expansion in the US, there is a lot of history covered in this book. We also loved reading about the details of the Ferris wheel, from the very first concrete poured into huge holes with steam to keep it from freezing to the shiny brass number plates and huge windows in the passenger cars on the wheel. Conn works in every area, so the reader gets to see the challenges of his work and the celebrations of his accomplishments.
This is definitely a book that I would recommend for the kiddos. Some of the mechanical details made it a little tough for youngest to follow, but he liked the story overall. My oldest found those details fascinating and listened to me read with interest throughout the entire book.
August 10, 2025
A young Irish boy named Conn is given a fortune that he will one day work and ride on a wheel in the West. He sets out for America and on the ship he meets a young German girl named Trudy who is headed for Wisconsin. He is unable to forget this girl even as he lives and works for hi uncle in New York City. When another uncle visits and tries to recruit him to help build the first ferris wheel for the Chicago World Fair, Conn immediately agrees realizing that he is following his fortune and at the same time moving closer to Trudy. He works on building the great wheel and then waits patiently for Trudy to come and visit it. Will she come? I found this book very well written with great descriptive language and historical detail. The wheel was of course designed by George Ferris and was the first ferris wheel in existence. This book emphasizes the confidence that George Ferris possessed that his design would work even when naysayers were loud and vocal. I did a little further reading on George Ferris, and I was saddened to read that he died just a few years later when he was still in his thirties of typhoid fever. Also, his wife left him before he died, but I couldn't find any reason except that they were childless and he got into a lot of money woes and legal battles . A sad ending to such an exciting story!
August 15, 2023
What I love: the history, the innocence, the sweetness of it, the immigrant story, a few quotes (below), and the fortune (who couldn't use a reliable fortune as a guide through life?!). Overall, just a feel-good book. However, it wasn't very exciting or moving. If I had been reading this aloud to my kids, I think they would have fallen asleep.
Quotes
"If I were a bit younger, I'd be boarding a ship this minute, I would, with a bundle on my shoulder and high hopes in the heart of me." (p. 3)
"May God and His angels keep you and yours is the dearest wish of your loving brother." (p. 8)
"I have taught you your letters and a bit of figuring. I wish I could have done more. I have taught you the rudiments of civilized behavior and to honor God and your elders. Now remember this: Ireland may be a poor country, but she exports a crop second to none on earth -- her men and women. Never shame her. Take pride in the blood in your veins and the land of your birth. Now get you aboard and God go with you." (p.11)
"All the success I've had ... has come from doing what everybody else said was impossible." (pp. 58-9)
"There iss [sic] only one way -- the right way. To build, you build goot." (p. 76)
Quotes
"If I were a bit younger, I'd be boarding a ship this minute, I would, with a bundle on my shoulder and high hopes in the heart of me." (p. 3)
"May God and His angels keep you and yours is the dearest wish of your loving brother." (p. 8)
"I have taught you your letters and a bit of figuring. I wish I could have done more. I have taught you the rudiments of civilized behavior and to honor God and your elders. Now remember this: Ireland may be a poor country, but she exports a crop second to none on earth -- her men and women. Never shame her. Take pride in the blood in your veins and the land of your birth. Now get you aboard and God go with you." (p.11)
"All the success I've had ... has come from doing what everybody else said was impossible." (pp. 58-9)
"There iss [sic] only one way -- the right way. To build, you build goot." (p. 76)
September 18, 2018
The first half of this story was honestly very boring for me to even read to my sons, and I nearly gave up, but didn't want to, since I thought the subject matter would interest my sons. The problem I had with it is that the accents given to people are hard for me to even understand (and believe me, I read them using accents, which I did pretty well, but the way the words are typed up made it difficult).
Conn seeks his fortune from Ireland into NYC to work for an uncle, when another uncle picks him up to do another job. The whole story also revolves around a German girl that Conn met on the boat.
The whole building of the Ferris wheel in this story took a lot of time that also made this boring. There were some good portions, but it dragged during the middle especially. I almost said, "Let's go to the next book." I know that one of my sons didn't care for this story while they other one really enjoyed it a lot. I guess it was worth it. I don't know how historically accurate this story is in regards to Mr. Ferris and the building of his wheel, either.
Conn seeks his fortune from Ireland into NYC to work for an uncle, when another uncle picks him up to do another job. The whole story also revolves around a German girl that Conn met on the boat.
The whole building of the Ferris wheel in this story took a lot of time that also made this boring. There were some good portions, but it dragged during the middle especially. I almost said, "Let's go to the next book." I know that one of my sons didn't care for this story while they other one really enjoyed it a lot. I guess it was worth it. I don't know how historically accurate this story is in regards to Mr. Ferris and the building of his wheel, either.
March 23, 2017
This book was SO hard to read. This book is 180 pages long, and probably some of the most boring 180 pages of my life. This book is about these main characters who help Mr. Ferris with his upcoming book project. Unfortunately, the people do not have enough money to fund the wheel, so they have to build it themselves. This book spends a lot of the time describing the "adventures" of working on the wheel. The wheel later gets finished and people start celebrating and enjoying themself. And thought was really all there is to this book. I felt so frustrated reading this book because I thought that this would be so much better because it is a Newbery Honor Book. The average rating for this book is a 3.81, so I may be a bit picky, but the dull vocabulary is really killing it. There are so many complicated words that do not make sense, there are boring illustrations, and this book such is bad. This book was made in 1957 so maybe that is the reason. Thank you for reading!
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