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Jonathan Goes West
Jonathan Goes West
- GenresHistorical Fiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1946
9 people want to read
About the author
Stephen W. Meader
66 books21 followersStephen W. Meader (May 2, 1892 – July 18, 1977) was the author of over forty novels for young readers. His optimistic stories generally tended to either concern young men developing independent businesses in the face of adversity, or else young men caught up in adventures during different periods in American history.
Meader graduated from Haverford College in Philadelphia in 1913, and initially worked in Newark, New Jersey as a cruelty officer with the Essex County Children's Aid Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and by 1915 was working for the Big Brother Movement. After working for a Chicago publishing house in 1916, he took a position with the Circulation Department of the Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia, eventually reaching the position of Editor of the Sales Division publications. His first novel, The Black Buccaneer, was the first juvenile publication of the newly founded Harcourt, Brace and Howe.
Meader graduated from Haverford College in Philadelphia in 1913, and initially worked in Newark, New Jersey as a cruelty officer with the Essex County Children's Aid Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and by 1915 was working for the Big Brother Movement. After working for a Chicago publishing house in 1916, he took a position with the Circulation Department of the Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia, eventually reaching the position of Editor of the Sales Division publications. His first novel, The Black Buccaneer, was the first juvenile publication of the newly founded Harcourt, Brace and Howe.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 28, 2025
Two reviews to go!
For my final three reviews of books—bound to be very similar—going in reverse chronological order, I discuss my experience reading three books by Stephen W. Meader. These are the earliest books (other than books for very small children) that I can recall reading. I’m sure that I’m forgetting many.
When I was around 10 to 12 and my older brother was 12 to 14, possibly earlier, my father made a list of books by Meader and started to borrow them from the library or purchase them somewhere. He kept track of which ones my brother and I read. I’m sure that my brother read a lot more than I did. The list comprised dozens of titles. It’s likely that I read more than three, but these are all that I can remember when I review Meader’s bibliography.
All the novels were about boys becoming men in various fields: sports (Sparkplug of the Hornets, high school basketball), travel and adventure (Jonathan Goes West), and various industries such as trucking (T-Model Tommy) and lumber. They were set in different time periods, such as the dawn of the age of the widespread use of trucks and automobiles, westward expansion, and contemporary times (i.e., when the books were written).
So, thank you, Dad, for an introduction to literature and to diverse worlds that showcased young men growing up. My wife read Sparkplug of the Hornets to my sons some time in the past few years.
As with all of my pre-2000 books, the “Date finished” may be a few years off. I don’t know which edition I read, so I just selected the first search result with a valid page count.
For my final three reviews of books—bound to be very similar—going in reverse chronological order, I discuss my experience reading three books by Stephen W. Meader. These are the earliest books (other than books for very small children) that I can recall reading. I’m sure that I’m forgetting many.
When I was around 10 to 12 and my older brother was 12 to 14, possibly earlier, my father made a list of books by Meader and started to borrow them from the library or purchase them somewhere. He kept track of which ones my brother and I read. I’m sure that my brother read a lot more than I did. The list comprised dozens of titles. It’s likely that I read more than three, but these are all that I can remember when I review Meader’s bibliography.
All the novels were about boys becoming men in various fields: sports (Sparkplug of the Hornets, high school basketball), travel and adventure (Jonathan Goes West), and various industries such as trucking (T-Model Tommy) and lumber. They were set in different time periods, such as the dawn of the age of the widespread use of trucks and automobiles, westward expansion, and contemporary times (i.e., when the books were written).
So, thank you, Dad, for an introduction to literature and to diverse worlds that showcased young men growing up. My wife read Sparkplug of the Hornets to my sons some time in the past few years.
As with all of my pre-2000 books, the “Date finished” may be a few years off. I don’t know which edition I read, so I just selected the first search result with a valid page count.
February 2, 2016
A delightful, heart-warming, and very accurate historical novel about a young man who leaves the beloved farm of his grandparents and makes his way west.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews