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James Printer: A Novel of Rebellion
It's 1675, and Bartholomew Green is a printer's devil in his father's print shop in Cambridge Massachusetts—he sorts type, runs and fetches, sweeps and scrubs. And he learns bookmaking from master apprentice James Printer, a Nipmuck Indian who is Bartholomew's friend as well as his teacher.
When tensions between the white settlers and local Indian tribes erupt into war, the Pokanoket chief known as King Philip expects James' allegiance. James cares more for the craft of printing than for war, and he has close ties to the English. Though he does not want to take sides, it may be that he has no choice. ...
- GenresHistorical Fiction
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 5, 2019
rating: Unless a young reader already has a passion for early American history, this isn't going to be a literary hook. Hence the 3-star rating. For older readers, however it rates 3.5 stars.
setting: Cambridge, Mass. and the Boston area in general
P.S. Jacobs has taken on a time and place which hasn't received much attention from writers. James Printer, a Nipmuck Indian (a tribe about which I know nothing) deserves to have his story told. And, there isn't all that much written about 'King Philip's war.' (At least, I seldom come across it by happenstance.)
As a boy, James Printer is apprenticed to Samuel Green, an important and apparently well known printer in the last half of the 17th century. The story is told from the point of view of Green's son, Bartholomew, which is Jacobs' way of targeting 5th-6th grade readers. However, Bartholomew's 'voice' isn't strong enough to carry a young reader's interest.
During the time span of the story, Bartholomew is an apprentice in the print shop, so the reader is given some insight into the work involved in bringing a book to print. Illustrations would have enhanced the text (and helped the reader).
There is an Author's Note.
setting: Cambridge, Mass. and the Boston area in general
P.S. Jacobs has taken on a time and place which hasn't received much attention from writers. James Printer, a Nipmuck Indian (a tribe about which I know nothing) deserves to have his story told. And, there isn't all that much written about 'King Philip's war.' (At least, I seldom come across it by happenstance.)
As a boy, James Printer is apprenticed to Samuel Green, an important and apparently well known printer in the last half of the 17th century. The story is told from the point of view of Green's son, Bartholomew, which is Jacobs' way of targeting 5th-6th grade readers. However, Bartholomew's 'voice' isn't strong enough to carry a young reader's interest.
During the time span of the story, Bartholomew is an apprentice in the print shop, so the reader is given some insight into the work involved in bringing a book to print. Illustrations would have enhanced the text (and helped the reader).
There is an Author's Note.
Currently reading
February 17, 2009this book sucks and is confusing
January 8, 2021
A fascinating, mostly-true story! Some of it's extrapolated or embroidered based on remaining accounts, of course, given that this conflict occurred some 300-plus years ago. The pre-Revolutionary War period is hardly ever mentioned, especially not in books for a younger age group.
September 27, 2025
A pretty good read for my 6th grader but a little slow at times.
August 22, 2011
This book falls into the realm of historical fiction, though considering it was about an little known character from King Philip's War it may have well been about outer space. I constantly felt that as I began to read this book I was pushing into a darkened room, trying to read a torch-lit text from a dead language about a man history has forgotten.
James Printer is a footnote from the earliest days of our nation's history. He was taken from his family after the English Pox had killed his mother and raised at Harvard College. There he learned the art of printing and was apprenticed by Samuel Green. Later his name turns up again as an English Interpreter for King Phillip during the war. Finally we see his name on the first page of bilingual English/Algonquin Psalter next to Bartholomew Green.
Other than tis not much is known, but from it and from a clear understanding of what the Puritan Colonies were like at the time the author has constructed a rich, vibrant story.
James Printer is a footnote from the earliest days of our nation's history. He was taken from his family after the English Pox had killed his mother and raised at Harvard College. There he learned the art of printing and was apprenticed by Samuel Green. Later his name turns up again as an English Interpreter for King Phillip during the war. Finally we see his name on the first page of bilingual English/Algonquin Psalter next to Bartholomew Green.
Other than tis not much is known, but from it and from a clear understanding of what the Puritan Colonies were like at the time the author has constructed a rich, vibrant story.
February 25, 2016
A thoroughly researched and engagingly written historical novel about King Philip's War in 1675. King Philip's War was a conflict between the English in the colony of Massachusetts Bay and the Pokanoket and other Indian tribes. The novel is the story of James Printer, a Nipmunk, who was raised in Cambridge and apprenticed to a printer. When the war comes he is caught between the two cultures. It is a great book for bringing up discussions of how we treat people who are different from us, loyalty, and fairness.
May 17, 2017
Takes place during King Philip's War. Based on an actual historical figure.
August 1, 2011
1998 PEN Center USA Award Winners for Children's Literature
June 8, 2011
Kind of gross book in some parts but is very very exciting.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews