Uncle Daddy

by Ralph Fletcher, Edward Lewis (Translation)

Does Rivers have room in his life for two very different fathers?

"The truth is Uncle Daddy isn't either my father or my uncle. He's actually Mom's uncle. I was three years old when he came to live with us."

Since Rivers's real father left him and his mom six years ago, Uncle Daddy has been taking care of Rivers in all the ways a dad cares for a son -- even teaching him how to play baseball. Then his real father returns. Rivers is confused and angry. He had always thought that he'd express his anger at his father by socking him in the stomach. Now, face to face with him, Rivers' feelings are more complicated than he'd imagined. Will the reappearance of his dad affect his relationship with Uncle Daddy? This heart-felt story, told from the point of view of a nine-and-a-half-year-old boy, is filled with insight and touches of humor.

Genres: Fiction, Realistic Fiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2001

About the author

Ralph Fletcher is a friend of young writers and readers as well as writing teachers. He has written or co-authored many books for writing teachers includng Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide, Teaching the Qualities of Writing, Lessons for the Writer's Notebook, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, and Pyrotechnics on the Page: Playful Craft That Sparks Writing. Ralph has worked with teachers around the U.S. and abroad, helping them find wiser ways of teaching writing.

Ralph's many books for students include picture books (Twilight Comes Twice, Hello Harvest Moon, and The Sandman), novels (Fig Pudding, Flying Solo, and Spider Boy), poetry (A Writing Kind of Day and Moving Day), and a memoir, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid. His novel Uncle Daddy was awarded the Christopher medal in 2002. He has also written a popular series of books for young writers including Poetry Matters, Live Writing, and A Writer's Notebook. Ralph lives with his family in New Hampshire. He is a strong environmentalist who believes we all must work together to live in a more sustainable way. His other passions include travel, good food, dark chocolate, growing orchids, and sports.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rivers is a nine-year old boy living with his mother and her mother’s uncle who he calls as Uncle Daddy. His drug addict father abandoned him and his mother when Rivers was 3 years old. His father said that he would buy a pizza one afternoon and he just did not come back again.

So Rivers’ mother invited her uncle to live with them. Their lives are going well. Rivers lives a normal life: goes to school, learns sports, enjoys time with his friends, and he loves his mother and Uncle Daddy very much. Until one day. After six years of absence, his real father returns. Since Rivers’ mom still loves her husband, he is accepted back to live in their house.

How will a nine-year old Rivers react? He has very sketchy memory of his father and he does feel any love in his heart for him. Will his father affect the love that he has for his Uncle Daddy?

That plot has been used many, many times but the way Fletcher presents this through his characters is noteworthy. Rivers’ innocence is comparable to that of the young Frank McCourt in Angela’s Ashes minus the eyesore, decayed teeth, being dirt-poor and being Catholic. Instead Rivers is an all-American boy: playing baseball, eating ice cream and hanging out with his friends and being boys in a laidback town in heartland USA. Another fascinating aspect of the novel is the fact that the age gap of the father and Uncle Daddy is at least 20 years so the boy Rivers are getting different advices and insights brought about by this age difference. Lastly, the Fletcher’s approach feels fresh: the father is not an all-out bad guy. When he appears back in the house, he is already reformed and so his intention in returning is to be a father and not to maltreat Rivers and create further havoc in the lives of his wife and son just like the usual novels or stories that have used this plot.

Not really a weepy story at least for a 46-y/o like me. However, there are scenes that will surely make you smile and tug on a little corner of your heart. Simple plot and simple people yet with a sweet message and a big heart. Also, the Fletcher’s prose is sincere in its simplicity that you’ll be able to emphasize with his characters.

This novel is not for everyone though. Some people may find this boring and gasgas. It is just that once-in-a-while, it is nice to read a very light story just like inhaling a fresh air after reading a series of serious books.

[_JayyIsReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book while looking for a book that started with U for my A-Z challenge.

I actually enjoyed it.

I’m thankful Rivers’ mother let her son’s father come back into his life and start spending time with him. That doesn’t always happen. I’m always thankful that Rivers had Uncle Daddy in the mean time (although I do wish he didn’t call him that lol). Rivers still had a strong male role model in his life despite his father being absent.

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book! After reading some more complicated books, this one is always the one I read. It just is a book that comforts you no matter how many times you read it. Sure, some parts I don't agree with, but overall this is a really sweet book.

[Dave Persson · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a terrifying concept, and the cover is even scarier!

[Barb Middleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

River’s Dad, Nelson, split from the family when he was 3 years old. He went to get pizza and, poof, he was gone. No goodbyes. No explanation. Just gone. River’s mom’s uncle moves in with them and provides Rivers with the love of a surrogate father. Rivers is now 9 years old and finishing 4th grade. All is well until his father shows up unannounced at the front door at River’s birthday party. Everyone is angry and life gets turned upside down as they try to deal with the long lost father who wants to come home.

This book begins by painting a picture of a loving uncle and happy boy before the tension of dad coming home shatters their calm world. Rivers is a stable, kind boy who invites the entire class to his birthday party and is willing to spend time with an annoying boy in his class, Ethan. This book is a quick read and the father explains that he was away for so long because he became addicted to drugs. I really liked the plot and how the conflicts were handled, but I had issues with some of the minor characters. I wanted to get to know Taylor more and I thought Ethan was mentally handicapped in the beginning and that was why River was being so kind to him. Then I wondered if he was ADHD, but that wasn’t the case either. In the end, I just got annoyed with Ethan. I enjoyed how Uncle Daddy would say, “I’m going to cloud up and rain all over you.” Wonderful images and word choices. Fun read.

This would be a good read aloud with plenty of heavy topics to discuss.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: Fletcher, Ralph J. Uncle Daddy. New York: Henry Holt, 2001. Print.
Summary: Rivers is the 9 year old narrator whose father left the family when he was 3. He is a fairly well-adjusted little boy. Rivers is being brought up by his mother and her uncle. He calls his mom 19s uncle, Uncle Daddy. He is a loving father figure and teaches Rivers many things. Then one day Rivers 19 biological father shows up. Rivers is confused and has deal with many incongruent emotions. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good family story. This book is especially geared towards young boys in grades 3 through 5.
Ridiculously Simple Synopsis: Boy 19s father comes back into his life.
Curriculum Connection: Students can write about how they connect with Rivers 19 family situation. Students can begin to create a memory book using a dictionary just as Uncle Daddy and Rivers did.
Reading Level: Elementary
Genre: realistic fiction
Characters:
Rivers: The narrator and protagonist of the book.
Uncle Daddy: Rivers 19 mom 19s uncle who is bringing Rivers 19 up with his mom.
Mom: Rivers 19 mom
Ethan: Rivers 19 obnoxious friend.
Dan: Rivers 19 father.

[Caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! This book tells the story of a boy named Rivers. He lives with his mother and her uncle, whom he calls Uncle Daddy. His father left his mother and him six years ago, and returns to see Rivers on his Un-Birthday. His father works hard to become part of Rivers and his mothers life again. In the end, they are all working together and acting like a family. Uncle Daddy is a chapter book that would be good for an independent reading or a read aloud. The book would also be a good choice for a transitional reader. There are some issues that are raised in this book, such as drug usage and the leaving of a parent from a child's life. I really enjoyed reading this book and it is a great book!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When his long-absent father suddenly reappears, nine-year-old Rivers struggles with conflicting feelings.

Middle Grades 4-8

Fiction
Topic - Subtopic: Award Winners-Christopher Award; Award Winners-Society of School Libr. International Best/Honor; Diseases/Disorders-Drug Abuse/Addiction; Emotions-Fear; Emotions-Misc./Other; Emotions-Sadness; English in a Flash Recommended List, Library 3-Chapter 5, 90%; Family Life

[Liane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Junior Fiction/Realistic

Reading Level: Late Transitional.

Topics & Themes: Anger and questioning of a Father who abandons his family and six years later returns. Consequences of drug addiction: reason his father stayed away so long.

Curricular Use: Independent reading.

Social: Non-traditional families: lives with mom and mother's uncle.

Literary Elements: Distinct voice and point of view of Rivers, the young boy whose father leaves.

[Reina Santillanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book taught me that there are many different types of familys. I don't think people appriciate that until they realize what they have. This little boy meets his dad for the first time in a long time, and I think that taught me that change always happens, and theres nothing we can do about that. We can only accept it, deal with it, and hold on to it, because it will change again. There is never a time where we stop making memories.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's book
River's dad left when he was 3 years old, so his great-uncle steps in to act like River's dad; teaching him how to throw a baseball, shoot a basketball, and stuff like that. That is how he gets the name Uncle Daddy, then River's dad come back... Read this book to see what happens. MV

[diyamalik]

Amazingly Inspiring

After I read this book, I paused and then thought of what the story really was if this book. Reuniting with one another, moving on and coming back home. This book is a touching story of a 9 year old named Rivers, his mother and his Uncle Daddy. On the journey River's family is finally complete.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncle Daddy imparts many themes: parental separation, surrogate fathers, single mothers, and eventually, forgiveness. The story also touches upon drug abuse and the affect it has on people’s lives.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good. this would be great for a kid whois feeling conflicted about a parent reentering their lives