What do you think?
Rate this book
Charlie's house
A poor, friendless English boy, shipped to America as an indentured servant in the early eighteenth century, runs away from a cruel master and dreams of building a house of his own.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
81 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
Clyde Robert Bulla
108 books103 followersBorn to be a Writer
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 9, 2018
I dunno, life was awfully hard in England well before Dickens. The life of an indentured servant was, for seven years, often just as bad as slavery... but maybe not as bad as being a servant in London or a serf in the country.
This is a quick and concise exploration of how some people came over to America, and a young reader can easily extrapolate to realize why so many fought so hard for Freedom & Independence in the Revolutionary War a few decades later. I think Bulla should still be read, at least in schools. as he gets right to the point, teaches a lot, and writes engagingly too. I'm just a little burnt out on children's HF right now to round up to four stars.
This is a quick and concise exploration of how some people came over to America, and a young reader can easily extrapolate to realize why so many fought so hard for Freedom & Independence in the Revolutionary War a few decades later. I think Bulla should still be read, at least in schools. as he gets right to the point, teaches a lot, and writes engagingly too. I'm just a little burnt out on children's HF right now to round up to four stars.
January 29, 2024
Charlie Brig was born in 1736 in Duford, England. He goes to town for the first time when he is eight and sees a house under construction. From that day, Charlie learns all that he can about house building and dreams of building his own house some day. When Charlie is twelve, the landlord comes to collect his rent. Charlie's father is unable to pay so the landlord takes their horse. Charlie tells him that they won't be able to plow or plant without the horse. With no crop there will be no rent money. The landlord responds to Charlie's insolence by taking the cow, too. Charlie's mother tells him to leave before his father beats him. Charlie walks to London where he meets Fred Coker who finds him a place on a ship bound for America. Charlie finds out too late that his passage has a dear price. He arrives in America an indentured servant. Charlie’s contract changes hands a few times until he runs away. Eventually, Charlie finds the perfect spot to build his house.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
January 23, 2016
I picked up this book because we really loved Sword in the Tree by Bulla. This one is also historical fiction, but this time set in pre-Civil War America and England. Charlie's hard life in England is the impetus for him to travel to America as an unknowing indentured servant. He comes up against villains, of course, who treat him poorly and he has to work his way out of the situation. My son that I read it to was always interested, but the plot seemed a little mature to me but not as exciting. I liked Sword in the Tree better, but like I said, it kept the interest of an eager 7 year old, so what do I know.
November 5, 2014
gr 3-5 ? 81 pgs
1700s England/America. 12 year old Charlie doesn't get along with his father. When he is forced to leave home, Charlie ends up in London where he meets Fred Coker. Fred sells Charlie as a bonded servant to a sea captain heading to America. One day, Charlie hopes to build a home of his own and he wonders if he'll find an opportunity to do so in the "New World."
Short story that shows what it could be like to be a bonded servant.
1700s England/America. 12 year old Charlie doesn't get along with his father. When he is forced to leave home, Charlie ends up in London where he meets Fred Coker. Fred sells Charlie as a bonded servant to a sea captain heading to America. One day, Charlie hopes to build a home of his own and he wonders if he'll find an opportunity to do so in the "New World."
Short story that shows what it could be like to be a bonded servant.
January 18, 2016
Very simple reading, each event was described briefly but given enough detail to draw the sketch for the reader to fill in the picture. This story was well done for a young reader, but stimulating enough to hold the interest of an adult.
A great read along for adults and youngsters, much fodder for discussion of those historical colonial times.
A great read along for adults and youngsters, much fodder for discussion of those historical colonial times.
October 18, 2016
Read for the Pizza Hut reading challenge. Jake said it was good and a fairly easy read but didn't much elaborate. This is his 2nd book from the author Clyde Robert Bulla and both were 3 stars. He likes them but they are not his favorite (like his superhero books)...krb 10/18/16
April 14, 2009
A poor English boy is shipped to America as an indentured servant in the early 1700s, but runs away from a cruel master and dreams of building a house of his own.
March 12, 2015
A good story about an independent boy who travels from England to America.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews