A Penny's Worth of Character

by Jesse Stuart, Jim Wayne Miller (Editor), Jerry A. Herndon (Editor)

Shan is dishonest with the storekeeper in his rural Kentucky community, but he feels better about himself after his mother forces him to put things right.

Genres: Childrens, Classics, Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, School, Chapter Books

61 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Jesse Hilton Stuart was an American writer known for writing short stories, poetry, and novels about Southern Appalachia. Born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky, Stuart relied heavily on the rural locale of Northeastern Kentucky for his writings. Stuart was named the Poet Laureate of Kentucky in 1954. He died at Jo-Lin nursing home in Ironton, Ohio, which is near his boyhood home.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a good story about deception, guilt, honesty and one’s character. It reminds me of The Miller books (little Mennonite stories, which are fantastic, btw), though this is a little wordier. Definitely depicts guilt and a clear conscience well.

Ages: 4 - 8

Content Considerations: nothing to note.

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[Lynnie]

I remember reading this book as a young child... I remember my mom telling me about Jesse Stuart and how he was from Kentucky like me. Plain and simple: it's a good moral tale. I still remember descriptions of how the chocolate bar and lemon soda tasted and how the minnows darted about in the creek.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse Stuart has been so important to me for, well, basically my entire life. I started reading these books, his "easy readers", very early on in elementary school and I progressed through all of his work as I grew up. Back then the Jesse Stuart Foundation used to give these books out free to all the kids in the state that were in a certain grade, and if they aren't still doing that I sure hope they could find the means to do so again!

These books were important to us growing up. They were about our culture, set right here in Kentucky, and they had important morals that all children need to learn about. They were quick but meaningful reads, and I don't know honestly if I'd be the same reader I am today without them or without Mr. Stuart.

[Katie Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but this is a pathetic excuse for a book. I could have written something better when I was in third grade. From all the talk about it, you would think that it was amazing, but no. Read it if you want, but it's got a very simple, predictable plot that is hardly interesting.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful quick lesson and read to facilitate the learning of integrity.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moral excellence makes a clear conscience.

[Matthew Parks · Rating 1 out of 5]

[Mild Rant Warning]
By its title, I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, it didn't pan out.

So the boy cheats a bit to get a soda and candy bar. Then for "some reason," the lemon soda doesn't taste as yummy as usual, and neither does the candy bar. Ugh.

Here's the thing, when we cheat, there *ARE* rewards! I wish this would be taught more clearly. Not to encourage it, but because we're disobeying the same principle we're trying to teach when we lie about this!

What's great about this book is that the mother, when she catches him in his dishonesty, sends him back to face the store owner--to face his guilt/shame--and to make it right. He hates doing it, and yet he does it anyway. That part is awesome!

But could we stop with telling children (and ourselves) that if you always do what's right, you'll automatically be happy, and if you do something wrong, you'll automatically be miserable and everything will go wrong in your life?

That's simply not the way life works. So let's stop lying about it. Let's stop giving kids a sack with holes because we want too desperately for them to never do something bad. Rather, let's acknowledge that dishonest, unethical, or immoral choices often can have positive short-term consequences, and sometimes even positive long-term ones.

Then lets talk with them about other consequences such choices have. For example, how is our character affected? Who do we want to be? What kind of a person? Or another example, let's talk about our relationship with God who knows all. Let's talk about honoring our sense of right and wrong and why it's valuable. Let's talk with them about honoring Divine promptings. etc.

And lets talk with our children about vision. Let's discuss what kind of things we'll create in life if we go around with an attitude that dishonesty (or other dishonorable trait) is acceptable or justifiable, and is that what we want? What kind of people (speaking of character) will we choose to be with, and who would choose to be with us?

Making a dishonest choice is not going to make the interesting turtle disappear or the minnows swim away so you can't see them, and it's not going to make your candy bar taste bad . So let's have the character to teach good character honestly, please?

[Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book on moral choices for children. Yes it was created in an earlier simpler time, but the values described transcend any cultural era. This book made a significant impact on me as a 7 year old, who had just discovered books. I could have written much of the plot from memory, and this is now 51 years later, it had that much of an impact.

Children, Grandchildren, yes, they need books like this rather than the type stuff typically available now.

Recommended for ages 5 through 9.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Jesse Stuart first published this story in 1954. So yes, as may reviewers have said, it is dated. However, the teaching for morals is not often done in this day and time. (I haven't found an app for that.) This simple story (remember 1954, written for CHILDREN not adults) tells the value of honesty. With many descriptions of wildlife (rarely see that anymore either) this short story is just right for little boys and girls today to learn the value of doing the right thing.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really lovely short story about honesty, choices and consequences. The writing style is simple enough that this could be for a child who is just embarking on chapter books, but the descriptions of nature and emotion elevate the writing to something even an older reader can enjoy. Also nice to see a lesson on good moral character outside of a church lesson. Sometimes those two get tied together, when really it is important for all people, whether religious or not, to espouse timeless values.

[Amelyn Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some character-building books that never go out of style. Every child should get a taste of what it feels like to purposefully do something wrong, feel the ugliness of guilt, and know inside the eventual joy and lightness of owning up to a mistake. Good character is never out of style, no matter the year. The message of this book is just as valuable today.

[Elizabeth Crook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love, love, love this book and have the old copy that my mom read to me way back when. When my son was about six he wanted to hear it over and over. He always got very nervous when Shan was about to tell his lie. This is a terrific kids book, a great lesson in what matters--and what doesn't.

[Trace · Rating 5 out of 5]

We ADORED this book. It featured a boy, about the same age as my son, who in fact was very much LIKE my son in his appreciation for nature. Very charming story about a boy who learns a lesson about character. We loved the descriptions of the natural world. Highly recommend!!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been trying to find this book for 20 years! I read it in grade school and loved it. I remembered the lemon soda and the chocolate bar and the flour sacks...I can't wait to read it again now that I have the right title! I will share this with all the little people in my life.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from my son

"I like this book because the boy is so like me, he gets to go the store and play in the river when he wants to. It's l the stuff that I would like to do if I was allowed to. "

[CRuzicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming story of learning a valuable lesson

Follow Shan on learning how our choices have consequences and the lessons we can learn by them. A beautiful and relatable story for youth and adults; a lesson in honesty and forgiveness, mercy and grace.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m conflicted on the stars on this rating as it is a short story about honesty—which is good, but it feels heavy in the delivery of the moral. Maybe it would feel a little less heavy to a much younger reader? I’ll ask my children who have read it about their thoughts.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story about a boy who chooses to do something wrong and how he feels about his actions afterwards. It is a quick story and has a good lesson.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character is important and a simple lesson is given by Jesse Stuart in his book.
Also a great way of looking at life at the turn of the Century.

[Vickie Brannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jesse Stuart's works. They're real.

[Anna Murdock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to the kids. it is a really short chapter book, with a really good message.

[Emily Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to read while reviewing Kentucky geography with 5th graders. Easy read.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was actually included in one of my aBeka literature books in elementary school. I thought it was predictable even then, but not actually poorly written.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're LDS, you've had enough of these stories told to you by the time you're about 6 that a book like this is nothing new.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

part of Good & Beautiful level 3 curriculum- Cooper was not a fan of this book, but I enjoyed it.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

it has a lot of good things

[Kara Riffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hometown Hero

The author is from right down the road and the old fashioned story with moral to learn is timeless and priceless!

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story but powerful! There's more quality than quantity in this book.

[Shannon Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about character in young boys.

[Meredith Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

(with Ben)