Better than laughter

by Chester Aaron

Feeling unloved, two brothers run away from their expensive home and seek refuge with the elderly caretaker of the county dump.

154 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Chester Aaron was a prolific American author for both children and adults, and wrote novels, stories, and memoirs. Born in 1923 in the coal-mining town of Butler, Pennsylvania, he was educated at Butler Senior High School, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and San Francisco State University. He saw combat in World War II, and was with the troops that liberated Dachau. Following publication of his first novel in 1967, he was an x-ray technician at Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley, CA. He joined the faculty at Saint Mary’s College, retiring as a full professor in 1997. For twenty-five years he cultivated ninety varieties of exotic garlic on his farm in Sonoma County, becoming a world-renowned expert, and publishing a number of books on the subject. He died in 2019.

Reviews

[C McCrimmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two children feel that something is missing from their ‘perfect’ and modern lifestyle. Going out in search of something to fill the gap, they meet Horace, the long-time care-taker of a junkyard. Spending the afternoon with the old man and the actions of their father the next day, confirms what the boys have been feeling. This so-called ‘perfect’ and modern lifestyle that most of us live, is in many cases, not so ‘perfect’.
I felt that there was a direct relationship between the junk that had been placed in the junkyard and with what happened to Horace at the end of the book. Horace tried hard to salvage and fix anything that he could, and obviously enjoyed doing it. In the end, though, when he was no longer needed, Horace was put out like the trash.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allan and Sam Collins run away from their home of worldly wealth and no love. They meet Horace, the elderly caretaker of the county dump, who shares with them his private world of cast-away treasures. Horace sends the boys home when he learns that they’ve run away. The boys agree to keep Horace’s identity a secret, but, when Mr. Collins confronts Sam about the gift that Horace gave him, Sam’s resolve melts in the face of his father’s anger. Mr. Collins seeks revenge against the old man. He even takes Allan and Sam to the dump so they can watch his handiwork. Risking their father's anger, the boys defy him and help Horace.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com