A Sailor Returns by Theodore Taylor

by Theodore Taylor

Book by Taylor, Theodore

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personal Response: This book wasn't as good as I thought it would be. This book did not talk about fishing or anything that I thought it would be. It had lots of drama that I did not really care for, that was my reason for only giving it a 2 out of 5 star.

Characterization: There is only 2 main characters in this book, one of them is grandpa. He comes back to America to meet his daughter and become part of the family. She has a hard time accepting him, but her daughter Even loves grandpa and wants him to stay. Grandpa wants to take Even fishing because he never went fishing and Grandpa was a fisherman. Even opens out to Even and they become best friends.

Plot: Not much happens in this book. Grandpa comes back and wants to be a part of the family again. Once he is part of the family he gets accused of murder. He did not do it, but he did kill someone in self defence many years ago in England. The judge charges him guilty and he gets sent to prison and then the book ends.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to girls around the age of 6-14. I say this because this book had a lot of drama and i feel that girls that age would enjoy this book a lot more then I did.

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book! Unusal, exciting, full of delightful twists and fun for all ages. Cross Treasure Island with Kidnapped, children's versions and a little something else thrown in.

[Barbara Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice story, very little action, but many descriptions of foreign lands and people. Also, the plot twists were very thought provoking.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sentimental little tale. I'm not sure how much interest the world has in sentimental stories about boys finding their lost grandpa. But I do get the impression that young Theodore Taylor had an interesting relationship with the adults in his life. It's here in this one, and in The Cay, his gem. It was an unexpected treat to stumble upon this story.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

1914

Not a typical tale for young readers. Takes on a lot of tough issues: abandonment, secrets, shameful history, birth defect, distant father, death, ... What do kids have to say about it?

Not really engaging, but probably memorable.

[Michael Xie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so moving

[Nicolas Parrado · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sailor Returns is told in the third person omniscient, it is about a boy named Evan who lives in Virginia and thought that his grandfather was dead because he hadn't seen him for a long time.
One day surprisingly his grandfather named Tom came to visit Evan and his family, when Evans grandpa came they did a lot of good stuff, like going out on a boat to fish, and building their own boat that was 12 feet long. Also Evan was taught how to get rid of a kid that was bullying him at school named Michael.
The best part of the Story was when a neighbor near where Evan lives named Mr. Faircloth was murdered, a detective named Gordon had to find out who did it and it was exciting.
As we approach the end of the story Tom had to leave and Evan was glad to spend some time with his grandfather and learn things about him, it was a great experience he had.
This book will be a great book to read for people who like to read books about people who haven't seen each other for a long time and do fun stuff together, this book isn't amazing but it will keep you entertained.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The set is in located in Virginia on its docks in the early 1900’s in the summer time. A young boy Evan, age 11, is waiting on his mother farther or his grandpa from a long lost journey he took long ago. Evan’s mother is not sure if her dad is ready to meet her family yet, after his 30 year absence. When Evan’s grandfather (Tom) arrives to meet him he falls short of Evan’s expectations by being short, skinny, having a small stature, and a limp. Evan eventually finds out he is a lot cooler that he looks by having cool stories and adventures from his times when he was a young man sailing the seas. They have a couple of things in common like fishing and a limp and they bond with each other over these things. Also Evan tells his grandfather that he was being bullied buy a guy named mike because Evan has a limp leg. Tom tells how to deal with his bully by taking matters into his own hands. Latter Tom gets put in jail for something he did not do…


Over all this book was good to me and I hope it is good for all who read this.

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children dream of adventure yet live in a routine, mundane schedule. This book tells of adventure, but more of the longing and dreaming of it.

A boy meets his grandfather who was lost at sea. His stories hold the boy spell-bound. The grandfather also creates adventure for his grandson's life by taking him fishing and building a boat---two of the boy's dreams.

Yet the grandfather compares his adventuring days to the present, belonging, and he treasures the now much more.

A book about valuing the present, yet encouraging dreams, knowing what is important and appreciating it.

Not an exciting book, but a good one on relationships.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this book probably gets 2 1/2 starts, just because it's so predictable. I'm also not crazy about the italicized inner dialogue of the grandfather character. Thinking her father died at sea when she was 3 years old, Jane gets a letter from her father saying he is alive and wants to meet her. Jane's 11-year-old son, Evan, is thrilled and immediately creates an image of his grandfather. Grandfather shows up and he has a few secrets. Not bad, but not amazing, either.

Reading scavenger hunt: 3 generations of the same family

[Dayna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Pentreath Bryant's father was a sailor. He abandoned her after her mother's death thirty years ago. Now she is married with a son and another child on the way. She receives a letter from the father she's never known who wants to come visit. Eleven-year-old Evan is thrilled; he can't wait to meet his grandfather the sailor. Grandfather Tom wants to be part of the family, but he's hiding a secret; will his new family be able to forgive his past? This is a touching and endearing story. A real gem.

[Mferrell 9874 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet young reader's book about a boy's relationship with his previously unmet grandfather.