The Matchlock Gun

by Walter D. Edmonds, Paul Lantz (Illustrator)

A Newbery Medal Winner

In 1756, New York State was still a British colony, and the French and the Indians were constant threats to Edward and his family. When his father was called away to watch for a raid from the north, only Edward was left to protect Mama and little Trudy. His father had shown him how to use the huge matchlock gun, an old Spanish gun that was twice as long as he was, but would Edward be able to handle it if trouble actually came? This classic, first published in 1941, has an updated, kid-friendly format that includes the original black-and-white illustrations.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Classics, American History

84 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

Walter Dumaux Edmonds has been a National Book Award winner and recipient of the Newbery Medal. He is the author of Bert Breen’s Barn, The Boyds of Black River, In the Hands of the Senecas, Mostly Canallers, Rome Haul, Time to Go House, and most recently the autobiographical Tales My Father Never Told, all available from Syracuse University Press.

Reviews

[Benji Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has been the shortest Newbery winner, by far. I believe it took me about 30 minutes to read it.

In the beginning, it was ok. A boy is left with an old-timey gun to protect his mom and sister during the French-Indian War. It's kind of exciting, the type of a book that boys love. I have some students that would probably still read and enjoy this book.

I'm ok with a book about hostilities between Native Americans and European settlers. It happened. It's history. I'm even kind of ok with the racist Native American stereotypes. No, I don't think that books like this one or Daniel Boone would be or should be published today, but I do understand that this was how white Americans viewed Native Americans, both at the times when the books were set, and in the 1940's when the books were published. It's a shame, but it is how they viewed them, and if we ignore history, we can't learn from it.

My main problem was with the end. The boy had just shot three Native Americans. Three human beings. Yes, they were attacking his farm, and yes, they did just hit his mother with a tomahawk, but still, he killed three people, and instead of being even a little bit remorseful or traumatized, or even worried about his wounded mother, he was just like, "That was so cool. I just killed three Injuns. I can't wait to show my kids this gun and tell them the story when I'm a grown up." I don't think that anyone, much less a little boy, can take someone else's life without being at least a little concerned about it. That made the ending really unbelievable, and bit distasteful for me.

I think the real problem is that the author (and the author of Daniel Boone) doesn't view the Native Americans as people at all. They are more like really intelligent animals, and killing them isn't any worse than killing a bear or a mountain lion. It's sad, but that's the vibe I got.

[Drew Wilkerson · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was absolutely nothing redeeming about this book. I realize a Newbery winner from 70 years ago is going to be different, but I don't see how this was ever considered the most outstanding contribution to literature. Perhaps a kid killing Indians was meant to inspire the children during World War II? Wow, what an embarrassment for the Newbery name.

[Jacklyn (ReadingBliss) · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those considering reading this Newberry award winning book to their children, I would suggest you be understanding and accepting that this tale is told from a different era that takes place during a time of war and hardship. Although not graphic by any means, it depicts an imagery to those who can grasp the concept, of causing harm to others (war) and death (killing or be killed attitude/self defense). Personally, I am interested, and on a quest, to become familiar with as many children's award winning literature as I possibly can. I want to know and possess my own opinion about each one so that I may know what America constitutes as the most fulfilling reads for children. As an aspiring children's professional, I feel this knowledge will prove invaluable as my child grows and in any educational capacity involving other's children so I can better match literature to parent's and children's maturity and interests.

With that said, I thought the merit of the award was obvious. The culture and priorities of that particular moment in time shines brightly in this short, illustrated caption of a boy and his family settling in New America with the indians, surrounded by fear of the unknown and misunderstood. It is not a happy tale, but one I can believe was a personal experience by many, including the small portrayal of the indian's past. If you do not consider the content to be child-friendly, I think it is mostly due to how times have changed and children are not expected to endure similar circumstances in America any longer, so priorities and portrayals of perspectives are desired to be more current to be held more relative by their (now) audiences. In my opinion, for a young child's chapter book, the writing was impressionable as I read it aloud to my child, and not because of the content, but because of the feelings it spurred in me as an adult due to how it was written. I was captivated with vivid imageries from so few words given to describe the events, with no graphic explanations (such as specific descriptions of consequences of injury, like blood and guts), and enthralled with suspense for the ending. As I said, I can understand why this book may be controversial, but it did not bother anyone in my home.

[Peter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021 Review: I loved the book. After reading several of the lower ratings, I love it even more. A ten year old boy kills three Indians who were attacking his home and trying to kill his mother and six year old sister. The book ends with him looking forward to telling his grandchildren about it. Full of bravery. Well-written picture of the frontier life.

2025 Review: Still love it. The story is excellent and more so because it is true. This time I really enjoyed the writing. There is not a wasted word.

[Mr. Paul]

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories about mothers who trick their young sons into murdering Native Americans.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for my Newbery project. Didn't really care much for it. Just found it to be ok.

[Magda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shorter than I had expected. Very well drawn out suspense and tension, and I was not expecting it to be as terrifying as it was.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Matchlock Gun is a very short novel published in 1941, which takes place in Guilderland, New York in 1757. The Van Alstyne family, who are the characters of the story, were real people, and the events of this book, which occur during an Indian raid of their home, really happened. The Matchlock Gun tells of the night when young Edward Van Alstyne is left alone in the house with nothing but an old Spanish gun to defend himself. Will Edward have the courage and strength to fire the gun if needed? And if he does so, what will be the end result?

This is a book about one boy during a very difficult moment, both in history, and in his own life, and it invites young readers to put themselves in Edward's shoes and consider what they would do in the same circumstances. There are quite a few predictably shortsighted reviews of this book on Goodreads complaining that it is racist because it focuses on fighting between white people and Indians (and because there is some passing, historically accurate, discussion of slavery which is not immediately condemned). Personally, I think this is an overreaction. By relating one particular true incident that occurred during a conflict between Indians and Dutch settlers, this book doesn't really make any commentary at all on all American Indians as a group, or even on Edward's actions toward Indians in the story. The ending of the book is actually left very open-ended, with lots of room to discuss any problems the reader may have with the text. Perhaps this is uncomfortable for some people, who worry that kids will come up with the wrong interpretation if left to figure things out on their own. But I like that the author leaves the reader just after the story's climax. This helps the reader to hang onto the emotions he feels as the action is happening and to react to them strongly while still in the moment. It also allows kids to think critically for themselves about any race issues there may be in the book.

The writing in this book felt a little spare to me at times, and the illustrations, too, seemed to interrupt the text more than supplement it at some points, but these are also not reasons to dismiss the book, to weed it from libraries or to stop using it to teach American history. This book is valuable for its exceptional quality of writing, its insight into a small, true incident in which a child shows remarkable courage, and its representation of the type of books that were considered excellent by librarians of the 1940s. (It won the 1942 Newbery Medal.) I find it distressing that libraries remove it for fear of offending 21st century audiences, when the politically correct and hyper-offended culture of today could not have even been imagined 75 years ago. I can appreciate the book for its historical significance without agreeing with everything that happens in it - I would hope others can as well.

I am sure my kids will read this book when they are the appropriate age, and I look forward to the insightful conversations I am sure we will have as a result. I finished the book easily in one sitting, and I would happily read it again.

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very exciting French and Indian War story--it has all the elements of a great plot: a brave son, a heroic mother, a funny little girl, and an absent father. I'm just annoyed that the book's foreword gave away an important element of the climax, so if you read this, skip the foreword and the jacket copy. It's illustrated by Paul Lantz, who I like almost as well as Garth Williams. (Well, maybe not ALMOST as well, but I like his work a lot.) I think what's most impressive is how distilled this book is--it's very short, but feels complete. Recommended generally. (Jack might look at this and think he's too old for it, but I bet he would like it--Andrew, too, Betsy--if you ladies don't mind the combination of settlers, guns, and Indians, that is. It's not without its problems, but I think it's still worth reading.)

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would that there were dozens more books like this. Some very minor flaws, possibly due to the printing process: the glorious color illustrations sometimes show up too early and give away the story. It's also difficult to know how Gertrude fares in the end (unless you have read the foreword, which kind of spoils the story). Perhaps they should have made it an afterword - it really would work much better that way.

[Robert Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

1942 Newbery Medal Winner

A rather dark and dated story, that doesn't really add up to much more than just an exciting episode in the early American frontier. But, taking into account the times in which this book was published, and the United States entry into World War 2, then this story can be seen as an allegory for the times.

[forthefamilyssake Hailey White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short (62 pages) chapter book packs a big punch. It was a fantastic read-a-loud to my 9 and 6 year old children. We all agreed on it being a 5 star.

[DaNae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aside from the obvious patriarchy, raciest reasons this book would never be written today, it is so boring. Was this the best 1941 had to offer?

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fast read. Excellent.

[Jim Thomsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every reader, like every writer, has to reckon to some degree with their past. In my case, with the books I loved, and with how problematic they are today.

Two particular favorites — MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY and THE MATCHLOCK GUN — dealt directly with not only the determination of white people to take and settle lands held by natives, but with their belief that they were right to do so. In BOUNTY it was all about greed and power and status; in THE MATCHLOCK GUN, it was about the "right" of Dutch settlers to be "free" in the Mohawk Valley, held by, you know, Mohawks. As a child I never questioned this, and merely thrilled to the tales of great white men (and boys) put to the tests of their lives, always emerging triumphant if at great cost.

Today I picked up THE MATCHLOCK GUN for the first time since ... I dunno? Sixth grade, which would have been 1976. That seems close enough. And I cringed where I knew I was going to cringe, knowing what I've learned since 1976 about the lies and greed behind the "manifest destiny" of whites as they marched across America, killing natives and stealing land for no better reason than they believed they had more right to it than the natives did, and even if they didn't, they were going to take it anyway, because white people are better, or something.

I didn't expect, however, to be thrilled in all the same ways I was when I was little. But I was. There's a pitch-perfect synthesis between the lean but tonally rich text and the illustrations, rich with swipes of blazing, beatific country color and broad brushstrokes of black punctured by frightening jags of white in manic and terrified eyes. I felt my fifth-grade blood beat faster as the big moment comes in which the gun must be fired at the exact right moment, and even as I was aware that this was all wrong, all wrong, the wrong people are the villains here, I felt the dark shiver of satisfaction as the boy did his man's job and "held the fort" till the adult men arrived.

As a piece of pure storytelling, THE MATCHLOCK GUN is pure perfection. As a piece of American history, it's nothing but pure imperfection. I don't know what you do with that, but I'll admit this: I was glad to pull THE MATCHLOCK GUN out of deep storage for one last look, in my late middle age. And I was just as glad to put it back in the box, and to leave it there forevermore.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yay! I finally read this book and now I can donate it and never look at it again.

This book has crossed my path many times. I owned it as a child and didn't read it. I owned it as a young adult and donated it before a cross country move. Now, as an adult, I ended up with one again in a lot of other books. This book has never appealed to me. I don't like the illustrations, I don't like the story.

Remember the 1950's books where the 'noble' cowboy shoots the 'no-good thievin' injuns'? Well, this sort of felt like a more eloquently worded and historical version of exactly those tales. It's like the author sat and thought to himself, "I really want to write a story where a 10 year old boy kills an Indigenous person, how can I make that happen?"

There is not much in the way of other daily life details, the whole tale is just the setup for how a 10 year old would get to be the one pulling the trigger.

The version I read felt like there were parts missing. Somehow, the story jumps from him killing all three indians in one shot to the whole house being up in flames with no explanation for how that happened. One day I may thumb through an older version just to see what was supposed to be there.

Now, I'm not a fan of censoring books. That being said, I still see no reason to read this to your kids. This is something you read because you are reading all the Newbery books.

If you want to teach your kids about the racism experienced by the Indigenous, then read something written by an Indigenous person. You don't need to read something glorifying the 'great white male hunter' to teach your kids about racism. You can read a fictionalized account of life in a residential school instead. If you want to teach your kids about the French-Indian war there are plenty of options.

Now, if this book held a special place in your childhood, I can see reading it to your kids. There are just too many other better books out there to bother with this one.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, I thought this was a children's book, but despite the fact that it is small, and written in simple language, it is a book for all ages who want to know what it was like for the colonists during the French and Indian War. This book takes place in the colony of New York and is the story of young Edward, his little sister Trudy, and his parents. While his father goes off with the militia to protect the colony, the little family is left undefended - well, no, there is the Spanish Matchlock Gun, and there is a very brave woman and her courageous children. The gun has hung above the fireplace as long as Edward can remember; even his father has never shot it. It is a relic of a former time - so long and heavy that Edward cannot even lift it. But when the Indians attack, the Spanish Gun and Edward's courage are all that stand between his family and death. A true story from the early days of America.

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

ZERO STARS // “The Matchlock Gun” is so horrifyingly unthinkable in its description of Native American people, I can hardly bring myself to type it here: “They hardly looked like men, the way they moved. They were trotting, stooped over, first one and then the other coming up, like dogs sifting up to the scent of food.” This is stomach-churningly apalling. And why is young Edward, the main character, so celebrated in this book? Why, because he fired the matchlock gun and “killed more [Indians] than the rest of us put together”.

[Audra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I disagree that the subject matter is too dark for this level of reader. Read the forward, and you find not only is the story true - but has a very happy ending. Good history lesson and great for discussion. My son could hardly stop from getting sidetracked in discussing this book and what he's learning in school about the French and Indian War. We read the whole little book - beautiful illustrations and all - in one sitting. A must-read, I think!

[Silver Snapdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was younger, I absolutely LOVED this book! :) I still do, in fact. It’s exciting and has good characters and family.

[Madelaine Pope · Rating 2 out of 5]

My husband and 4-year-old enjoyed this as a read aloud. I did appreciate how it was a short book that was exciting for the 4-year-old while also presenting a coming of age story arc. However, I thought the book lacked nuance, especially in regard to the Native Americans, and it would have been nice to know more about what happened to the family after the Native American attack and how Edward mentally dealt with shooting the gun.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a quick read. We finished it in two lunch periods. My daughters say it is five stars as does my son. My oldest says it is left open for another story. She also says they could have made the story that the Indians wanted people off their land and not to be killing just because they were murderers. My middle daughter enjoyed the story and wants to know if there is more, a continuation.

We own a paperback with illustrations and an Audible audiobook.

[sincerely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty exciting book for a boy - when you're put to the test, can you do it? Dad goes off to fight with the militia, mom and kids left to defend the homestead. Short book with chapters and several illustrations. The age rec for this book really depends on maturity level.

Several words/phrases that would need to be looked up in the dictionary

Content: slaves, killing Indians, Indian attacks children's mother with a tomahawk

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I was talking to Courtney about this one, a short story about a young boy (spoilers, I guess) killing three American Indians who were attacking his house during the French and Indian War.
I really didn't care for the book, and I think it was partially because it trafficked in some of the same racial stereotypes that keep popping up in these Newbery books. But although there were some very shady beginnings to the war (like seizing American Indian territory, systematic oppression, etc.), there's some nuance (and this book is supposed to be based on a true story): the Indians in the book were trying to kill a mother and two young children.
What bothered me, though, was that there was no intimation of that nuance, no complexity or anything here. There's no sense that war is a terrible thing that leads a young boy to kill three people, no sense that the dead Indians were actually fully human, and no sense of anything but celebration at this boy's bravery -- the book even ends on a laugh line.
You can read the novel in less than an hour, but I don't recommend it.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good little true account. Was written for a young reader (maybe 2-3 grade) but was not written in a young reader style - some concepts that might be harder for kids to grasp. But that could be good or bad depending on your perspective.

[Stephanie Sheaffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short chapter book set during the French & Indian War. A frightening tale with a violent outcome - best discussed between parents and their children. What was the cause of this war? Why was there tension between the two sides? What should the characters have done the same or differently in this scenario?

[Lmichelleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made the mistake of reading this one to the children too often right before bed! A good story of bravery and the consequences of the struggle between the early American settlers and the Indians.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a decent enough but bland story of a brave woman who prepares for the possible arrival of marauding Indians while her husband leads the defending men against the Indians elsewhere. She makes use of her 10 year old son to carry out her scheme. He is in charge of touching off the powder in the massive antique gun when she gives the signal. While the language used to describe the Indians isn’t acceptable by today’s standards, it isn’t the worst choices either. But the N word is spelled out. Again, it was an acceptable word at the time. It is a fact that the Native Americans sided with the French in the French and Indian War. It didn’t strike me as that amazing a story and I would be curious why it won especially when Wilder’s Little Town on the Prairie was an honor book that year. More of a 2.5 star book. 1942 Newbery Award.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm trying to boost my 2020 book total by reading some of the shortest Newbery winners, and at 61 pages this one was a quick, yet incredibly painful read.

The protagonist is Edward, a ten-year-old boy living in 1756 Upstate New York, then a British colony. The French and Indian war is going on, and Edward's father goes off to fight for a few days, leaving Edward with his mother, younger sister, and a really big gun. When Edward's mother realizes there may be an "Indian" raid coming, she hatches a plan and helps Edward get the enormous gun set up at the window. Edward ends up shooting the Indians but not before his mother is knocked unconscious. The book ends with Edward sitting outside between his unconscious mother and the Indians he has slain, holding his sister on his lap, watching his house burn down and feeling proud because he remembered to rescue the matchlock gun.

A real winner, full of dehumanizing stereotypes and glorified violence.

[Falina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed the illustrations, which appear to be by the same illustrator who did the Little House on the Prairie book set. The story itself is entirely unremarkable plot and character-wise, and offensive in its complete dehumanization of the Native Americans and its light portrayal of murder. I feel like by 1941 this subject matter should have been handled better.