Chancy and the Grand Rascal

by Sid Fleischman

Chancy Dundee, an Ohio farm boy, is determined to locate his orphaned brother and sisters. Chancy never guessed that his quest to reunite the family would throw him together with the grandest rascal west of the Mississippi—who also happens to be his long-lost uncle Will! From the waters of the Ohio river to the dusty Kansas plains, chancy sets off on a roundabout, seat-of-the-pants adventure in this reissue of one of Sid Fleischman's early novels. Chancy Dundee, an Ohio farm boy, is determined to locate his orphaned brother and sisters. Chancy never guessed that his quest to reunite the family would throw him together with the grandest rascal west of the Mississippi—who also happens to be his long-lost uncle Will! From the waters of the Ohio river to the dusty Kansas plains, chancy sets off on a roundabout, seat-of-the-pants adventure in this reissue of one of Sid Fleischman's early novels.

Genres: Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

As a children's book author Sid Fleischman felt a special obligation to his readers. "The books we enjoy as children stay with us forever -- they have a special impact. Paragraph after paragraph and page after page, the author must deliver his or her best work." With almost 60 books to his credit, some of which have been made into motion pictures, Sid Fleischman can be assured that his work will make a special impact.

Sid Fleischman wrote his books at a huge table cluttered with projects: story ideas, library books, research, letters, notes, pens, pencils, and a computer. He lived in an old-fashioned, two-story house full of creaks and character, and enjoys hearing the sound of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Fleischman passed away after a battle with cancer on March 17, 2010, the day after his ninetieth birthday.

He was the father of Newbery Medal winning writer and poet Paul Fleischman, author of Joyful Noise; they are the only father and son to receive Newbery awards.

Reviews

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much in the vein of Fleischman's earlier By the Great Horn Spoon!. There's also quite a bit of the exaggeration and hilarious lying that became the basis for the McBroom series. I found this one a bit less well-conceived than By the Great Horn Spoon! - I was expecting an ending where everything in the book got tied up nicely, but it didn't happen.

[Ayumi Shimoyama · Rating 3 out of 5]

-BEECH TREE BOOKS
-Time 10/31=30min,11/1=30min
-7 word summary:Man,Travel,Wheelbarrow,Find,Kin,Sister,Friend
-Discusion question
1.Have you ever traveled with your friends?
-yes,but it is school trip, I have never traveled only with my friends.
2.Have you ever been spoken to a stranger?
-yes,some people asked me how to go somewhere,but I always couldn't teach clearly.


-Time 11/6=20min,11/8=15min,11/9=30min
-7 word summary:Youth,Help,Sell,Eggs,Hatch,Deceived,River
-Discusion question
1.If you can get holiday, where do you want to go in Japan?
-I want to Miyagi prefecrure because my grand parents live there.
It is far from here so it not easy to see them.
2.Have tou ever deceived when you buy something?
-No, I always consider befor buying something.


-Time 11/14=30min,11/16=40min
-7 word summary:Youth,Egg,Tree,Axe,Man,Uncle,Talk
-Discusion question
1.who do you take after in your family?
-I take after my sister. When I looked my photo when I was small,we were resemble.
2.Do you often talk with your uncle or aunt?
-No,sometimes I have chance to talk with my mother's sister,but basically I can talk only New Years Day or vacation.

[Grant Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun story, but it's definitely a children's story. There are certain stories written for children that can be just as interesting for adults, but I didn't quite feel the same with this book. I want to emphasize that this is still a good story, but there was something it lacked to give it the extra oomph to grab my full attention. I think the main problem is that uncle Will is able to solve every problem they come across with complete and utter ease. This makes for a fun, fantastical adventure, but it takes away any tension that would have otherwise existed. It gets 4 stars for being so fun, and I think children will greatly enjoy it, but for adults I'd give it 3 stars.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The elements that I most loved about this book are the light hearted portrayal of life in the mid-west of 1880’s and the entertaining way he brought to life the language and culture of river life and also the epic journey quality of a story that moves from foot, to river, to train to stage coach. The descriptive language was just as amazing as all of Sid Flieschman’s books. The added element of tall tales makes this book unique and special compared to his other books I have read. I was a little bummed with the heavy feel of the Micajah Jones and Indiana scenario. It seemed out of place. A little too dark. That’s why I gave it a 4 star. Also the end felt compressed.

[Cathy Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny story

[Jolene Knighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this one as a child.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child, and my son also loved it when he read it at about the same age. It is a funny story with memorable characters.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this adventurous story that took place around the Mississippi river. It was perfectly written and a great read for families. So fun!

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books growing up and I saw it on my bookshelf and decided to read it again these 40-some years later. Copyright on my copy is 1966. It was fun reading it again--although the happily-ever-after ending from childhood reads a little differently when read as an adult. Chancy and his three siblings who are orphans have recently been reunited with the help of Uncle Will, the title grand rascal. After many adventures and conning the conman, they have ended up in Sun Dance, Kansas. Uncle Will announces that he is a "coming-and-going" kind of man and intends now to take the children away from the kind Miss Russell who has been taking care of the youngest two. Right at that moment some men of the town show up to offer Uncle Will the job of mayor, which he accepts. We are probably supposed to imagine that eventually he will marry Miss Russell and they will live happily ever after in Sun Dance. Yet thinking more realistically, Uncle Will is an adventurer, so how long will he really stay? And if he goes what kind of life will it be for the children--if he really does take them with him? And what about their attachment to Miss Russell? And if he does stay, can he be content and not become bitter?... But enough of that cynical adult speculation--it was a fun read and I imagine there are some kids out there who might still enjoy it!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Chancy and the Grand Rascal when it was published in 1966, and it knocked my socks off. I read it once and then I read it again, and then I went to the library to check out everything Mr. Sid Fleischman had written.

Chancy is the story of a boy who heads down the Mississippi to look for his little sisters and brother. He's saved for four years so he has enough money to buy a steamboat ticket. And then he runs into Colonel Plugg, a scoundrel who takes all his money and leaves him with a batch of stale eggs. Chancy is determined to find Plugg and get his money back, so off he goes, on foot, trying to sell wood to steamboats. And then he meets the grand rascal...

Everything kids could want in a story, including fast-talking con artists and cowboys and tall-tale-tellers and rafting over a waterfall and...well, just trust me, it's a fun story from start to finish. There are a group of wild Indians, but perhaps, like most of the characters in this book, they aren't what they seem either.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Chancy Dundee, an orphan, decides to leave his foster family in the Ohio Valley, he sets out on a rousing adventure. Chancy heads east towards the Ohio River, hoping to catch a steamboat to Paducah, Kentucky where his sister Indiana is living. The first person Chancy meets is Colonel Plugg. The colonel outsmarts Chancy by stealing his $3 gold piece and leaving him with a suitcase full of hatching chicken eggs. The next man Chancy meets gets a cool reception until Chancy learns that he is his Uncle Will Buckthorn. Uncle Will, learning that Chancy and his siblings had been orphaned, had set out to find them. Together they hitch a ride on a river raft. They meet and outsmart Colonel Plugg. In Paducah, Uncle Will's rascality rescues Indiana from the clutches of miserly Micajah Jones. After this, they head for Kansas to find Mirandy and Jamie Dundee.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Caroline Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

For 2022, I’m trying to read books by authors I’ve read before. Too often, I’m one and done (or a few and done) with authors, even when I like them, and I hope this reading goal will give me a more meaningful experience of their catalogues.

Previous book(s) read by this author:

The Whipping Boy


Sid Fleischman is one of the great middle grade authors. It’s challenging to find books that are age appropriate that boys love and Sid Fleischman fills this gap. Girls will love this too. I can’t wait to recommend this to students / read it to my son when he’s older.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

great for 4th grade. Clever.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 11, and I loved the characters, the humor and the imagination so much that it made me want to become a writer. And I have.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1810, the story of a boy who sets out to find his siblings. I used this book as part of a report in seventh grade.

[Trudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a kid and liked it a lot. I read it again as a young adult, and still liked it!

[Ceridwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book from a great author. Orphan tries to find his family in an adventurous Mark Twain world.

[John Hainsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have ever found to read to pre-schoolers at bedtime.

[Tallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

very clever and exciting! i love sid fleischman!

[Walt Walkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one in third grade and I remember really liking it.