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Seeing America
Missouri, 1910. John Hartmann is graduating from high school under the critical eye of his father and has no idea what options lie beyond the family farm and his small town.
When Paul Bricken, nineteen and blind, buys a brand-new Ford Model T and suggests John drive him to Yellowstone National Park, John jumps at the chance.
He’s less enthusiastic about inviting Henry Brotherton, who’s loud, crude, and a bigot—but Henry’s available both as a second driver and a tough guy who might be helpful in a tight spot.
As the three young men set off on their tumultuous journey, America is preparing for the fight of the century between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries—and is headed for its biggest racial upheaval since the Civil War.
With Yellowstone drawing ever closer and tensions rising, Paul, John, and Henry will soon learn there is a great deal they didn’t know about the fledgling American Midwest—or about each other.
When Paul Bricken, nineteen and blind, buys a brand-new Ford Model T and suggests John drive him to Yellowstone National Park, John jumps at the chance.
He’s less enthusiastic about inviting Henry Brotherton, who’s loud, crude, and a bigot—but Henry’s available both as a second driver and a tough guy who might be helpful in a tight spot.
As the three young men set off on their tumultuous journey, America is preparing for the fight of the century between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries—and is headed for its biggest racial upheaval since the Civil War.
With Yellowstone drawing ever closer and tensions rising, Paul, John, and Henry will soon learn there is a great deal they didn’t know about the fledgling American Midwest—or about each other.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2014
435 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 30, 2014
Seeing America by Nancy Crocker
A Modern Classic
By the time I was about a quarter of the way through this book, I was actively looking for faults. The best I could come up with was that, maybe, the narrative voice slips a tiny bit in parts, maybe. I don’t trust five star, gushing reviews so I try to avoid writing them but I really cannot think of any justification for marking this one down.
Written in the first person, the convincing, colourful and highly entertaining narrative voice quickly draws the reader into the life and concerns of young John Hartmann, making it almost impossible not to feel some affection for him right from the start. In fact, all three of the main characters are well developed and easy to relate to.
Superficially, the story is about three young men who, unhappy with their lives at home in 1910 Missouri, set off on an adventure across America. It is a time of harsh realities and racial tension and Nancy Crocker tells that story well. In reality though it is about so many more things. There are many themes running through the book such as fear and how it manifests in hatred, the nature of free will, prejudice and the power of human kindness.
By the end of their journey I had grown very fond of these three young men. At times they had made be smile and at others they had made me cry, always they made me think.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book via the Library Thing Early Reviewer programme in exchange for my honest review. I do not know the author personally and have no connection with the publisher, nor have I been offered any reward (monetary or otherwise) in exchange for a positive review.
A Modern Classic
By the time I was about a quarter of the way through this book, I was actively looking for faults. The best I could come up with was that, maybe, the narrative voice slips a tiny bit in parts, maybe. I don’t trust five star, gushing reviews so I try to avoid writing them but I really cannot think of any justification for marking this one down.
Written in the first person, the convincing, colourful and highly entertaining narrative voice quickly draws the reader into the life and concerns of young John Hartmann, making it almost impossible not to feel some affection for him right from the start. In fact, all three of the main characters are well developed and easy to relate to.
Superficially, the story is about three young men who, unhappy with their lives at home in 1910 Missouri, set off on an adventure across America. It is a time of harsh realities and racial tension and Nancy Crocker tells that story well. In reality though it is about so many more things. There are many themes running through the book such as fear and how it manifests in hatred, the nature of free will, prejudice and the power of human kindness.
By the end of their journey I had grown very fond of these three young men. At times they had made be smile and at others they had made me cry, always they made me think.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book via the Library Thing Early Reviewer programme in exchange for my honest review. I do not know the author personally and have no connection with the publisher, nor have I been offered any reward (monetary or otherwise) in exchange for a positive review.
February 4, 2018
I was very pleasantly surprised. This is a Travel story, three young men in 1910, leave their small town in Missouri with the intention of driving to Yellowstone. Paul is blind, but comes from money, so he buys a Ford T car. He asks John to drive and describe what they see along the way. John has just graduated from high school and wants out of his small town. They include Henry, a lost soul who is very rough around the edges. Like all road trips, this one is about growth and change - among all three of the boys. In the background is the Johnson Jeffries fight - two boxers one black one white. So the racial tensions are very close to the surface. I am happy to say, the author didn't sugarcoat what racism, or treatment of someone with a disability was like 100 years ago. I'm a little tired of people who want to hold the past up to todays standards. To be honest, these days I see people proclaiming blanket statements, without really living up to them.
May 6, 2014
This is a raw tale about how almost everything that can go wrong on a road trip does. What really caught my attention, and my heart, was witnessing the bond formed between the three main characters and watching them develop and mature as they persevered through hardship after hardship on the biggest, hardest, and most rewarding adventure of their lives. It was a heartwarming, gut-wrenching story about finding out the meaning of the word 'home', realizing that 'different' doesn't always mean 'insignificant', and finding oneself by getting lost. Though the highly prejudiced, hostile, foul-mouthed, rampantly thieving version of 1910 America--with the exception of a handful of genuinely friendly folks--agitated me throughout, it was an interesting and unusual view of the past.
Though I wasn't sure about it at first, I ended up liking this story... and learning a lot from it.
Though I wasn't sure about it at first, I ended up liking this story... and learning a lot from it.
December 16, 2014
This book was a Goodreads First Reads contest win.
This book, I wasn't sure I would like it at first but it really grew on me as I read it. It is definitely a "coming of age" story and it is set in 1910 but I think young people can relate to the story if they have just graduated from high school and wondering what is next.
Three 19 year old boys go on a cross country trip in a Model T to see Yellowstone Park. The owner of the car is blind so he invites the other two boys to help drive him to see the countryside. None of the boys get along very well and all of the carry personal hurts from growing up that they bury inside. They learn a lot through their travels and the time period is well represented in the story. It was definitely a time when few people went on such long trips in a car.
It is definitely a good read and I recommend it to older teens.
This book, I wasn't sure I would like it at first but it really grew on me as I read it. It is definitely a "coming of age" story and it is set in 1910 but I think young people can relate to the story if they have just graduated from high school and wondering what is next.
Three 19 year old boys go on a cross country trip in a Model T to see Yellowstone Park. The owner of the car is blind so he invites the other two boys to help drive him to see the countryside. None of the boys get along very well and all of the carry personal hurts from growing up that they bury inside. They learn a lot through their travels and the time period is well represented in the story. It was definitely a time when few people went on such long trips in a car.
It is definitely a good read and I recommend it to older teens.
August 4, 2015
Crocker’s writing is powerful, witty, and at times quite funny. History comes alive through the eyes of the John, Paul and Henry in a beautiful coming-of-age story. It takes us back to that time in our lives when the world was at our feet and the possibilities were as endless as a dirt road heading west.
July 26, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, goes to show that nothing much has changed a 100 years later. It was funny in parts and a great coming of age story. The historical parts were good to know but so much of it was so sad. I would have given it 5 stars but I felt the end was a bit abrupt and felt a bit hurried. Otherwise its a fun although sad read.
March 6, 2015
Seeing America has so many connotations within this rich story of a blind boy and his friends taking a road trip at the beginning of the 20th century. This historical coming-of-age tale is deep, insightful, and really makes you think.
July 9, 2015
Just finished this lovely book…I laughed, I cried, I wanted more. A touching story of three young men crossing our country in a Model T in the early 20th century and the people and problems they encounter. A coming of age story with a big heart.
September 28, 2014
I loved reading this book. The characters were all people I felt I knew and would like to know better
October 18, 2015
Loved this stories journey. The author is friend of my sister - so glad she is - otherwise I may not have read this wonderful book!
February 28, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. The ending came too abruptly for me. There were a few things left unaddressed, but all in all, it was a wonderful coming of age story. (I'd like to read a sequel.)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews