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Сребърните кънки
Романът “Сребърните кънки” ни отвежда в Холандия. Две бедни деца – Ханс и Гретел Бринкър, мечтаят за сребърните кънки – голямата награда по бързо пързаляне върху леда на Зюдерзее. Но с добротата и дарбите си те спечелват нещо по-ценно – любовта и доверието на хората, с чиято помощ преуспяват в живота.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1865
377 people are currently reading
4935 people want to read
About the author
Mary Mapes Dodge
422 books36 followersMary was born Mary Elizabeth Mapes to Prof. James Jay Mapes and Sophia Furman in New York City. She acquired a good education under private tutors. In 1851 she married the lawyer William Dodge. Within the next four years she gave birth to two sons, James and Harrington. In 1857, William faced serious financial difficulties and left his family in 1858. A month after his disappearance his body was found dead from an apparent drowning, and Mary Mapes Dodge became a widow.
In 1859 she began writing and editing, working with her father to publish two magazines, the Working Farmer and the United States Journal. Within a few years she had great success with a collection of short stories, The Irvington Stories (1864), and a novel was solicited. Dodge then wrote Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, which became an instant bestseller.
Later in life she was an associate editor of Hearth and Home, edited by Harriet Beecher Stowe. She had charge of the household and children's departments of that paper for many years. She became an editor in her own right with the children's St. Nicholas Magazine, for she was able to solicit stories from a number of well-known writers including Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. St. Nicholas became one of the most successful magazines for children during the second half of the nineteenth century, with a circulation of almost 70,000 children.
Dodge died at her summer cottage in Tannersville, New York, in 1905. She is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, at 1137 North Broad Street, Hillside, New Jersey.
In 1859 she began writing and editing, working with her father to publish two magazines, the Working Farmer and the United States Journal. Within a few years she had great success with a collection of short stories, The Irvington Stories (1864), and a novel was solicited. Dodge then wrote Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, which became an instant bestseller.
Later in life she was an associate editor of Hearth and Home, edited by Harriet Beecher Stowe. She had charge of the household and children's departments of that paper for many years. She became an editor in her own right with the children's St. Nicholas Magazine, for she was able to solicit stories from a number of well-known writers including Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. St. Nicholas became one of the most successful magazines for children during the second half of the nineteenth century, with a circulation of almost 70,000 children.
Dodge died at her summer cottage in Tannersville, New York, in 1905. She is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, at 1137 North Broad Street, Hillside, New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 670 reviews
February 6, 2023
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. when I was 9-years-old, I went on a sleepover to a friend's house. She had a copy of this book and ever since seeing it, I've always been intrigued to read it;
2. my GR friend, Joe, recommended it after I read his review; and,
3. February 2023 is my self-declared "Books For Young and Old Alike" Month!
Praises:
1. published in 1865, this children's classic is a sweet read, especially the portions about Hans Brinker and his impoverished family. Even though they have their problems, everything comes up roses in the end; and,
2. the overall message sounds old-fashioned, but it is compassionate in its moral teachings.
Niggles:
1. American author Mary Mapes Dodge, who had never visited Holland prior to writing this book, sure loved the country, so much so that she neglected to remember what title she chose and instead wrote an exposé about Holland's history;
2. so many unnecessary characters were introduced that I had difficulty keeping track of them all! I do recall one young man, Ben from England, who seemed to know far more about Holland's history than his Dutch companions! Btw, Hans Brinker felt like a secondary character to me;
3. I enjoy details, but parts of this story were heavily descriptive, leading me to tune out from time to time; and,
4. Dodge's writing style was heavy on the "tell" and super-light on the "show". She also tends to "speak" to the reader and her characters!
Overall Thoughts:
This is NOT what I was expecting! This 9-hour unabridged edition was like listening to a textbook reading of Holland's history and culture! I was hoping for a story to be in the same vein as Little Women, The Wind in the Willows or even The Secret Garden, all where the featured characters play a major role in the story.
Recommendation?
If you want to read/listen to a story about Hans Brinker and not a sightseeing tour focusing on other characters learning about Holland's history and culture, then I highly recommend checking out an abridged edition!
1. when I was 9-years-old, I went on a sleepover to a friend's house. She had a copy of this book and ever since seeing it, I've always been intrigued to read it;
2. my GR friend, Joe, recommended it after I read his review; and,
3. February 2023 is my self-declared "Books For Young and Old Alike" Month!
Praises:
1. published in 1865, this children's classic is a sweet read, especially the portions about Hans Brinker and his impoverished family. Even though they have their problems, everything comes up roses in the end; and,
2. the overall message sounds old-fashioned, but it is compassionate in its moral teachings.
Niggles:
1. American author Mary Mapes Dodge, who had never visited Holland prior to writing this book, sure loved the country, so much so that she neglected to remember what title she chose and instead wrote an exposé about Holland's history;
2. so many unnecessary characters were introduced that I had difficulty keeping track of them all! I do recall one young man, Ben from England, who seemed to know far more about Holland's history than his Dutch companions! Btw, Hans Brinker felt like a secondary character to me;
3. I enjoy details, but parts of this story were heavily descriptive, leading me to tune out from time to time; and,
4. Dodge's writing style was heavy on the "tell" and super-light on the "show". She also tends to "speak" to the reader and her characters!
Overall Thoughts:
This is NOT what I was expecting! This 9-hour unabridged edition was like listening to a textbook reading of Holland's history and culture! I was hoping for a story to be in the same vein as Little Women, The Wind in the Willows or even The Secret Garden, all where the featured characters play a major role in the story.
Recommendation?
If you want to read/listen to a story about Hans Brinker and not a sightseeing tour focusing on other characters learning about Holland's history and culture, then I highly recommend checking out an abridged edition!
July 14, 2023
⛸️ What would be cooler than having all your canals freeze over so that you could skate for miles and miles without going in circles? That’s Han’s World and that’s how it was in the past - the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, even 1900s. Now apparently the temperatures do not drop low enough for skating every year. The last time was 2012/13. So enjoy this story about a different time in Holland when there was lots of ice.
A classic YA tale.
A classic YA tale.
June 14, 2025
When I had just turned 10 as my Fourth Grade class wound down for summer break, my new teacher Mrs. Stevens read this book aloud to us. Without knowing why, I loved stories.
Guess what? I was a neurodivergent introvert.
***
I was entranced! But then - in Fifth Grade, our police village's demographics were changing, for with the Baby Boom they were an ongoing factor in our urban expansion.
Now our own backyard was being subdivided into housing lots! The Greatest Generation's attitudes were threatened, as racial disparity would become a fact of life with the new Sixties now here.
Kennedy. Luther King. A time of unrest.
Mrs. Stevens continued to teach us in that year - a woman of the time "entre deux guerres" - and I, to adore story hour. Uncle Wiggly was my 'aspie' fav.
But I still couldn't skate. Neurodivergents can so lack coordination! I still needed the crutch of ankle support for confidence. Going up, I came down. So -
Going without, I gave up on neurotypicality. But what about my Peers?
***
Didn't young Franz Kafka's Dad say the same thing, echoing through his subconscious? In other words - echoing a failure with a New superego - a superego called Peer Pressure?
I know I did in Grade Five -
And now I must "burn in bale and smother in smoke" -
The smoke of an ersatz purgatory's pharmaceutical cure for Asperger's!
Disciplined at last, I still can’t skate…
But through my faith and through enjoying my books, I can now laugh at what is, after all is said and done -
A very minor loss😉❗️
For my books now fill our home…
Along with my wife and my own riotous literary love and laughter!
Guess what? I was a neurodivergent introvert.
***
I was entranced! But then - in Fifth Grade, our police village's demographics were changing, for with the Baby Boom they were an ongoing factor in our urban expansion.
Now our own backyard was being subdivided into housing lots! The Greatest Generation's attitudes were threatened, as racial disparity would become a fact of life with the new Sixties now here.
Kennedy. Luther King. A time of unrest.
Mrs. Stevens continued to teach us in that year - a woman of the time "entre deux guerres" - and I, to adore story hour. Uncle Wiggly was my 'aspie' fav.
But I still couldn't skate. Neurodivergents can so lack coordination! I still needed the crutch of ankle support for confidence. Going up, I came down. So -
Going without, I gave up on neurotypicality. But what about my Peers?
***
Didn't young Franz Kafka's Dad say the same thing, echoing through his subconscious? In other words - echoing a failure with a New superego - a superego called Peer Pressure?
I know I did in Grade Five -
And now I must "burn in bale and smother in smoke" -
The smoke of an ersatz purgatory's pharmaceutical cure for Asperger's!
Disciplined at last, I still can’t skate…
But through my faith and through enjoying my books, I can now laugh at what is, after all is said and done -
A very minor loss😉❗️
For my books now fill our home…
Along with my wife and my own riotous literary love and laughter!
March 21, 2022
Hans Brinker was written by Mary Mapes Dodge in 1865. My copy is a first edition from 1925, published by Saalfield Publishing Company which is no longer in business. Reading a book that is nearly 100 years old sure took me back in time. As I carefully turned the brown, brittle pages and read the story from a bygone era, I felt a physical as well as mental connection with the characters in the story.
Although she had never been to Holland, Mary wrote this story after doing a little research from other books. Considering that she just couldn't Google everything or go online for information, I have to give her a lot of credit for the story she put together. It was believable. If you are Dutch, or have their blood in you, this is an excellent book for discovering your heritage. Not only is everyday life described, but the topography of the land as well. Customs and Dutch words are mentioned, and I thought it a little strange that the children referred to their parents as 'the mother' and 'the father.' But maybe that was how it was back then. And being as this was written well before the world wars; the Spanish are often referred to with as much venom as later Dutch would refer to the Nazis because of what we would now consider war crimes.
Basically, the story centers around Dutch children, some rich, some poor. From the sound of it, most travel was done on ice skates in winter and towards the end of the story the children are competing in a race where the prize is a very fancy and expensive pair of ice skates.
Now some today might think that the children obeying their parents and having manners is a bit corny, but I tend to believe that was how things were back then. This is not to say there wasn't any crime, but their environment was much more controlled back then with a closed society. There weren't any books or music that promoted sex and violence that targeted the teens. The kids appreciated the music, art, and literature of the masters. Though some might think this has the makings of a Hallmark movie, I think anybody interested in history would appreciate it.
Although she had never been to Holland, Mary wrote this story after doing a little research from other books. Considering that she just couldn't Google everything or go online for information, I have to give her a lot of credit for the story she put together. It was believable. If you are Dutch, or have their blood in you, this is an excellent book for discovering your heritage. Not only is everyday life described, but the topography of the land as well. Customs and Dutch words are mentioned, and I thought it a little strange that the children referred to their parents as 'the mother' and 'the father.' But maybe that was how it was back then. And being as this was written well before the world wars; the Spanish are often referred to with as much venom as later Dutch would refer to the Nazis because of what we would now consider war crimes.
Basically, the story centers around Dutch children, some rich, some poor. From the sound of it, most travel was done on ice skates in winter and towards the end of the story the children are competing in a race where the prize is a very fancy and expensive pair of ice skates.
Now some today might think that the children obeying their parents and having manners is a bit corny, but I tend to believe that was how things were back then. This is not to say there wasn't any crime, but their environment was much more controlled back then with a closed society. There weren't any books or music that promoted sex and violence that targeted the teens. The kids appreciated the music, art, and literature of the masters. Though some might think this has the makings of a Hallmark movie, I think anybody interested in history would appreciate it.
February 2, 2018
What a delightful book this is. I am generally disappointed by children’s books, but Mary Mapes Dodge did not talk down to her audience, and as a result the read is enjoyable, even for an adult.
Interestingly enough, I had thought this book was written by a Hollander, but it was written by an American. She obviously wanted her young readers to learn something about a nation that she so clearly admired, so she included a great deal of history, descriptions of customs and well-drawn images of the countryside and the cities. The history was interwoven into the story as a group of boys showed off their land to a visiting English lad. It was done deftly, so that you could learn a great deal without feeling you had just sat through a lecture, and it did not subtract from, but rather added to, the boy’s adventures.
The story at the heart of the book, a tale of a poor but proud family with a seriously ailing father and a race in which the two children, Gretel and Hans compete to win a pair of silver skates, was nothing like the idea that I had harbored over the years. I never read the book as a child, so somewhere along the way I had adopted an erroneous idea of the plot. The actual story was much more complex and far more interesting than the one had imagined.
I’m sure modern children might find this a little old-fashioned, but it was sweet, had a good moral purpose, and would make a worthwhile read for them all the same.
Interestingly enough, I had thought this book was written by a Hollander, but it was written by an American. She obviously wanted her young readers to learn something about a nation that she so clearly admired, so she included a great deal of history, descriptions of customs and well-drawn images of the countryside and the cities. The history was interwoven into the story as a group of boys showed off their land to a visiting English lad. It was done deftly, so that you could learn a great deal without feeling you had just sat through a lecture, and it did not subtract from, but rather added to, the boy’s adventures.
The story at the heart of the book, a tale of a poor but proud family with a seriously ailing father and a race in which the two children, Gretel and Hans compete to win a pair of silver skates, was nothing like the idea that I had harbored over the years. I never read the book as a child, so somewhere along the way I had adopted an erroneous idea of the plot. The actual story was much more complex and far more interesting than the one had imagined.
I’m sure modern children might find this a little old-fashioned, but it was sweet, had a good moral purpose, and would make a worthwhile read for them all the same.
February 22, 2019
Mary Mapes Dodge (1831-1905) was, at the time she wrote this novel, a widowed mom who'd moved back in with her well-to-do family after the death of her financially-embarrassed husband. Herself well educated by private tutors, she originally began to write educational short stories for her own kids; this led to publishing a volume of them, and the success of that book prompted calls for a novel. This book, published in 1865 and set in Holland "long ago" (when I first read it, I surmised from the content that it was probably set in the 1840s, which would be "long ago" to elementary school kids in 1865), was the result. Part of her purpose in writing it, beyond telling an engaging story, was to educate her youthful readers about Dutch history and culture --it's a "multicultural" book before that concept was a buzzword. (Interestingly, Dodge herself had never traveled outside the U.S.; she got her interest in Holland, and much of her information, from two then-popular books on Dutch history by John Lothrop Motley.)
I've read this book twice, once as a kid, and again to my wife as an adult; both of us liked it. (1986 is a rough guess as to the date for the second read.) Reaction to it from the three people in my friend circle who've reviewed it varied sharply; two gave it four stars and one didn't finish it. The latter was put off by the material on Dutch history, and by the "chatty" style --that is to say, like some other older authors, Dodge will breach the so-called "fourth wall" at times and address the reader directly. Modern literary critics deem this a stylistic no-no. 19th-century critics didn't, and I'm inclined to agree with their freer approach; if a writer has reason for it and can pull it off smoothly, without overusing it, I'm okay with the device. I didn't find it off-putting here. In keeping with the author's intent, the book packs a lot of historical, geographic and cultural information; in the main, this is integrated pretty naturally into the narrative, but some of the history can have an "info-dumpy" quality. Even when it did, though, I found it fascinating enough that it didn't take me out of the story (of course, I'm a history major!). For me, the exposure to Dutch historical anecdotes and folkways was actually a strength of the book.
Published at the chronological dividing line between what literary scholars would later call the Romantic and Realist periods in American literature, the novel exhibits aspects of both schools. Dodge has an interest in describing the life of her setting as realistically as any of the regionalist Realists did theirs; but she also tells a tale that's emotionally appealing, with a struggling family that engages our sympathy and concern. It's not a spoiler to say the storyline is upbeat; this isn't a dark tome of moral and existential pessimism (and I'm not among those who imagine that novels are better if they are). The author also incorporates moral examples into her writing, but this is done in a way that grows out of the events, and the writing is not ponderously didactic in the manner of a lot of 19th-century children's literature. Her diction is no more difficult nor ornate than that of most of her contemporaries, and shouldn't pose a real problem for any good reader.
I didn't recommend this specifically for children, though I think modern kids who aren't put off by reading about characters who lived before their own time, and who aren't intimidated by the idea that the book was written in the 19th century, could potentially enjoy it. But there's nothing uniquely "kiddish" about it, except for the fact that the main characters are mostly kids; the children that Dodge was writing for were better educated and more mature, and had somewhat more commonality mentally with adults, than most of their modern counterparts. Some adult readers today can get into the plot (Barb and I are living proof, as are other Goodreaders!), and adult readers can certainly appreciate some of the deadpan humor, and the character development through telling details.
In her own time, Dodge was one of relatively few American writers who were widely appreciated outside the U.S., and I think the appreciation was justified. As usual, my reaction to the book falls in the middle ground; but I do consider it a good, though not great, novel, and solidly like it.
I've read this book twice, once as a kid, and again to my wife as an adult; both of us liked it. (1986 is a rough guess as to the date for the second read.) Reaction to it from the three people in my friend circle who've reviewed it varied sharply; two gave it four stars and one didn't finish it. The latter was put off by the material on Dutch history, and by the "chatty" style --that is to say, like some other older authors, Dodge will breach the so-called "fourth wall" at times and address the reader directly. Modern literary critics deem this a stylistic no-no. 19th-century critics didn't, and I'm inclined to agree with their freer approach; if a writer has reason for it and can pull it off smoothly, without overusing it, I'm okay with the device. I didn't find it off-putting here. In keeping with the author's intent, the book packs a lot of historical, geographic and cultural information; in the main, this is integrated pretty naturally into the narrative, but some of the history can have an "info-dumpy" quality. Even when it did, though, I found it fascinating enough that it didn't take me out of the story (of course, I'm a history major!). For me, the exposure to Dutch historical anecdotes and folkways was actually a strength of the book.
Published at the chronological dividing line between what literary scholars would later call the Romantic and Realist periods in American literature, the novel exhibits aspects of both schools. Dodge has an interest in describing the life of her setting as realistically as any of the regionalist Realists did theirs; but she also tells a tale that's emotionally appealing, with a struggling family that engages our sympathy and concern. It's not a spoiler to say the storyline is upbeat; this isn't a dark tome of moral and existential pessimism (and I'm not among those who imagine that novels are better if they are). The author also incorporates moral examples into her writing, but this is done in a way that grows out of the events, and the writing is not ponderously didactic in the manner of a lot of 19th-century children's literature. Her diction is no more difficult nor ornate than that of most of her contemporaries, and shouldn't pose a real problem for any good reader.
I didn't recommend this specifically for children, though I think modern kids who aren't put off by reading about characters who lived before their own time, and who aren't intimidated by the idea that the book was written in the 19th century, could potentially enjoy it. But there's nothing uniquely "kiddish" about it, except for the fact that the main characters are mostly kids; the children that Dodge was writing for were better educated and more mature, and had somewhat more commonality mentally with adults, than most of their modern counterparts. Some adult readers today can get into the plot (Barb and I are living proof, as are other Goodreaders!), and adult readers can certainly appreciate some of the deadpan humor, and the character development through telling details.
In her own time, Dodge was one of relatively few American writers who were widely appreciated outside the U.S., and I think the appreciation was justified. As usual, my reaction to the book falls in the middle ground; but I do consider it a good, though not great, novel, and solidly like it.
January 12, 2023
Luxuries unfit us for returning to hardships easily endured before.
That is one of the little gems which pop up throughout this classic book of children's literature. Published in 1865, it was second only to Dickens that year in sales. Written by an American who had never been to the Netherlands before the book was written, it has, apparently, been a much-loved book handed down through the generations. Although I come from Flemish/Dutch ancestry, this book was unknown in my family, perhaps because it is truly an American invention. Indeed, it even contains the story of the Little Boy And The Dike (not Hans Brinker), which is also a pure American legend attributed to the Dutch. Strange.
Hans is a very poor boy who lives with his mother and little sister in a run-down hovel. They used to have a middle class life with a healthy father, but he fell off a dike and hurt his head. Comatose, he is of no use to the family who must rely on poor Hans for any income he can provide. The Silver Skates are the prize to be rewarded to the fastest boy and girl in the Dutch speed races on the frozen canals. Hans really wants those skates, but his love of family comes first.
Although Hans Brinker is the title character, much of the book is given to the journey of a group of local well-to-do boys who skate through the towns, providing a narrative of the various Dutch museums, Dutch traditions, and Dutch food for the reader. It all eventually comes back to the little poor family and the quest for a happy ending.
I really enjoyed reading this book and its various descriptions.
...we Americans, who after all are homeopathic preparations of Holland stock...
AND
The Dutch have always been forced to pump for their very existence and probably must continue to do so to the end of time.
The frightening possibility of being flooded in the middle of the night is never forgotten here, as the tragic floods of the past are mentioned. There's also the tale of the Rasphouse, which was a cell for lazy prisoners. Into this tiny space would pour a steady stream of water and the prisoner would have to pump constantly to keep himself from drowning. Very interesting.
Mostly, I loved the family spirit and the steady get-through-the-day background which also permeated my own parents. 'Little and often soon fills the pouch' was a motto for my mother, that is, don't get seduced by the fast American lifestyle, just live the simple life and save for the future. I like that. My klompen still go out every December 6th, albeit with Flemish, not Dutch, tokens.
As Samuel Butler versed,
A land that rides at anchor, and is moor'd
In which they do not live, but go aboard.
Book Season = Winter (frozen waterways)
November 7, 2018
Audiobook #192
December 30, 2022
Varētu jau teikt, ka autore ļoti aizpļāpājas prom no galvenās tēmas stāstot par zēnu grupas salidojumu uz Hāgu, bet viņa tik aizrautīgi stāsta par sadzīvi un apmeklētajām vietām, ka tas ir piedodami. Varētu arī pasmīkņāt par eksaltētajām sarunām un brīnumainajiem pavērsieniem, bet stāsts kopumā ir tik sirdi sildošs un jauks, ka arī tas ir piedodami. Kad gribas noticēt labajam, noticēt brīnumiem un tam, ka dzīvē pastāv morāles un ētikas normas, tad šī ir patīkami lasāmviela gada nogalei. Vai stāstītais par Holandi un holandiešiem ir patiess - tas pat nešķiet būtiski.
July 28, 2022
I loved this book as a kid and reread it several times. It was especially enjoyable while eating Dutch chocolate shoes. ;-) This book made me fascinated with all things Holland. I still have the edition I read when I was 8 or 9.
August 30, 2015
Worst. Book. Ever.
Okay, maybe not the worst, but a really boring, awful book. The actual story of Hans could be told in about fifty pages. The edition I read on Google Books was nearly three hundred pages long. I can appreciate it for the historical things--I've read enough books from this time period to know that the personalities of the Brinker children and some of the other boys are how the authors imagined children, and the "history of Holland" asides are in there to educate small children back in the day--but the book was much too long and drawn-out to actually be entertaining, especially for a modern reader. I wouldn't recommend this at all.
1/5 on here, 1/10 for myself
Okay, maybe not the worst, but a really boring, awful book. The actual story of Hans could be told in about fifty pages. The edition I read on Google Books was nearly three hundred pages long. I can appreciate it for the historical things--I've read enough books from this time period to know that the personalities of the Brinker children and some of the other boys are how the authors imagined children, and the "history of Holland" asides are in there to educate small children back in the day--but the book was much too long and drawn-out to actually be entertaining, especially for a modern reader. I wouldn't recommend this at all.
1/5 on here, 1/10 for myself
December 5, 2018
Super naivi, bet arī ziemīgi un labsirdīgi, kā jau decembrim pienākas. Un pat diezgan aizraujoši!
February 9, 2010
I'm reading this to decide if it gets to stay with me or not. I have a very, very bad (or maybe good) habit of buying books I haven't read because I've heard they're good. Or I want to read them. Or they're on sale. This was one such book. 'Hey, everyone has read Hans Brinker, I should too.'
Thus far I'm really liking it so maybe it was a good thing I bought it (several years ago and am just now getting around to it).
September 20, 2009 - I finished! Yes, it took me much longer to read than normal, but I only read it when I was upstairs, with nothing to do, which pretty much never happens.
I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet and nice and gentle but didn't feel all girly and foofy. I think my boys will like it. You learn a lot about Holland and about history along the way. The story plot is interesting and the characters intriguing. There isn't a lot of character development, but you still get a pretty good feel for them and most of them are just such good, decent, kind people that you love them even if you don't know much about them.
I think we'll read this when we study Holland. And it will get to stay with me.
Thus far I'm really liking it so maybe it was a good thing I bought it (several years ago and am just now getting around to it).
September 20, 2009 - I finished! Yes, it took me much longer to read than normal, but I only read it when I was upstairs, with nothing to do, which pretty much never happens.
I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet and nice and gentle but didn't feel all girly and foofy. I think my boys will like it. You learn a lot about Holland and about history along the way. The story plot is interesting and the characters intriguing. There isn't a lot of character development, but you still get a pretty good feel for them and most of them are just such good, decent, kind people that you love them even if you don't know much about them.
I think we'll read this when we study Holland. And it will get to stay with me.
July 16, 2017
A wonderful tale of a close-knit family, set in the beauty of Holland. I come back to this nearly every winter! A perfect read to curl up in front of the fireplace with.
July 12, 2016
This is one of the greatest books for children I've ever met. Indeed you won't meet such books nowadays, not with such a beautiful language and such good lessons to teach.
I've read Hans Brinker twice. The first time was when I was 11 or 12 and it impressed me so much that till now it is the second association with Holland for me (after the tulips :))
So when this year I was searching for something to read during the Christmastime and occasionally saw the title among the list of other Christmas books on some website I had no doubts I should reread it.
Now I'd like to offer a list of reasons why I believe this book to be a must-read for children in particular and for anyone else who wants to remember his\her childhood:
1. As I've already put it the language is really beautiful , but at the same time it's simple enough for children to understand. here I'd like to stress that you'll like this book much more if you have a good imagination for the innumerable descriptions are aimed to satisfy it and enable you to see everything with the eyes of your own. Here is the one I personally liked most of all:
2. Strange as it may seem never having been to the Netherlands Mary Mapes Dodge created the book that made thousands of people visit this country. There are some chapters which are entirely devoted to the description of Dutch cities and way of life. Silver Skates is a real encyclopedia of Dutch culture so anyone who reads it for the first time will certainly find something new and curious for himself.
3. The plot is quite interesting if you don't mind many descriptions but this is NOT a page turner. This is a book of atmosphere so to say, you are to take delight in reading it slowly, carefully, attentively, if you want something exiting with a complicated plot structure, than leave this book for a more suitable mood.
4. And of course I can't but admit that Hans Brinker or Silver Skates is a moralistic book , but it's lessons are not boring ones, they are put not only through the words, but through the situations through the characters themselves. This book teaches children to be kind, generous, honest, to be grateful to their parents and true to their friends.
I hope I've said enough to persuade ou that this work is worth reading and if not, just open the first page and the book will speak for itself.
I've read Hans Brinker twice. The first time was when I was 11 or 12 and it impressed me so much that till now it is the second association with Holland for me (after the tulips :))
So when this year I was searching for something to read during the Christmastime and occasionally saw the title among the list of other Christmas books on some website I had no doubts I should reread it.
Now I'd like to offer a list of reasons why I believe this book to be a must-read for children in particular and for anyone else who wants to remember his\her childhood:
1. As I've already put it the language is really beautiful , but at the same time it's simple enough for children to understand. here I'd like to stress that you'll like this book much more if you have a good imagination for the innumerable descriptions are aimed to satisfy it and enable you to see everything with the eyes of your own. Here is the one I personally liked most of all:
"Some one was playing upon the organ. As the boys entered, a swell of sound rushed forth to meet them. It seemed to bear them, one by one, into the shadows of the building.
Louder and louder it grew until it became like the din and roar of some mighty tempest, or like the ocean surging upon the shore. In the midst of the tumult a tinkling bell was heard; another answered, then another, and the storm paused as if to listen. The bells grew bolder; they rang out loud and clear. Other deep toned bells joined in; they were tolling in solemn concert—ding, dong! ding, dong! The storm broke forth again with redoubled fury—gathering its distant thunder. The boys looked at each other, but did not speak. It was growing serious. What was that? Who screamed? What screamed—that terrible, musical scream? Was it man or demon? Or was it some monster shut up behind that carved brass frame—behind those great silver columns—some despairing monster begging, screaming for freedom? It was the Vox Humana!
At last an answer came,—soft, tender, loving, like a mother's song. The storm grew silent; hidden birds sprang forth filling the air with glad, ecstatic music, rising higher and higher until the last faint note was lost in the distance.
The Vox Humana was stilled; but in the glorious hymn of thanksgiving that now arose, one could almost hear the throbbing of a human heart. What did it mean? That man's imploring cry should in time be met with a deep content? That gratitude would give us freedom? To Peter and Ben it seemed that the angels were singing. Their eyes grew dim, and their souls dizzy with a strange joy. At last, as if borne upward by invisible hands, they were floating away on the music, all fatigue forgotten, and with no wish but to hear forever those beautiful sounds."
2. Strange as it may seem never having been to the Netherlands Mary Mapes Dodge created the book that made thousands of people visit this country. There are some chapters which are entirely devoted to the description of Dutch cities and way of life. Silver Skates is a real encyclopedia of Dutch culture so anyone who reads it for the first time will certainly find something new and curious for himself.
3. The plot is quite interesting if you don't mind many descriptions but this is NOT a page turner. This is a book of atmosphere so to say, you are to take delight in reading it slowly, carefully, attentively, if you want something exiting with a complicated plot structure, than leave this book for a more suitable mood.
4. And of course I can't but admit that Hans Brinker or Silver Skates is a moralistic book , but it's lessons are not boring ones, they are put not only through the words, but through the situations through the characters themselves. This book teaches children to be kind, generous, honest, to be grateful to their parents and true to their friends.
I hope I've said enough to persuade ou that this work is worth reading and if not, just open the first page and the book will speak for itself.
January 10, 2024
Первое книжно-клубное путешествие этого года — Нидерланды.
Надеваю свой клоунский нос на резиночке, потому что эта книга меня ужасно раздражала поначалу, но к середине уже было не оторваться.
Я ожидала красивую добрую и очень простую сказку, но эта история, на самом деле, очень неравномерная и как будто состоит из множества слоев: здесь и историческая справка о стране, и изо всех сил выдавливающая из читателя слезу бедная семья, и местные дети с их заманчивым путешествием на льду, и такие вкусные описания еды в трактире, что срочно хочется бежать в книжный за специальной литературой по голландской кухне, и много любви и гордости за нацию, которая подарила миру разнообразных деятелей искусства и воинов.
Приличная часть книги резко переходит в нонфикшен о Нидерландах, и это сбивает с толку, потому что рассказано мальчишками, а ощущение, что правда читаешь огромное историческое и социологическое эссе, но я не против. Именно благодаря этой части я с чистой совестью отдаю пять звездочек, пусть их разговоры на морозных дорожках и в музеях звучат не очень натурально для дет��й их возраста.
История Ханса, Гретель и их семьи не показалась мне приятной или интересной, не люблю, когда авторы настолько уж очевидно манипулируют эмоциями, но ближе к концу все исправилось. И все же, думаю, текст так и просится стать больше во много раз, познакомить с другими соседями и детворой, рассказать больше о дружбе мальчишек и буднях девчонок, превратиться в уютное чтение о северном городе, где хочется следить за каждым его обитателем. Намеков на это хватает, но, увы, книга для своего масштаба событий довольно небольшая.
Но с чем она точно справляется — так это с атмосферой. Ее здесь не то что хватает, она переливается за края, хотя авторка американка, что не мешает ей создавать удивительный голландский пейзаж, где все как будто на своем месте. И, конечно, все это только сильнее вдохновляет на дальнейшее знакомство с Нидерландами, за что я говорю искреннее спасибо.
Надеваю свой клоунский нос на резиночке, потому что эта книга меня ужасно раздражала поначалу, но к середине уже было не оторваться.
Я ожидала красивую добрую и очень простую сказку, но эта история, на самом деле, очень неравномерная и как будто состоит из множества слоев: здесь и историческая справка о стране, и изо всех сил выдавливающая из читателя слезу бедная семья, и местные дети с их заманчивым путешествием на льду, и такие вкусные описания еды в трактире, что срочно хочется бежать в книжный за специальной литературой по голландской кухне, и много любви и гордости за нацию, которая подарила миру разнообразных деятелей искусства и воинов.
Приличная часть книги резко переходит в нонфикшен о Нидерландах, и это сбивает с толку, потому что рассказано мальчишками, а ощущение, что правда читаешь огромное историческое и социологическое эссе, но я не против. Именно благодаря этой части я с чистой совестью отдаю пять звездочек, пусть их разговоры на морозных дорожках и в музеях звучат не очень натурально для дет��й их возраста.
История Ханса, Гретель и их семьи не показалась мне приятной или интересной, не люблю, когда авторы настолько уж очевидно манипулируют эмоциями, но ближе к концу все исправилось. И все же, думаю, текст так и просится стать больше во много раз, познакомить с другими соседями и детворой, рассказать больше о дружбе мальчишек и буднях девчонок, превратиться в уютное чтение о северном городе, где хочется следить за каждым его обитателем. Намеков на это хватает, но, увы, книга для своего масштаба событий довольно небольшая.
Но с чем она точно справляется — так это с атмосферой. Ее здесь не то что хватает, она переливается за края, хотя авторка американка, что не мешает ей создавать удивительный голландский пейзаж, где все как будто на своем месте. И, конечно, все это только сильнее вдохновляет на дальнейшее знакомство с Нидерландами, за что я говорю искреннее спасибо.
August 28, 2024
ENGLISH: This book was written for American boys and girls, to explain the history and geography of the Netherlands, but the author also wanted that the book should be pleasing for the Dutch. Unfortunately, to get this, the author manipulated Dutch history so as to leave the Spaniards in the wrong, and thus made her book disagreeable for Spaniards like myself.
How did she manipulate history? She presents the war of independence of the Dutch as a fight against a foreign aggression, when it was the opposite: it was a rebellion against their lawful king, and therefore, according to the mentality of the epoch, it was treason. For the Lower Countries had been attached to the Habsburg long before the Habsburg became kings of Spain, too.
The protagonists of the story seem to be two poor siblings (boy and girl) whose father has lost his mind as the consequence of an accident. The children want to participate in a skating competition to try and win two pairs of silver skates. But in the central part of the book those children disappear and the novel becomes the story of a long skating trip by a completely different group of children, who in this way visit Haarlem, Leyden and Den Haag, taking advantage of the trip to explain the geography and history of the Netherlands and to insult the Spaniards: ...those murderous Spaniards, as one of the children (an English boy, by the way) calls them.
ESPAÑOL: Este libro fue escrito para niños y niñas estadounidenses, para explicar la historia y la geografía de los Países Bajos, pero la autora también quiso que su libro gustara a los holandeses. Desafortunadamente, para conseguirlo, la autora manipuló la historia de Holanda haciendo a los españoles culpables de todo, y así consigue que su libro sea desagradable para españoles como yo.
¿Cómo manipuló la historia? Presentando la guerra de la independencia holandesa como la defensa contra una agresión extranjera, cuando fue todo lo contrario: una rebelión contra su rey legítimo, y por tanto, según la mentalidad de la época, una traición. Porque los Países Bajos estaban asociados a los Habsburgo desde mucho antes de que los Habsburgo se convirtieran también en reyes de España.
Los protagonistas de la historia parecen ser dos hermanos pobres (chico y chica) cuyo padre perdió la razón en un accidente. Los niños quieren participar en una competición de patinaje para intentar ganar dos pares de patines plateados. Pero en la parte central del libro esos niños desaparecen y la novela se convierte en el relato de la larga excursión de patinaje de un grupo de niños completamente diferente, que de esa forma visitan Haarlem, Leyden y La Haya, aprovechando el viaje para explicar cosas sobre la geografía e historia de Holanda y para insultar a los Españoles: ...esos españoles asesinos, como los llama uno de los niños (inglés, por cierto).
How did she manipulate history? She presents the war of independence of the Dutch as a fight against a foreign aggression, when it was the opposite: it was a rebellion against their lawful king, and therefore, according to the mentality of the epoch, it was treason. For the Lower Countries had been attached to the Habsburg long before the Habsburg became kings of Spain, too.
The protagonists of the story seem to be two poor siblings (boy and girl) whose father has lost his mind as the consequence of an accident. The children want to participate in a skating competition to try and win two pairs of silver skates. But in the central part of the book those children disappear and the novel becomes the story of a long skating trip by a completely different group of children, who in this way visit Haarlem, Leyden and Den Haag, taking advantage of the trip to explain the geography and history of the Netherlands and to insult the Spaniards: ...those murderous Spaniards, as one of the children (an English boy, by the way) calls them.
ESPAÑOL: Este libro fue escrito para niños y niñas estadounidenses, para explicar la historia y la geografía de los Países Bajos, pero la autora también quiso que su libro gustara a los holandeses. Desafortunadamente, para conseguirlo, la autora manipuló la historia de Holanda haciendo a los españoles culpables de todo, y así consigue que su libro sea desagradable para españoles como yo.
¿Cómo manipuló la historia? Presentando la guerra de la independencia holandesa como la defensa contra una agresión extranjera, cuando fue todo lo contrario: una rebelión contra su rey legítimo, y por tanto, según la mentalidad de la época, una traición. Porque los Países Bajos estaban asociados a los Habsburgo desde mucho antes de que los Habsburgo se convirtieran también en reyes de España.
Los protagonistas de la historia parecen ser dos hermanos pobres (chico y chica) cuyo padre perdió la razón en un accidente. Los niños quieren participar en una competición de patinaje para intentar ganar dos pares de patines plateados. Pero en la parte central del libro esos niños desaparecen y la novela se convierte en el relato de la larga excursión de patinaje de un grupo de niños completamente diferente, que de esa forma visitan Haarlem, Leyden y La Haya, aprovechando el viaje para explicar cosas sobre la geografía e historia de Holanda y para insultar a los Españoles: ...esos españoles asesinos, como los llama uno de los niños (inglés, por cierto).
May 30, 2015
AS a child, I loved this book. I read it during the winter olympics. It just fascinated me. I reread it later in life and it's more of a learning book. It's not exciting really, but I would still recommend it
January 30, 2025
I read this book when I was a kid, and have often thought of Hans Brinker skating along the rivers in Holland. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it again all these decades later. Hans is a young man of 15 with a 12 year old sister, Gretel. The family has lived through difficult times for years, after an accident that rendered their father an invalid. He sustained a head injury that often leaves him helpless, and sometimes leaves him enraged and out of control. They live in poverty but do their best to stay hopeful. Hans dreams of winning the upcoming race where the prize is a pair of silver skates.
In the meantime, the story also follows the adventures of some of Han's schoolmates who go on a long skating trip throughout Holland. This adventure allows Mary Mapes Dodge (who was a prominent American children's writer) to talk about the history and geography of Holland in great detail, and I found myself enjoying this travelogue as much as Hans' own trials and triumphs.
The novel was written in 1865, so of course it doesn't escape sentimentality and the use of coincidence. In this case, Hans' father was meant to deliver a message on the night he was injured, and his failure to do so wreaked havoc in the life of the doctor who brings him back to health. The unravelling of all the misunderstandings and errors in judgement lead to a happy ending for all, and a satisfying read.
In the meantime, the story also follows the adventures of some of Han's schoolmates who go on a long skating trip throughout Holland. This adventure allows Mary Mapes Dodge (who was a prominent American children's writer) to talk about the history and geography of Holland in great detail, and I found myself enjoying this travelogue as much as Hans' own trials and triumphs.
The novel was written in 1865, so of course it doesn't escape sentimentality and the use of coincidence. In this case, Hans' father was meant to deliver a message on the night he was injured, and his failure to do so wreaked havoc in the life of the doctor who brings him back to health. The unravelling of all the misunderstandings and errors in judgement lead to a happy ending for all, and a satisfying read.
October 24, 2016
Το κοριτσακι με το άσχημο , φτωχικό παιδικό περιβάλλον, με εναν πατερα βαριά άρρωστο που βγαινει πρωτο σε παγοδρομίες και βαζει κατω τις σνομπ γνωστες της με τα λεφτα και τα φτιασίδια, ένα υπεροχο βιβλίο! Κερδίζει το έπαθλο σε πείσμα όλων και ας μάχεται με τις πιο αντίξοες συνθήκες !ψυχη,γενναιοτητα,ηθος!
February 2, 2017
This is an old-fashioned children's book, with a story meant to encourage the development of character and Christian values in its readers. I might be frustrated with its didactic tone if it were not for the fascinating background it gives on the Netherlands. Overall, it's rather charming.
December 7, 2019
A book which brings back many beloved childhood memories, especially around the Christmas season, the time of year I first read this book. Even though I was a child the first time I read it, it still retains it's magic.
Full of great life lessons for kids.
Full of great life lessons for kids.
June 20, 2011
would only be tolerable if abridged. I liked the story of Hans and his little family, their tragedy and their determination to get through it. But then somehow we got this group of young boys who were allowed to spend a winter holiday unsupervised with plenty of money skating all over Amsterdam, having various adventures, and delivering long tedious lessons about Dutch life and history and culture to the token English boy who makes all this slightly plausible. I SOOOOOOO didn't care. If want to read Dutch history - and I wouldn't mind, actually - I will, but if I want to read about the Brinkers, and I did when I picked up the book, TELL ME THE STORY YOU STARTED IN THE FIRST PLACE! Skipped to end, where of course, everything turned out happily ever after. So there.
June 21, 2018
I usually like a two-for-the-price-of-one bargain, but in the case of Hans Brinker it just didn't work. Mary Mapes Dodge not only wanted to tell the story of the poor, but hardworking protagonist, but she also wanted to weave in many heroes and legends of Dutch history. That would have been okay if this additional information had been skillfully woven into the narrative, but most of it was tacked on, interrupting the story's flow.
So why has this novel, with its burden of extraneous facts, survived for over 150 years? Because it's a wonderful story of family love, honest labor, and hard-won victories. It's much more than a novel about a Dutch boy's desire to win the coveted silver skates.
I ended up enjoying it very much in spite of the distracting digressions.
So why has this novel, with its burden of extraneous facts, survived for over 150 years? Because it's a wonderful story of family love, honest labor, and hard-won victories. It's much more than a novel about a Dutch boy's desire to win the coveted silver skates.
I ended up enjoying it very much in spite of the distracting digressions.
May 23, 2021
3.5 rounded up. I first read this MANY years ago, and could remember little about it. I had forgotten how small a part the silver skates play in it. There are many characters, who do have important parts. In fact, Hans and Gretel Brinker are the focus, but don't actually appear as much as you might think. Then there is the 'travel guide' of Holland telling all about the many wonderful places to visit as you read the book. Having visited Holland, it brought back good memories although I will be the first to admit that I cannot even stand on skates! For a look at a world long removed from today, this is your book.
October 27, 2018
È una storia che mi ha fatto ricordare Hansel e Gretel e la Piccola Fiammiferaia non so perché. Forse siccome sono una femmina e un maschio che compiranno un grande viaggio per guarire il padre (qui mi ricorda Hansel e Gretel) poi perché sono poveri e non possono permettersi nulla (la piccola...). Comunque è un libro che ho apprezzato ed è il primo che ho letto di questa autrice e sicuramente non sarà l' ultimo. Ve lo consiglio .
February 16, 2013
I was trolling my way through this one when my dog graciously destroyed it. He picked the right book at least. I could not get into this one at all...at least when I was a teenager. I might try it again if someone convinces me that should waste the last few precious moments of my life reading bland descriptions of Holland's landscape.
June 30, 2022
Hans Brinker is a classic children's story set in Holland and focusing on the poor, but honorable Brinker family. Hans, at 15 years old, and his little sister Gretel, 12, have few friends and miss out on much schooling because they must work to help their mother support their family. Mr. Brinker was a worker on the dykes and made a decent living until he suffered a head injury from a fall from the dyke ten years ago. Since that time, he never speaks and mostly just stares into space. But when he grows irritable and causes physical damage to their home and scares their mother, Hans decides that something must be done.
The two children wanted more than anything to be able to skate in the great race down the frozen canals. There would be two winners--a boy and a girl--and the prize would a set of beautiful silver skates. But the Brinkers cannot afford good skates and only have homemade skates made of sharpened wood and tied to their boots. Two kind-hearted children arrange for both Gretel and Hans to have fine, new skates. But proud Hans insists on working for the money and carves wooden necklaces. Peter, one of the kind-hearted children, suggests to his family that Hans could do the carving which they have wanted done on the front door frame. And Hans sees this as a way to earn money for a doctor.
But with his father's recent behavior, he has to approach the doctor before he has earned the money and sells his new skates to pay the doctor. Fortunately, Dr. Boekman takes a liking to Hans and offers his services for free. He performs a risky operation and Mr. Brinker regains his speech. Memories follow--but more slowly. The family are anxious for all of his memories to return because there are some mysteries to clear up.
I never realized that Hans Brinker had--in addition to a charming children's story--a mystery at the heart of it. Two mysteries, in fact. First, there is the missing savings of the Brinker family. A large sum of money--all of their savings--went missing on the same night that Mr. Brinker had his fall from the dyke. The second mystery involves Dr. Boekman's missing son. The answers to both mysteries are locked in Mr. Brinker's brain and it isn't until Hans convinces Dr. Boekman to treat his father that the mysteries will be solved.
This was an enjoyable, uplifting children's story that focuses on family, loyalty, and friendship. It, of course, has a happy ending though I appreciated the fact that Dodge tells us what happened to all of our primary characters in the years that followed. She also manages to relay a great amount of information gleaned in researches about the Netherlands without making the reader feel like the recipient of info dumps.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
The two children wanted more than anything to be able to skate in the great race down the frozen canals. There would be two winners--a boy and a girl--and the prize would a set of beautiful silver skates. But the Brinkers cannot afford good skates and only have homemade skates made of sharpened wood and tied to their boots. Two kind-hearted children arrange for both Gretel and Hans to have fine, new skates. But proud Hans insists on working for the money and carves wooden necklaces. Peter, one of the kind-hearted children, suggests to his family that Hans could do the carving which they have wanted done on the front door frame. And Hans sees this as a way to earn money for a doctor.
But with his father's recent behavior, he has to approach the doctor before he has earned the money and sells his new skates to pay the doctor. Fortunately, Dr. Boekman takes a liking to Hans and offers his services for free. He performs a risky operation and Mr. Brinker regains his speech. Memories follow--but more slowly. The family are anxious for all of his memories to return because there are some mysteries to clear up.
I never realized that Hans Brinker had--in addition to a charming children's story--a mystery at the heart of it. Two mysteries, in fact. First, there is the missing savings of the Brinker family. A large sum of money--all of their savings--went missing on the same night that Mr. Brinker had his fall from the dyke. The second mystery involves Dr. Boekman's missing son. The answers to both mysteries are locked in Mr. Brinker's brain and it isn't until Hans convinces Dr. Boekman to treat his father that the mysteries will be solved.
This was an enjoyable, uplifting children's story that focuses on family, loyalty, and friendship. It, of course, has a happy ending though I appreciated the fact that Dodge tells us what happened to all of our primary characters in the years that followed. She also manages to relay a great amount of information gleaned in researches about the Netherlands without making the reader feel like the recipient of info dumps.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
December 30, 2022
Be ready for two entirely different books in one. A story about a Dutch family. And a travel/history guide of the Netherlands. The main story takes a break often to follow several youths on their trips to various museums where the story phases into a textbook about the history, famous people, battles/events of the Netherlands.
I thought the story was great! Unpredictable and sweet with a wonderful ending and characters to learn from. And if you’re in need of a book about the Dutch, look know further; this can double as your study guide.
#Netherlands
Ages: 10+
Cleanliness: mentions smoking, some alcohol. A senseless man has a violent moment with members of his family (he is not mentally all there).
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
I thought the story was great! Unpredictable and sweet with a wonderful ending and characters to learn from. And if you’re in need of a book about the Dutch, look know further; this can double as your study guide.
#Netherlands
Ages: 10+
Cleanliness: mentions smoking, some alcohol. A senseless man has a violent moment with members of his family (he is not mentally all there).
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
February 11, 2021
Patika gan man, gan pusaudzim (12g), mazākajam bērnam (7g) bija par sarežģītu un viņš jau sākumā paziņoja, ka šo viņš neklausīsies. Pusaudzim vismazāk patika galveno varoņu vēsturiski izglītojošās diskusijas, kas, savukārt, mani nošarmēja visvairāk! Lai gan stāsts vairāk nekā 150 gadus vecs, sabiedrībā valdošās problēmas nav mainījušās - nabadzīgo un bagāto atšķirības, mobings, draugu un draudzeņu būšanas... Tikai tā cieņa, kas valda ģimenēs šajā stāstā, manuprāt, ir daudz lielāka. Un vēl - Nīderlandē tagad reti kad ziemās aizsalst kanāli, lai pa viņiem varētu slidot. Globālās sasilšanas sekas. Beigas, kā jau pieklājas bērnu grāmatās, visādā ziņā priecīgas! :)
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