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Bro
1933 A train, rushing through the night ... a car, stalled in its path ... a boy's life, shattered. Tugwell Dockery hasn't spoken since the horrific events that unfolded one afternoon six years ago at his grandfather's ranch. Now he's back there, newly orphaned, living with his grandfather and gutsy great-aunt. Broda Joe Dockery hasn't seen his brother since his incarceration two years ago at the Pecan County Correctional Labor Camp. Now, realizing Tug must live at the site of a tragedy he witnessed, Broda Joe knows he must be with his brother, even if it means breaking the law and risking his life. Robert Newton Peck writes of grit and courage, and the steel-strong bonds that unite families and endure beyond life itself.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Robert Newton Peck
87 books82 followersRobert Newton Peck is an American author of books for young adults. His titles include Soup and A Day No Pigs Would Die. He claims to have been born on February 17, 1928, in Vermont, but has refused to specify where. Similarly, he claims to have graduated from a high school in Texas, which he has also refused to identify. Some sources state that he was born in Nashville, Tennessee (supposedly where his mother was born, though other sources indicate she was born in Ticonderoga, New York, and that Peck, himself, may have been born there). The only reasonably certain Vermont connection is that his father was born in Cornwall.
Peck has written over sixty books including a great book explaining his childhood to becoming a teenager working on the farm called: A Day no Pigs would Die
He was a smart student, although his schooling was cut short by World War II. During and shortly after the conflict, he served as a machine-gunner in the U.S. Army 88th Infantry Division. Upon returning to the United States, he entered Rollins College, graduating in 1953. He then entered Cornell Law School, but never finished his course of study.
Newton married Dorothy Anne Houston and fathered two children, Anne and Christopher. The best man at the wedding and the godfather to the children was Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame.
A Day No Pigs Would Die was his first novel, published in 1972 when he was already 44 years old. From then on he continued his lifelong journey through literature. To date, he has been credited for writing 55 fiction books, 6 nonfiction books, 35 songs, 3 television specials and over a hundred poems.
Several of his historical novels are about Fort Ticonderoga: Fawn, Hang for Treason, The King's Iron.
In 1993, Peck was diagnosed with oral cancer, but survived. As of 2005, he was living in Longwood, Florida, where he has in the past served as the director of the Rollins College Writers Conference. Peck sings in a barbershop quartet, plays ragtime piano, and is an enthusiastic speaker. His hobby is visiting schools, "to turn kids on to books."
—From Wikipedia
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-n...
Peck has written over sixty books including a great book explaining his childhood to becoming a teenager working on the farm called: A Day no Pigs would Die
He was a smart student, although his schooling was cut short by World War II. During and shortly after the conflict, he served as a machine-gunner in the U.S. Army 88th Infantry Division. Upon returning to the United States, he entered Rollins College, graduating in 1953. He then entered Cornell Law School, but never finished his course of study.
Newton married Dorothy Anne Houston and fathered two children, Anne and Christopher. The best man at the wedding and the godfather to the children was Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame.
A Day No Pigs Would Die was his first novel, published in 1972 when he was already 44 years old. From then on he continued his lifelong journey through literature. To date, he has been credited for writing 55 fiction books, 6 nonfiction books, 35 songs, 3 television specials and over a hundred poems.
Several of his historical novels are about Fort Ticonderoga: Fawn, Hang for Treason, The King's Iron.
In 1993, Peck was diagnosed with oral cancer, but survived. As of 2005, he was living in Longwood, Florida, where he has in the past served as the director of the Rollins College Writers Conference. Peck sings in a barbershop quartet, plays ragtime piano, and is an enthusiastic speaker. His hobby is visiting schools, "to turn kids on to books."
—From Wikipedia
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-n...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 4, 2014
Something similar to "Sounder", Frederick Douglass's Autobiography and
Something from Jodi Piccoult books. Also the Movie "Second Hand Lions".
I would add the book, "Tangerine."
Leaving Childhood behind and becoming an adult.
Relationships of brothers and Grandparents and their parents.
Life on a Farm in Florida.
How a donkey is a great alarm detector and defender of the farm, mules are steady and hard workers and how horses are great but yet not to the level of mules and donkeys.
Prisons and things that go on in Prisons.
Something from Jodi Piccoult books. Also the Movie "Second Hand Lions".
I would add the book, "Tangerine."
Leaving Childhood behind and becoming an adult.
Relationships of brothers and Grandparents and their parents.
Life on a Farm in Florida.
How a donkey is a great alarm detector and defender of the farm, mules are steady and hard workers and how horses are great but yet not to the level of mules and donkeys.
Prisons and things that go on in Prisons.
December 12, 2009
This story is about a boy who became mute because of trauma suffered when he was young. Now orphaned, he goes to live with his grandfather and great-aunt. His older brother (Bro) breaks out of jail and moves in with them. The sherriff feels bad so actually helps the brother stay free. Huh? The mean jailor ends up killing Bro.
I had trouble with the southern, bumpkin dialect. I think a child reading this book would have to work really hard to decipher what it was all about.
I had trouble with the southern, bumpkin dialect. I think a child reading this book would have to work really hard to decipher what it was all about.
April 6, 2021
THEMES: Depression area Florida, cattle farm life, corrupt correctional facilities, pediatric mutism, animal therapy
THOUGHTS: Interesting to read about a whole population that I have never met. Sadly, it does hint at regular sexual assault of the 18 year old in the correctional facility by the older inmates. It is an encouraging story of brotherhood, and how children can heal from trauma through access to supportive relationships.
THOUGHTS: Interesting to read about a whole population that I have never met. Sadly, it does hint at regular sexual assault of the 18 year old in the correctional facility by the older inmates. It is an encouraging story of brotherhood, and how children can heal from trauma through access to supportive relationships.
January 24, 2020
This was a 4.75. Maybe because I was listening to the audiobook, I took the book slower. This made me more emotionally invested, gave me time to process, &etc. Broda Joe is definitely one of my role models. Which is really corny, but its true.
February 4, 2018
I loved Peck's use of the dialect from the 30's era. I was surprised by the ending, seemed stark realty for a coming of age story.
May 16, 2011
Bro is a very sad story with twinges of hope buried in the oppression of one orphan's life.
Tugwell's parents were killed in a train accident, his brother is in prison for transporting "likker" (moonshine), and he hasn't had any contact with his grandfather since Tug was 3 years old, when a horrible incident on his grandfather's farm tore the family apart and caused Tug to go mute. With his parents dead, Tug must move in with his grandfather and great aunt. Because of the incident, the old man doesn't keep horses on the ranch, which Tug is grateful for. Through the help of two sweet mules, Tug and his grandfather begin to heal the divide between them. Meanwhile, Tug pines for his older brother, Broda, who is the only person who really ever cared about Tug and understood him. When Broda finds out that Tug is back at the ranch, he realizes that his brother needs him and he won't be able to wait a year until his sentence is up. Broda makes the decision to break out of the prison camp where he has been for two years, suffering abuse from the warden and the other inmates. Broda is able to escape, but the warden is after him and he plans to bring Broda back, by any means necessary.
The prison and escape scenes reminded me so much of Cool Hand Luke.
Tugwell's parents were killed in a train accident, his brother is in prison for transporting "likker" (moonshine), and he hasn't had any contact with his grandfather since Tug was 3 years old, when a horrible incident on his grandfather's farm tore the family apart and caused Tug to go mute. With his parents dead, Tug must move in with his grandfather and great aunt. Because of the incident, the old man doesn't keep horses on the ranch, which Tug is grateful for. Through the help of two sweet mules, Tug and his grandfather begin to heal the divide between them. Meanwhile, Tug pines for his older brother, Broda, who is the only person who really ever cared about Tug and understood him. When Broda finds out that Tug is back at the ranch, he realizes that his brother needs him and he won't be able to wait a year until his sentence is up. Broda makes the decision to break out of the prison camp where he has been for two years, suffering abuse from the warden and the other inmates. Broda is able to escape, but the warden is after him and he plans to bring Broda back, by any means necessary.
The prison and escape scenes reminded me so much of Cool Hand Luke.
December 22, 2014
The story takes place in Florida in 1933 and focuses on events that take place in the short life of Tugwell Dockery, a nine-year old boy who hasn't spoken a word for six years. Tug, as he is known, has had a life time of loss packed into his few short years. He witnesses a horrific event at the age of three and becomes mute and fearful. After this event, his dad turns to alcohol, his mother to religion, his grandfather to self loathing, and his beloved brother, Broda Joe - "Bro" to crime. Bro's crime was really a stupid adolescent mistake but has caused him to be imprisoned for two years at a Labor Correctional Camp. When Tug and Bro's parents are killed in a terrible accident, Bro is notified and feels he must be with his little brother to help him deal with this latest tragedy even if it means risking his life. Bro is the only person who makes Tug feel normal. Peck does a wonderful job depicting the bond between these brothers as well as various characters throughout this story. From the feelings of a mute child to the terrible brutality of a mentally sick warden Peck covers numerous human conditions. There is humor mixed with tragedy in just the right proportions. I really enjoyed this book.
April 19, 2010
This book gives us a great glimpse into the everyday lives of a family during the depression. The oldest son runs liquor illegally in order to make money and ends up getting caught. We get to see brief glimpses of how terrible life is in a labor prison camp. From this side of prohibition, it's easy to see how something that really isn't that terrible (selling alcohol) can determine (and ruin) a person's entire life. Peck writes in the vernacular of the time and place and each person's is unique. I'm not sure how much a kid could appreciate this on a truly deep level, but the story is interesting enough for them to enjoy w/o having to go that deep. I would have liked it if Tugwell would have at least starting speaking during the book.
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July 31, 2012There was so much about this book that broke my heart. It's set in the Southern U.S. and is about a boy who hasn't said a word in 6 years. He's 9. The only one who he feels a connection to is his brother Bro, and Bro is in prison. His parents die in a train accident and he has to go live with his grandpa, who terrified this little boy. It's a truly beautiful and tragic story of a boy learning to trust.
Good. Good. Good.
Good. Good. Good.
March 10, 2010
Young Tug Dockery witnesses a brutal act by his grandfather that leaves him unable to speak, so when his parents die, Tug's beloved older brother feels compelled to escape from a hellish labor camp to rescue him from their grandfather's Florida cattle ranch.
June 25, 2021
LOVED THIS! I could have finished this in 1 day but...work! This was a relief to all the other books I have been reading. Its something about farm books that get me. Each page drew me in and I was an instant fan of Tugwell and Broda Joe. You will love this book and not want to put it down!
September 22, 2011
I think Peck understands adolescents very well. The relationship between the brothers is remarkable and makes this an important story to read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews