What do you think?
Rate this book
Onion John
Maybe someday, Andy Rusch will make his father's dreams come true and be one of the first men on the moon. But for now Andy is perfectly happy with everything the way it is. He likes working in his father's hardware store, playing on the Serentiy baseball team, and being best friends with Onion John, the town eccentric. Nobody else seems to understand Andy the way Onion John does. And nobody else understands Onion John at all.
But Andy's father doesn't seem to see how great things are. All he can see is how much better they could be. So, just like he does with Andy, Mr. Rusch starts making plans for Onion John. After all, he says, all Onion John needs is a little help.
But Andy and his father soon learn that a little help can sometimes lead to a lot of trouble, especially when the person getting the help doesn't really want it...
But Andy's father doesn't seem to see how great things are. All he can see is how much better they could be. So, just like he does with Andy, Mr. Rusch starts making plans for Onion John. After all, he says, all Onion John needs is a little help.
But Andy and his father soon learn that a little help can sometimes lead to a lot of trouble, especially when the person getting the help doesn't really want it...
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
37 people are currently reading
3952 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Krumgold
9 books17 followers In addition to being a renowned author of books for young readers, Joseph Quincy Krumgold was a scriptwriter for several well-known movies, including "Seven Miles From Alcatraz" (1942) and "Dream No More" (1953). While he did not have a great number of books published over the span of his writing career, Joseph Krumgold became the first author to win the John Newbery Medal for two different books, "...And Now Miguel" (published in 1953), and "Onion John" (published in 1959).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
April 13, 2009
And speaking of Newbery Award winners, here is 1960's. Being a compulsive list maker, I'm proud to report that I have now read 42 of the past 77 award winners, and despite some recent doubts in the press about the Newbery, I have found that this project an excellent avenue to get a feel for children's literature. 'Onion John' is an extraordinary book, ostensibly about twelve-year-old Andy Rusch's friendship with the town eccentric and how that helps Andy and his father to work out the problems fathers and sons have with expectations, but it's really about listening and looking--really listening and looking. Although we adults often criticize children for lacking focus, this is something they are often much better at than their elders. We can learn as much from their open eyes and ears, as they can from our experienced ones.
August 25, 2010
And the moral of the story is? Don't try to force a crazy bum into not being a crazy bum anymore, because they'll just turn out to be a crazy bum anyway.
August 26, 2015
This book is a great story about a twelve year old boy who befriends an immigrant. They develop a strong friendship. The immigrant was almost killed by the kindness of the town's people.
I recommend this book highly. A great book to read to your kids.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
I recommend this book highly. A great book to read to your kids.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
May 21, 2014
I went into this book feeling skeptical. As a kid, one of my favorite books was My Side of the Mountain, which got an honor in 1960, the year that Onion John won. My Side of the Mountain is still being read by kids all over the world. A kid is probably reading it right now as I'm typing this. I'd be willing to bet that there aren't 50 kids in the world who have read Onion John this year. I hadn't even heard of it before a month ago, and yet the 1960 committee thought it was better than My Side of The Mountain. I had my doubts.
Despite my skepticism, I really liked this book. I didn't love it. No, it's not better than MSOTM, but I can see how it fit the time period. It was published in 1959, and the world was changing. You can even see it in the book. It has a Leave It To Beaver small town kind of feel. But the father in the book is talking about the space race, and how men will be on the moon in less than two years, (It really took 10 years, but people of the late 50's were optimistic) and he's constantly encouraging his son, Andy, our main character to be part of this change. Andy, though, seems to want to hang on to the 50's, and his home town Serenity. He starts hanging out with the town eccentric Onion John, a much older man, who has some crazy ideas, but is still well-beloved by the people of the town. To Andy, Onion John has always been a part of Serenity, and he kind of sees him as a sort of stability in a fast changing world.
Andy's dad notices this, and decides to try and modernize Onion John by having the town build him a new house to disastrous results. Onion John just can't be changed by simply getting a new house with modern appliances. It's an odd, sometimes sad book, but it's no doubt a pretty good book.
So, the big question needs to be answered. Why did the 1960 Newbery Committee chose this book over a book that would go on to become a well-beloved classic of children's lit? (I really do think this is 2nd biggest miss in Newbery history. It's only behind Charlotte's Web losing the gold to Secret of the Andes) I think there are a few answers. The first is, Joseph Krumgold was, at the time, a huge name. He had already won a Newbery Medal (no one else had ever won it twice before this book) and people were probably excited to read a new kid's book from him. Jean Craighead George wasn't yet such a big name as she is now, and the committee had no way of knowing how big MSOTM was going to be. Sometimes if an author, who has already written an excellent book and has a big fan base puts out another decent book, people are impressed with her overall talent and good things happen. You can see it with this year's winner, Flora And Ulysses. It might not have been the best book of the year, but it was decent, and Kate Dicamillo has done great work all of her career, so her book took home the gold when maybe there were more deserving out there. I think that's partly what happened here.
Another reason I think the 1960 committee chose Onion John over MSOTM is because it fit the time period very well. 1959 small town life is depicted perfectly in Onion John. It probably had lots of readers in the 60's, but when the world turned and time passed, people moved away from this book just like they eventually moved from My Three Sons and the Dick Van Dyke Show. MSOTM is a timeless book that fits in with any time period, but the 1960 committee saw how well Onion John described their current world, and they chose that one.
Anyways, what happened happened. I would have never read this book if it had just won an honor instead of a medal, so maybe it's good that it won.
Despite my skepticism, I really liked this book. I didn't love it. No, it's not better than MSOTM, but I can see how it fit the time period. It was published in 1959, and the world was changing. You can even see it in the book. It has a Leave It To Beaver small town kind of feel. But the father in the book is talking about the space race, and how men will be on the moon in less than two years, (It really took 10 years, but people of the late 50's were optimistic) and he's constantly encouraging his son, Andy, our main character to be part of this change. Andy, though, seems to want to hang on to the 50's, and his home town Serenity. He starts hanging out with the town eccentric Onion John, a much older man, who has some crazy ideas, but is still well-beloved by the people of the town. To Andy, Onion John has always been a part of Serenity, and he kind of sees him as a sort of stability in a fast changing world.
Andy's dad notices this, and decides to try and modernize Onion John by having the town build him a new house to disastrous results. Onion John just can't be changed by simply getting a new house with modern appliances. It's an odd, sometimes sad book, but it's no doubt a pretty good book.
So, the big question needs to be answered. Why did the 1960 Newbery Committee chose this book over a book that would go on to become a well-beloved classic of children's lit? (I really do think this is 2nd biggest miss in Newbery history. It's only behind Charlotte's Web losing the gold to Secret of the Andes) I think there are a few answers. The first is, Joseph Krumgold was, at the time, a huge name. He had already won a Newbery Medal (no one else had ever won it twice before this book) and people were probably excited to read a new kid's book from him. Jean Craighead George wasn't yet such a big name as she is now, and the committee had no way of knowing how big MSOTM was going to be. Sometimes if an author, who has already written an excellent book and has a big fan base puts out another decent book, people are impressed with her overall talent and good things happen. You can see it with this year's winner, Flora And Ulysses. It might not have been the best book of the year, but it was decent, and Kate Dicamillo has done great work all of her career, so her book took home the gold when maybe there were more deserving out there. I think that's partly what happened here.
Another reason I think the 1960 committee chose Onion John over MSOTM is because it fit the time period very well. 1959 small town life is depicted perfectly in Onion John. It probably had lots of readers in the 60's, but when the world turned and time passed, people moved away from this book just like they eventually moved from My Three Sons and the Dick Van Dyke Show. MSOTM is a timeless book that fits in with any time period, but the 1960 committee saw how well Onion John described their current world, and they chose that one.
Anyways, what happened happened. I would have never read this book if it had just won an honor instead of a medal, so maybe it's good that it won.
May 30, 2020
Twelve-year-old Andy Rusch is a junior to his father’s senior and that carries a lot of weight and responsibility. Seems that Andy’s father has big plans for him: working for General Magneto this summer, studying at MIT, being an engineer, and maybe one day going to the moon! But all Andy wants to do is work in the family’s hardware store, play baseball, and hang out with his best friend, Onion John. Not many people can understand Onion John, but Andy does. Onion John is a beloved fixture in the small town of Serenity, New Jersey. He lives a simple life in his stacked-stone house filled with bathtubs and has his own ideas about how to make apples grow bigger or how to make it rain. Onion John’s fanciful ways clash with Andy’s father who wants his son to be practical and realistic. But how can a boy possibly choose between his best friend and his father? And what happens when your best friend starts to become friends with your father? Up until that point, the worst thing that had ever happened was when Eechee Ries was pulled from the pond and worked over by the Pulmotor.
Joseph Krumgold was the first writer to have been awarded the Newbery Medal twice. The first was for his 1954 novel "…and now Miguel" (which I read and really enjoyed) and he did it again in 1960 with this book. If written today, "Onion John" would still hold the same strong themes of standing up for what you believe in, being true to yourself, and accepting people for who they are and not for who you would like them to be. However, if you were pitching a story about a twelve-year-old boy befriending an unintelligible adult male who lives on the outskirts of town in a stone house today, it would clearly be a hard sell and, in all honesty, tend to come off as a bit creepy. But in 1959, it was simply a story about an unlikely friendship and the virtues of believing in yourself.
In addition to the strong bond Andy builds with Onion John—which eventually spills over and affects his relationship with his father—there is the project that the entire town adopts for the benefit of their most cherished citizen…Onion John. This is Krumgold providing a social commentary on how society tries to fit everyone into a convenient box and does so under the pretext of personal betterment. He makes you challenge the nature of charity and poses the question: “When is doing good not really good?” The people of Serenity wanted to do something very magnanimous for Onion John with the assumption that their efforts would make his life happier, easier, and better. But one man’s heaven is another man’s hell and those subtleties tend to get in the way all for the sake of benevolence.
Joseph Krumgold packs so many wonderful lessons and moments in this book that it’s hard to choose just one to highlight for this review: Andy’s coming of age, Andy challenging his father, the town’s collective awakening, Andy’s father’s personal redemption, Andy’s deepening bond with his father. These are all worth further discussion, but I chose one that particularly resonated with me and that was Onion John’s ability to listen. How often are we talking to someone who is busy texting or reading or cleaning or something-ing and you’ll pause only to have them say, “Go ahead. I’m listening.” With Onion John, he would stop everything in order to let you know that at that moment, you were the singular, most important thing in the world. There was absolutely nothing more important in life at that moment than you. As Andy described, “One thing about Onion John, whatever he was doing, if someone came along he was always ready to stop and talk things over.” What a rare quality it is to find someone who is able to put life on pause in order to afford another human being the courtesy of their undivided attention. American journalist and author Krista Tippett wrote, “Listening is about being present, not just about being quiet.” Perhaps that is why only Andy could understand Onion John and no one else could. He was present. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all learn how to listen like that?
Joseph Krumgold was the first writer to have been awarded the Newbery Medal twice. The first was for his 1954 novel "…and now Miguel" (which I read and really enjoyed) and he did it again in 1960 with this book. If written today, "Onion John" would still hold the same strong themes of standing up for what you believe in, being true to yourself, and accepting people for who they are and not for who you would like them to be. However, if you were pitching a story about a twelve-year-old boy befriending an unintelligible adult male who lives on the outskirts of town in a stone house today, it would clearly be a hard sell and, in all honesty, tend to come off as a bit creepy. But in 1959, it was simply a story about an unlikely friendship and the virtues of believing in yourself.
In addition to the strong bond Andy builds with Onion John—which eventually spills over and affects his relationship with his father—there is the project that the entire town adopts for the benefit of their most cherished citizen…Onion John. This is Krumgold providing a social commentary on how society tries to fit everyone into a convenient box and does so under the pretext of personal betterment. He makes you challenge the nature of charity and poses the question: “When is doing good not really good?” The people of Serenity wanted to do something very magnanimous for Onion John with the assumption that their efforts would make his life happier, easier, and better. But one man’s heaven is another man’s hell and those subtleties tend to get in the way all for the sake of benevolence.
Joseph Krumgold packs so many wonderful lessons and moments in this book that it’s hard to choose just one to highlight for this review: Andy’s coming of age, Andy challenging his father, the town’s collective awakening, Andy’s father’s personal redemption, Andy’s deepening bond with his father. These are all worth further discussion, but I chose one that particularly resonated with me and that was Onion John’s ability to listen. How often are we talking to someone who is busy texting or reading or cleaning or something-ing and you’ll pause only to have them say, “Go ahead. I’m listening.” With Onion John, he would stop everything in order to let you know that at that moment, you were the singular, most important thing in the world. There was absolutely nothing more important in life at that moment than you. As Andy described, “One thing about Onion John, whatever he was doing, if someone came along he was always ready to stop and talk things over.” What a rare quality it is to find someone who is able to put life on pause in order to afford another human being the courtesy of their undivided attention. American journalist and author Krista Tippett wrote, “Listening is about being present, not just about being quiet.” Perhaps that is why only Andy could understand Onion John and no one else could. He was present. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all learn how to listen like that?
September 5, 2015
Read this years ago --when my daughter was around 10 or 11 years old. (now 34 years old)
Its such a wonderful -timeless' story!
Thanks to **Diamond**....(for the reminder and memory of this book)
GREAT book to pick for your kids!
Its such a wonderful -timeless' story!
Thanks to **Diamond**....(for the reminder and memory of this book)
GREAT book to pick for your kids!
June 5, 2012
I didn't like this book, then I did. The book drug on too long, then it was over too quickly. I felt no connection to the characters, then I cried and rejoiced for them.
Onion John was a mere 250 pages yet took me the better part of a week to read. Why? Well, the first 150 pages or so are simply boring. Even by adult standards. There is excellent character development, the plot is well laid, and the setting is impeccably described. The book is quite good, I just didn't like it.
Then the story finally kicks it into high gear, you discover that you care about these characters, everything that has been told to you was laid out for a reason. The book wouldn't be the same without the tedious beginning.
Once Andy begins his growth from boy into adolescent, you really become invested in his plight and that of his friend, Onion John. This book explores something that few children's books ever do, the old proverb 'the road to Hell is paved with good intentions'. Generally in children's lit you find that goodness is rewarded either by happiness or intrinsically. But there are times in life when good intentions go horribly awray, a fact laid out clearly in this book by the town building Onion John a house to bring him up to date.
Onion John's plight mirrors that of Andy, Andy's father refuses to take his son's thoughts seriously and has planned a great future for him. It is only at the last desperate moment that his relationship with his father is restored, but at a cost.
The last 50 or so pages really raised the book into better standing with me. It was here that I hoped the author would spend just a little more time, especially the last chapter which is a touching father and son moment that could reach for the top ten.
I know some of my friends have had plans all laid out for their lives ever since we were young. Some even let their parents do the true planning. This book really drives home how lucky I was to not only make my own plans, but to not really be tied down by them at any one point. My parent's have always happily supported my ideas for the future and helped me along, but they were never too put off by a change in the plans either. The only thing they ever insisted was that I stick to my learning and get the best education possible; then, as the book says, 'you can go anywhere you choose'.
One last thought, this book contained so many layers, just like an onion. Did the author do that on purpose I wonder? Nothing in the book was accidental, even when it felt as though the author was just throwing it in for no reason. The characters were developed slowly and without much fanfare (til the end). And the final pages were sweet and savory, even though the begining was hard and bitter.
Onion John was a mere 250 pages yet took me the better part of a week to read. Why? Well, the first 150 pages or so are simply boring. Even by adult standards. There is excellent character development, the plot is well laid, and the setting is impeccably described. The book is quite good, I just didn't like it.
Then the story finally kicks it into high gear, you discover that you care about these characters, everything that has been told to you was laid out for a reason. The book wouldn't be the same without the tedious beginning.
Once Andy begins his growth from boy into adolescent, you really become invested in his plight and that of his friend, Onion John. This book explores something that few children's books ever do, the old proverb 'the road to Hell is paved with good intentions'. Generally in children's lit you find that goodness is rewarded either by happiness or intrinsically. But there are times in life when good intentions go horribly awray, a fact laid out clearly in this book by the town building Onion John a house to bring him up to date.
Onion John's plight mirrors that of Andy, Andy's father refuses to take his son's thoughts seriously and has planned a great future for him. It is only at the last desperate moment that his relationship with his father is restored, but at a cost.
The last 50 or so pages really raised the book into better standing with me. It was here that I hoped the author would spend just a little more time, especially the last chapter which is a touching father and son moment that could reach for the top ten.
I know some of my friends have had plans all laid out for their lives ever since we were young. Some even let their parents do the true planning. This book really drives home how lucky I was to not only make my own plans, but to not really be tied down by them at any one point. My parent's have always happily supported my ideas for the future and helped me along, but they were never too put off by a change in the plans either. The only thing they ever insisted was that I stick to my learning and get the best education possible; then, as the book says, 'you can go anywhere you choose'.
One last thought, this book contained so many layers, just like an onion. Did the author do that on purpose I wonder? Nothing in the book was accidental, even when it felt as though the author was just throwing it in for no reason. The characters were developed slowly and without much fanfare (til the end). And the final pages were sweet and savory, even though the begining was hard and bitter.
October 8, 2012
Have you ever noticed that children seem to be oblivious to prejudice because of their youth and naivete? This was the case with Andy Rusch, the son of a prominent man in small town Serenity. Andy is the only person in town who was able to befriend the town vagrant and crazy person "Onion John." With focus and determination, Andy learns John's "language" and worships him as the ultimate role model. He even goes so far as to convince the town to build John a "proper" house.
As disaster strikes and John disappears, Andy is faced with disasters of his own--suddenly he is staring the pressures manhood in the face--and with this new found maturity, he finally understands why the rest of the town could never bear to befriend this man.
This story truly exemplifies the trials of growing up--especially in a world that is changing as much as it did in the late 50's. It subtly takes you back to when you were young without a care in the world, and re-submerses you into the world of adolescence and change. Your viewpoints change, almost unnoticeably until you don't recognize what you saw before. I think that Krumgold is exceptionally skilled at making you realize some of the most painful truths of growing up.
As disaster strikes and John disappears, Andy is faced with disasters of his own--suddenly he is staring the pressures manhood in the face--and with this new found maturity, he finally understands why the rest of the town could never bear to befriend this man.
This story truly exemplifies the trials of growing up--especially in a world that is changing as much as it did in the late 50's. It subtly takes you back to when you were young without a care in the world, and re-submerses you into the world of adolescence and change. Your viewpoints change, almost unnoticeably until you don't recognize what you saw before. I think that Krumgold is exceptionally skilled at making you realize some of the most painful truths of growing up.
July 18, 2014
A 12 year old kid ditches his baseball buddies to found a cloud-worshiping cult with a homeless man who lives in a junk yard. After that, it gets kind of weird. Normally, I like weird, but this was the kind of weird that made me say, "Huh. That's weird" then put the book down. I just never cared what was going to happen next.
I'm giving it an extra star for the last chapter when the kid goes ice fishing with his father. That was a really beautiful chapter, and it made me realize that the relationship between those two characters was far more interesting than anything Onion John had done in the preceding 200+ pages. Maybe the reason I was so frustrated with the book is that it kept feeding me pages of non sequitur Onion John shenanigans when I really just wanted more about the kid and his dad.
On a Newbery note: Many early Newberys are about appreciating foreign cultures. This book inverts that theme by having the foreigner be a person who lives in the midst of a typical 1950s town. It might have seemed fresh and creative at the time it was written.
I'm giving it an extra star for the last chapter when the kid goes ice fishing with his father. That was a really beautiful chapter, and it made me realize that the relationship between those two characters was far more interesting than anything Onion John had done in the preceding 200+ pages. Maybe the reason I was so frustrated with the book is that it kept feeding me pages of non sequitur Onion John shenanigans when I really just wanted more about the kid and his dad.
On a Newbery note: Many early Newberys are about appreciating foreign cultures. This book inverts that theme by having the foreigner be a person who lives in the midst of a typical 1950s town. It might have seemed fresh and creative at the time it was written.
July 20, 2009
I had almost been discouraged from reading this book, right now, because I read a review from someone that the book hardly deserved to be a Newberry Award winner. Because I have made a commitment to read all the Newberry Award winners, I plowed ahead...and boy, am I glad that I did. I thought that the book was one of the best that I have read. I was frustrated by some poor editing of serious punctuation problems. That was the only problem that I saw in the book.
Onion John carries the important message of how we, as adults, trying to force our ideals of what a better life is upon other people. We, as Americans, do this so often to other countries, as we try to "improve" their standard of living. In reality, the people are very happy with the life that they are living. Andy Rusch's father is so busy trying to live his dream through his son and in trying to look good in the eyes of others by "improving" the living situation of Onion John. He does major harm to both as he endeavors to do this.
At a town meeting, Ernie, the reporter says:
"'Hasn't it become pretty obvious?...What we think is proper and what John thinks is proper, they're two different things. What are we trying to prove to him, that he's wrong?'"
I highly recommend Onion John to all interested in good literature with a great message...a message that we, as adults, should take very seriously!
Onion John carries the important message of how we, as adults, trying to force our ideals of what a better life is upon other people. We, as Americans, do this so often to other countries, as we try to "improve" their standard of living. In reality, the people are very happy with the life that they are living. Andy Rusch's father is so busy trying to live his dream through his son and in trying to look good in the eyes of others by "improving" the living situation of Onion John. He does major harm to both as he endeavors to do this.
At a town meeting, Ernie, the reporter says:
"'Hasn't it become pretty obvious?...What we think is proper and what John thinks is proper, they're two different things. What are we trying to prove to him, that he's wrong?'"
I highly recommend Onion John to all interested in good literature with a great message...a message that we, as adults, should take very seriously!
April 1, 2024
The Newbery prizes are a big deal to lovers of kid literature, but even enthusiasts forget some of the winners. Onion John by Joseph Krumgold is one of the most personally meaningful books I've encountered. The final chapters and the lessons they impart about openheartedness and why it makes kids different from grownups are some of the most compelling literature I have read. I liked ...And Now Miguel, Joseph Krumgold's other Newbery Medal winner (1954), but Onion John is among the top Newbery winners ever in my opinion.
October 6, 2009
I read this book in fourth grade.
While I remember hardly nothing of the book itself, I remember that I truly hated it.
While I remember hardly nothing of the book itself, I remember that I truly hated it.
December 27, 2018
I really nice (but in some ways unusual) book about a young boy and his journey to growing up.
April 19, 2019
This is my second read, this time for the Newbery group in Children's Books. It def. deserves two reads imo.
The relationship of the father and son especially interested me this time around, because I've recently read a couple of books by Rinker Buck and that is one of his main themes.
In this there's the obvious bit about dad wanting to live vicariously through his son... but there's more. In my interpretation, he's also a bit jealous of John, subconsciously fearing that young Andy is seeing John as a father-figure, and somewhat more consciously fearing that Andy will follow in John's footsteps. But Andrew Sr. does realize (probably with help from Mom) that he's not being as good a father as he wants to be, and he even manages to apologize his to son. Which is a big deal for a lot of men.
Then there's the character of John, The book makes it clear to us that he's not the town's project, that they can't just use him to make themselves feel proud of their charity. But it leaves us to wonder why John cries when his house is finished. And it leaves us to wonder if John is 'simple' or not, 'superstitious' or not, 'happy' or not. Lots for kids to discuss.
I really liked the art. Simply the essence, but enough detail for a depth of significance. Look at the crowd of ppl watching John cry...
And I enjoyed the specific descriptions of the rituals, including the boys' Halloween party with all the sweets and the different songs played on Onion John Day.
And the little bits of humor, when each boy followed John's example and gave a 'toast.' And when they were allowed to use sledgehammers and crowbars.... Clever silly boys....
And the thing is, Krumgold tried to spread the word that giving people charity is not effective, nor is trying to change them to conform... and we're still doing it and making each other miserable....
The relationship of the father and son especially interested me this time around, because I've recently read a couple of books by Rinker Buck and that is one of his main themes.
In this there's the obvious bit about dad wanting to live vicariously through his son... but there's more. In my interpretation, he's also a bit jealous of John, subconsciously fearing that young Andy is seeing John as a father-figure, and somewhat more consciously fearing that Andy will follow in John's footsteps. But Andrew Sr. does realize (probably with help from Mom) that he's not being as good a father as he wants to be, and he even manages to apologize his to son. Which is a big deal for a lot of men.
Then there's the character of John, The book makes it clear to us that he's not the town's project, that they can't just use him to make themselves feel proud of their charity. But it leaves us to wonder why John cries when his house is finished. And it leaves us to wonder if John is 'simple' or not, 'superstitious' or not, 'happy' or not. Lots for kids to discuss.
I really liked the art. Simply the essence, but enough detail for a depth of significance. Look at the crowd of ppl watching John cry...
And I enjoyed the specific descriptions of the rituals, including the boys' Halloween party with all the sweets and the different songs played on Onion John Day.
And the little bits of humor, when each boy followed John's example and gave a 'toast.' And when they were allowed to use sledgehammers and crowbars.... Clever silly boys....
And the thing is, Krumgold tried to spread the word that giving people charity is not effective, nor is trying to change them to conform... and we're still doing it and making each other miserable....
April 30, 2019
There are two related stories in this book. I did not find myself very engaged with the father-son one. The other, about Onion John himself, was of more interest to me, but we never learn his backstory, and I didn't care all that much what happened to him either. It's possible the former would have made more of an impression when I was the age of Andy.
What is interesting is that the story is based on a real person, Uhan Kleban, who lived in Belvidere, NJ. There is no mention of this anywhere in the book, and while it's common knowledge among local residents, further details on this figure are sketchy.
What is interesting is that the story is based on a real person, Uhan Kleban, who lived in Belvidere, NJ. There is no mention of this anywhere in the book, and while it's common knowledge among local residents, further details on this figure are sketchy.
October 13, 2011
Newbery winner.
Seriously this is the literary winner? Horrible descriptions of Russian immigrants. I think the discussion of what a good life is and who decides is really important, but I don't think anyone would pay enough attention to this book to apply and learn from the perspectives contained.
I wasn't expecting much since And Now, Miguel, Krummy's other winner was lame as well, but this story was weird and the dialogue was poor at best, especially the communication between Andy and his father. Fathers and their children do not need to have bad communication and relationships by definition.
The only thing I liked was the scene about Onion John explaining about the word "foolish".
Seriously this is the literary winner? Horrible descriptions of Russian immigrants. I think the discussion of what a good life is and who decides is really important, but I don't think anyone would pay enough attention to this book to apply and learn from the perspectives contained.
I wasn't expecting much since And Now, Miguel, Krummy's other winner was lame as well, but this story was weird and the dialogue was poor at best, especially the communication between Andy and his father. Fathers and their children do not need to have bad communication and relationships by definition.
The only thing I liked was the scene about Onion John explaining about the word "foolish".
July 7, 2009
HAS ANYONE ELSE READ THIS BOOK? It was written in 1959 and it won the Newberry Medal Award. I have no idea what it had that would merrit the Newberry. The Newberry group from goodreads is reading this book this month, so I decided to read it. When I wasn't falling asleep, I was struggling to make it through to the end. I kept thinking, 'it must have a really powerful ending'. I was wrong. I got the message (I think) of the book. But the characters never were fully developed---at least I felt that Andy never really knew what he wanted. I didn't get why it was Andy and his dad's fault that Onion John was going away. Did NOT make sense.
I felt this was a waste of my time.
I felt this was a waste of my time.
December 26, 2008
Read in the 4th grade and ___ years later still remember it like it was yesterday. This book started my love of words, thoughts and books. It has a true life moral to the story about how to accept other peoples ways and respect their right to be who they are in this world. The basic story the townfolk try to "bless" the odd man out with the introduction to a totally new way of life, so foriegn to his own, which results in the main character thinking something is wrong with him....Newbery winner, worth a good reading time.
October 1, 2018
Well, survived it. I don't really understand how this won the Newbery. This is not particularly fun to read, nor particularly insightful. I'm still not sure where Onion John is supposed to be from, the saint from his hometown is named Stepan and I did find a saint Stepan that was Hungarian which would sort of fit with the story.
Krumgold does a very good job describing day to day life with the direct focus that children often have. It's too bad he's always writing from the point of view of children who aren't much fun to hang out with.
Krumgold does a very good job describing day to day life with the direct focus that children often have. It's too bad he's always writing from the point of view of children who aren't much fun to hang out with.
February 5, 2017
Onion John reminded me a bit of a fellow in my home town. George was difficult to understand when he spoke, like Onion John, but for a different reason. George had a strong speech impediment and he was wheelchair bound. George had a motorized wheel chair long before they became as common as they are now. And George had a "spelling board". It was actually an Ouija board, but George used it to spell out words people had difficulty understanding. And, like Onion John, George wanted to make his own way. And, like Onion John, the town helped out, but in a gentler way. George hauled a little wagon with him and from it he sold knick-knacks. He started one Spring and did fairly well. The "popular" kids would go down and make fun of him and buy stuff. But George knew how to handle them. He laughed along with them and teased them back. Soon, he didn't need to use his spelling board with them because they had learned to understand him. Fall came and then winter. The townsfolk, led by the popular kids, said "George can't be out in the weather". So the store he came to set up a kind of lean-to to protect George from most of the weather. And the kids came by to joke with George and buy things from him. With the lean-to, George was able to have a larger stock of things to sell because he could cover things over and no one would steal from George. The tough kids would see to that. Then the store decided the lean-to was an eyesore so everyone got together and paid for a small building to be built, one with heat and electricity, for George to use. He carried an even larger stock of things and named his little store "George's Gyp Joint", loving the play on sounds. Like Onion John, George was seen by the kids of the town as "cool". Onion John reminded me of George and reading the book was, in a way, a walk down memory lane to the same time this story took place. Like Onion John, Goerge never let life get him down. He always made his own way, his own story.
March 8, 2017
This is now one of my favorite Medalists. It's touching without resorting to treacle and it's beautifully (and subtly) written. Since they won't be able to fully understand the novel's themes, young readers would be well advised to wait a few years before picking this up. But it's a perfect book for teenagers just beginning to find their place in the world; that is, grow up. Andy Rusch, Jr., has a lot of growing up to do in this book. And his interactions with his unusual friend, Onion John, help him do just that.
I loved the feel of this book, almost as though I were reading an episode of the Andy Griffith Show. Krumgold's writing is wonderfully down-to-earth and captures rural 1950s/60s America brilliantly. The characters were very believable, notably Onion John (and his many strange rituals), Andy Rusch, Sr., and Andy Rusch, Jr. It is the bond between the latter two that really forms the crux of this novel. Andy and his dad are the best of friends, but they don't see eye-to-eye about everything, especially John.
The final chapter was excellent and brought a lump to my throat. I've seen books that tackle similar topics that crashed at the final hurdle, but Krumgold ties his story together well. Furthermore, the epilogue was the cherry on top.
Some have commented on the punctuation errors in the book, which I believe could have been found by a better editor. The novel itself is a work of art and I highly recommend it.
I loved the feel of this book, almost as though I were reading an episode of the Andy Griffith Show. Krumgold's writing is wonderfully down-to-earth and captures rural 1950s/60s America brilliantly. The characters were very believable, notably Onion John (and his many strange rituals), Andy Rusch, Sr., and Andy Rusch, Jr. It is the bond between the latter two that really forms the crux of this novel. Andy and his dad are the best of friends, but they don't see eye-to-eye about everything, especially John.
The final chapter was excellent and brought a lump to my throat. I've seen books that tackle similar topics that crashed at the final hurdle, but Krumgold ties his story together well. Furthermore, the epilogue was the cherry on top.
Some have commented on the punctuation errors in the book, which I believe could have been found by a better editor. The novel itself is a work of art and I highly recommend it.
November 13, 2009
This was quite different. It's the story of a boy's friendship with the town outsider, and the effect that bond has on the boy's father-son relationship, and on the close-knit community. I can't say I identified with it much. However, I did like the issues Krumgold raised about the right way to offer to help someone. In this case, do you offer the help you think the person needs, even if he/she doesn't really want it? How do you know that you know best what he/she needs? Here, we see the down sides of being a push-ahead do-gooder. But it's a fine line between letting someone live irrationally and letting him influence your child into doing the same...
August 2, 2015
This is a sad, sweet, and in-depth book that may have a bit of symbolism involved in it. The ending is kind of weird but strangely satisfying with more of a "use-your-imagination-to-find-out-what-happens" climax. I liked the descriptions of John's old house and his lifestyle. The story will make you get mad at some people and sympathize with others, and with some exception, I found this a both touching and convincing entry in the Newbery list.
January 22, 2014
The story of a friendship between a 12-year-old boy and an immigrant handyman, almost wrecked by the good intentions of the townspeople.
I do not reccomend this book. Poorly written, less-then-average plot, etc.
I do not reccomend this book. Poorly written, less-then-average plot, etc.
June 1, 2017
It lived up to the onion hype.
January 19, 2025
This was a story about control. The village (1 stoplight!) wanted to force Onion John into a proper house for his own good. The father wanted to direct his son’s future (His son, Andy, is the narrator of the story) for his own dream. Neither was a good idea. Read to find out what happened to both.
I did not enjoy this and feel that it is dated. There were also, possibly, some subtle connections being made between the fish drive and religious ceremonies, that both are illogical. I suppose the one I admired the most was the father. It is tough to give up on a dream and admit you are in the wrong. It must have helped immensely that the son tried to tell the father that he admired who his father is right now. I am going to look at that year’s Newbery Honor Award winners because this book being the best of that year is rather appalling. I just discovered My Side of the Mountain was one of the three Newbery Honor winners. I never heard of the other two. This tends to prove a suspicion I’ve had all along this project: that often the best of the year simply gets washed out by committee wheeling and dealing. People still read My Side of the Mountain. I suspect very few other than driven readers like me ever reads this one. 1960 Newbery Award.
I did not enjoy this and feel that it is dated. There were also, possibly, some subtle connections being made between the fish drive and religious ceremonies, that both are illogical. I suppose the one I admired the most was the father. It is tough to give up on a dream and admit you are in the wrong. It must have helped immensely that the son tried to tell the father that he admired who his father is right now. I am going to look at that year’s Newbery Honor Award winners because this book being the best of that year is rather appalling. I just discovered My Side of the Mountain was one of the three Newbery Honor winners. I never heard of the other two. This tends to prove a suspicion I’ve had all along this project: that often the best of the year simply gets washed out by committee wheeling and dealing. People still read My Side of the Mountain. I suspect very few other than driven readers like me ever reads this one. 1960 Newbery Award.
May 30, 2025
Thirteen-year-old Andy befriends Onion John, an immigrant man of undetermined age, with eccentric ideas about how one should conduct your life to avoid evil spirts and the harm they may bring. For whatever reason Andy is the only one in town who can understand John’s dialect, but he also understands John on a deeper level when a do-gooder group tries to improve Onion John’s situation and bring him into the 20th century.
One thing I enjoy about reading older children’s books is their time-capsule nature. Published in 1959, this book showcases a small American town that is far removed from what most of us see anymore.
I appreciated what this book had to say, but I really did not enjoy Krumgold’s writing. The text felt stilted and meandering. I often had to read a sentence over again to figure out the context. For lack of a better term it seemed quite slangy.
One thing I enjoy about reading older children’s books is their time-capsule nature. Published in 1959, this book showcases a small American town that is far removed from what most of us see anymore.
I appreciated what this book had to say, but I really did not enjoy Krumgold’s writing. The text felt stilted and meandering. I often had to read a sentence over again to figure out the context. For lack of a better term it seemed quite slangy.
March 4, 2017
The first scene in this book describes in detail a long and boring little league game and, for this reason, it took me a week to get past the first couple of chapters. It wasn't nearly so bad once I got into the book, though, and even had some valuable bits. In general, this book is the first attempt at postcolonial ideas in a children's book that I've seen, albeit in a highly simplified and suburbanized way. The main theme is "We tried convince this poor, weird, non-English-speaking guy to live like us against his will because we find him uncivilized, but we should not have imposed." There's also a lot of witchy superstition, which I love, even if the whole book tries to discredit it.
However, there's a lot I don't like about this book, also. There is literally one female character in the cast of a whole town (the protagonist's mother) and she literally doesn't even have a name. This is also the second book by Krumgold that I've read and I can now say that I hate the way he writes kids' voices. While I can generally get behind a more conversational tone, his characters always seem downright stupid. For the second time, I have had doubts about the protagonist's age and mental capacities because of Krumgold's voice. I feel that this is disrespectful and condescending toward his kid readers, and probably has a lot to do with why his books aren't more widely remembered today.
Overall, while Krumgold does try to tackle some big ideas here, the attempt is overly domesticated and his voice is strained and condescending.
However, there's a lot I don't like about this book, also. There is literally one female character in the cast of a whole town (the protagonist's mother) and she literally doesn't even have a name. This is also the second book by Krumgold that I've read and I can now say that I hate the way he writes kids' voices. While I can generally get behind a more conversational tone, his characters always seem downright stupid. For the second time, I have had doubts about the protagonist's age and mental capacities because of Krumgold's voice. I feel that this is disrespectful and condescending toward his kid readers, and probably has a lot to do with why his books aren't more widely remembered today.
Overall, while Krumgold does try to tackle some big ideas here, the attempt is overly domesticated and his voice is strained and condescending.
June 2, 2011
I love onions. There’s nothing better than a steak with sautéed onions on the side. Unfortunately, Onion John lacked the onion necessary to make this delicious. Onion John is a homeless man who speaks no English save for select memorized speeches and his standard “have a good day!” Young Andy Rusch is his best friend since he can, miraculously, understand John’s jabber. Soon enough the town, led by Andy’s father, comes up with a plan to build Onion John a new home. Can you guess what comes next? I could. I knew his unrelenting obsession with bathtubs wasn’t a good sign of adjusting to civilized life. It has its moments, but I was glad to get it over.
November 10, 2017
Newbery Medal Winner--1960
Not a great start to the 60's. I just couldn't get into this one. From the weird fact that only Andy can decipher Onion John's mumblings to the fact no one seems to care what Onion John wants, this was just a mess of a story. The interactions between the kids and Onion John (who we find out is an immigrant with the mind of a child) and his strange beliefs, it was hard to be engaged. I understand the overall theme of "letting others make their own choices", but it just wasn't interesting.
Not a great start to the 60's. I just couldn't get into this one. From the weird fact that only Andy can decipher Onion John's mumblings to the fact no one seems to care what Onion John wants, this was just a mess of a story. The interactions between the kids and Onion John (who we find out is an immigrant with the mind of a child) and his strange beliefs, it was hard to be engaged. I understand the overall theme of "letting others make their own choices", but it just wasn't interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews