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Woodford Brave
Cory Woodford, aka "The Kid", is determined to live up to his intimidating family legacy of bravery. While his father is off fighting in World War II, eleven-year-old Cory and his friends spend the summer building go-carts, drawing comics, playing baseball . . . and tracking down Nazi spies. Right and wrong are more complicated than in Cory's beloved comics, and he and his friends soon learn that the world isn't as black and white as they thought. In an age when friendships are deep and complex, Cory makes mistakes and hurtful decisions. Based on the author's personal experience and research, Woodford Brave is a deeply satisfying novel of summer and friendship, but also explores what it means to be a son, a friend, a neighbor—and truly brave. Includes an author's note and selected bibliography.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2015
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Thornton Jones
197 books70 followersMarcia Thornton Jones has published 131 books for children with sales totaling more than 43 million copies world-wide. Her works include CHAMP (mid-grade novel), RATFINK (mid-grade novel), GODZILLA ATE MY HOMEWORK (chapter book), THE TALE OF JACK FROST (picture book) and LEPRECHAUN ON THE LOOSE (picture book). She is the co-author of seven popular series including The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids, Keyholders, Ghostville Elementary, The Bailey School Kids Jr. Chapter Books, Triplet Trouble, Bailey City Monsters, and The Barkley School for Dogs.
Marcia has been listed as a top 100 author by the Educational Paperback Association and selected for the Children’s Top 100 Books list by the National Education Association, International Reading Associations Children’s Choice Award. Marcia's books have received many honors and have appeared on on the Publisher's Weekly Bestsellers lists,
Marcia, a full time writer living in Lexington, Kentucky enjoys presenting at schools and conferences. As a veteran teacher with more than 20 years of experience, she easily relates the importance of writing to students of all ages.
Marcia has been listed as a top 100 author by the Educational Paperback Association and selected for the Children’s Top 100 Books list by the National Education Association, International Reading Associations Children’s Choice Award. Marcia's books have received many honors and have appeared on on the Publisher's Weekly Bestsellers lists,
Marcia, a full time writer living in Lexington, Kentucky enjoys presenting at schools and conferences. As a veteran teacher with more than 20 years of experience, she easily relates the importance of writing to students of all ages.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 31, 2015
Two stories that came to mind while reading this:
1. I remember when I first learned about WWII and the Nazis in the fifth grade. I was horrified. I was even more horrified to discover that I have German ancestry in my family on my mom's side. It made me so ashamed. What if some of my relatives, however distant, had contributed to the atrocities? But then as I grew up, I realized something: I am not responsible for the sins of my relatives, both near and distant. Their choices do not define me.
2. When I was a senior in high school, I was fortunate to become friends with three wonderful German foreign exchange students. Two of them are still friends of mine to this day. They changed my life in ways I never could have imagined and I am forever grateful for knowing them. One of them I met while on our high school swim team, and once the season was over, we continued swimming together. One day, when I went to meet her at her locker after school to take her to another swim practice, I found her standing at her locker, angrily shoving books into it, tears in her eyes. I asked her what was wrong and she looked at me and said five words that have stuck with me ever since: "Not all Germans were Nazis." My school district had sadly done an awful job teaching students about American history, and so most of the kids in my age group had never learned about the internment of Japanese Americans that had happened in our own backyard. There had always been this clear assumption that America = wonderful saviors and Germans = horrid, evil murderers. But as I'd done my own reading and studying of history-- and especially after reading "Snow Falling on Cedars" by David Guterson-- I'd realized the fallacy in this thinking. And through my friends that had become even clearer. As I tried to coax the story behind her statement out of her, my friend slowly opened up. A boy in her class had come up to her at the end, raised his arm in the Nazi salute and said, "Heil Hitler." This was unexpected and very hurtful to her for many reasons, the main which involved her family history. She told me that at the end of the war, Germany was so desperate for soldiers that they began recruiting young boys, some as young as 13, into the Volkssturm, or "people's storm." Her uncles were among those conscripted and her grandfather apparently did not want them to fight. I do not know of his allegiance to the Nazis, but I can only assume he was one of the many Germans who did not support the Nazi Party or much of what was going on. So her grandfather hatched a plan with his sons to rescue them out of the training camp where they were stationed. He was to arrive at night with a horse drawn cart loaded with hay for the boys to hide in and then they were to make their escape. After the boys had escaped and everything seemed to be going well, the horse got spooked and ran over her grandfather, killing him. So my friend, who was in no way responsible for the sins of her country and whose own grandfather had died trying to save his sons from fighting had been called a Nazi. Not all Germans were Nazis indeed.
So with these two points, I don't think it's any surprise that I liked this book. Children need to read books like this. It is so easy to define the "other" or "enemy" with a broad brush and not to understand the fallacy in doing so. In a further point of irony, my friend's birthday is September 11th. On 9/11, one of my first thoughts was of her and her story and I hoped and prayed that my country would be strong enough to learn from her past and not treat Muslims the same way we had treated the Japanese after Pearl Harbor. Where there was definitely prejudice going on and it was awful, at least there were no internment camps. This is why books like this are so important. It is my hope that this story is one that will be read and discussed in classrooms all over to facilitate very important discussions. While the book is definitely not one of the best written ones I've ever read, it is a good story. I liked Cory's growth and his growing friendship with Anne. I liked how things weren't completely and neatly tied up at the end, even though I did feel that the ending could have used a little more closure. I liked how the author portrayed different aspects of what it means to be brave. If you are a teacher, please consider using this in your classroom. And if you're a book group leader, please consider this for discussion. I think you'll be glad you did.
1. I remember when I first learned about WWII and the Nazis in the fifth grade. I was horrified. I was even more horrified to discover that I have German ancestry in my family on my mom's side. It made me so ashamed. What if some of my relatives, however distant, had contributed to the atrocities? But then as I grew up, I realized something: I am not responsible for the sins of my relatives, both near and distant. Their choices do not define me.
2. When I was a senior in high school, I was fortunate to become friends with three wonderful German foreign exchange students. Two of them are still friends of mine to this day. They changed my life in ways I never could have imagined and I am forever grateful for knowing them. One of them I met while on our high school swim team, and once the season was over, we continued swimming together. One day, when I went to meet her at her locker after school to take her to another swim practice, I found her standing at her locker, angrily shoving books into it, tears in her eyes. I asked her what was wrong and she looked at me and said five words that have stuck with me ever since: "Not all Germans were Nazis." My school district had sadly done an awful job teaching students about American history, and so most of the kids in my age group had never learned about the internment of Japanese Americans that had happened in our own backyard. There had always been this clear assumption that America = wonderful saviors and Germans = horrid, evil murderers. But as I'd done my own reading and studying of history-- and especially after reading "Snow Falling on Cedars" by David Guterson-- I'd realized the fallacy in this thinking. And through my friends that had become even clearer. As I tried to coax the story behind her statement out of her, my friend slowly opened up. A boy in her class had come up to her at the end, raised his arm in the Nazi salute and said, "Heil Hitler." This was unexpected and very hurtful to her for many reasons, the main which involved her family history. She told me that at the end of the war, Germany was so desperate for soldiers that they began recruiting young boys, some as young as 13, into the Volkssturm, or "people's storm." Her uncles were among those conscripted and her grandfather apparently did not want them to fight. I do not know of his allegiance to the Nazis, but I can only assume he was one of the many Germans who did not support the Nazi Party or much of what was going on. So her grandfather hatched a plan with his sons to rescue them out of the training camp where they were stationed. He was to arrive at night with a horse drawn cart loaded with hay for the boys to hide in and then they were to make their escape. After the boys had escaped and everything seemed to be going well, the horse got spooked and ran over her grandfather, killing him. So my friend, who was in no way responsible for the sins of her country and whose own grandfather had died trying to save his sons from fighting had been called a Nazi. Not all Germans were Nazis indeed.
So with these two points, I don't think it's any surprise that I liked this book. Children need to read books like this. It is so easy to define the "other" or "enemy" with a broad brush and not to understand the fallacy in doing so. In a further point of irony, my friend's birthday is September 11th. On 9/11, one of my first thoughts was of her and her story and I hoped and prayed that my country would be strong enough to learn from her past and not treat Muslims the same way we had treated the Japanese after Pearl Harbor. Where there was definitely prejudice going on and it was awful, at least there were no internment camps. This is why books like this are so important. It is my hope that this story is one that will be read and discussed in classrooms all over to facilitate very important discussions. While the book is definitely not one of the best written ones I've ever read, it is a good story. I liked Cory's growth and his growing friendship with Anne. I liked how things weren't completely and neatly tied up at the end, even though I did feel that the ending could have used a little more closure. I liked how the author portrayed different aspects of what it means to be brave. If you are a teacher, please consider using this in your classroom. And if you're a book group leader, please consider this for discussion. I think you'll be glad you did.
March 2, 2017
In the Author’s Note at the end of this book, Marcia Thornton Jones mentions that Vietnam was the “war of her youth”. In “Woodford Brave”, she is able to draw from those experiences and craft a convincing, coming-of-age tale set in World War II America.
For a basic plot summary, this story centers on Cory Woodford, a young boy whose father is off “fighting the Germans”. During the day, Cory chums around with his baseball-obsessed pals and suspects the neighbor, Mr. Ziegler, of being a Nazi spy. At night, he writes letters to his soldier father, including a comic strip in which they team up to stomp all evil out of the galaxy. When a new girl moves into the neighborhood and challenges everyone’s notions of gender and cultural, however, Cory begins to understand first-hand that wartime issues are not quite as black-and-white as they seem.
“Woodford Brave” is an excellent YA historical fiction novel for two primary reasons:
1. The characters seem true-to-form and are quite engaging. One could easily imagine young children interacting with each other like they do in this novel. Playing spies, obsessing over baseball, chiding each other relentlessly…these are all things that ground the book both in its times, as well as in its character range.
2. The themes of a country at war. At the beginning of the book, Cory is a naïve child who believes that “killing Germans” is the most noble cause on the face of the earth. In that way, he sees the world through the simplistic eyes of a child. By the end of the book, however, Cory has a far deeper understanding of the sacrifices that must be made (or even not made) during war, and that there are different types of courage than just charging into battle.
Perhaps the hallmark of “Woodford Brave” is how it is able to take such adult themes and transition them down to a YA audience. Even though I read the book from an adult perspective, I don’t think an adolescent (even those on the very young side of that term) would have any trouble picking out the important themes and enjoying them, as Jones couches them in with such wonderful characters and situations.
Overall, I very much enjoyed “Woodford Brave” and would give it 4.5 stars if I could. The character resolutions are a bit predictable from an adult perspective, but that is really the only reason why I couldn’t give it the full five stars. That won’t be an issue with young adults, though, so this is one that could shoot to great successes, especially with children whose parents may have served in the military recently (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.).
For a basic plot summary, this story centers on Cory Woodford, a young boy whose father is off “fighting the Germans”. During the day, Cory chums around with his baseball-obsessed pals and suspects the neighbor, Mr. Ziegler, of being a Nazi spy. At night, he writes letters to his soldier father, including a comic strip in which they team up to stomp all evil out of the galaxy. When a new girl moves into the neighborhood and challenges everyone’s notions of gender and cultural, however, Cory begins to understand first-hand that wartime issues are not quite as black-and-white as they seem.
“Woodford Brave” is an excellent YA historical fiction novel for two primary reasons:
1. The characters seem true-to-form and are quite engaging. One could easily imagine young children interacting with each other like they do in this novel. Playing spies, obsessing over baseball, chiding each other relentlessly…these are all things that ground the book both in its times, as well as in its character range.
2. The themes of a country at war. At the beginning of the book, Cory is a naïve child who believes that “killing Germans” is the most noble cause on the face of the earth. In that way, he sees the world through the simplistic eyes of a child. By the end of the book, however, Cory has a far deeper understanding of the sacrifices that must be made (or even not made) during war, and that there are different types of courage than just charging into battle.
Perhaps the hallmark of “Woodford Brave” is how it is able to take such adult themes and transition them down to a YA audience. Even though I read the book from an adult perspective, I don’t think an adolescent (even those on the very young side of that term) would have any trouble picking out the important themes and enjoying them, as Jones couches them in with such wonderful characters and situations.
Overall, I very much enjoyed “Woodford Brave” and would give it 4.5 stars if I could. The character resolutions are a bit predictable from an adult perspective, but that is really the only reason why I couldn’t give it the full five stars. That won’t be an issue with young adults, though, so this is one that could shoot to great successes, especially with children whose parents may have served in the military recently (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.).
March 18, 2016
As an educational colleague of Marcia's, I was fortunate to read her very first manuscript, Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots straight out of the dot matrix printer. Although her themes have matured, Marcia still has a knack for characterization because she obviously knows kids. I thought her characters in Woodford Brave were true to life. Her characters developed as only kids could. This was a very poignant story and important for our time as certain politicians are seeking to polarize our country and world. It was a great reminder for all of us to examine the root of our individual prejudice. I especially enjoyed reading the Author's note at the end, hearing where she got her ideas. I intend to read this aloud to my 4th grade class.
November 12, 2016
Cory is 11 years old and enjoying summer but also worrying about his father fighting in Europe. The family legacy of always being brave is hard. Meanwhile the fear and rumors of Nazi conspiracies cause the neighborhood kids to spy on a reclusive neighbor. The difference between good and evil is not easily understood and Cory learns a valuable lesson.
October 1, 2015
I started crying about page 125 and couldn't stop reading!
August 30, 2015
Cory is determined to show everyone in Harmony that he is brave like his grandfather (who died in WWI) and his father (who is fighting in WWII). But Sawyer is consistently questioning his bravery. This is an interesting story set during WWII that captures the attitude of many Americans during that time: pride in America, determination to participate in the war effort, and the unquestioned hate of all things German, regardless of whether that hate is founded in any truth. Cory is no different. He is convinced his neighbor is a German spy. It isn't until the very end of the book that Cory finally realizes that that unquestioned hate is a horrible thing.
I liked how Jones was able to paint a picture of what many Americans thought of everything going on during WWII in a way that will be understandable to younger kids. I also enjoyed the comic book aspect of the story since this was at the tail end of the Golden Age of Comic books. It was very interesting.
However, I will say that there were a number of spots I had to re-read sentences or paragraphs because the phrasing was odd or there were typos. I also wish that there had been more character development for Cory. Yes, at the end he comes around to realize that hate is never good, but it was about 10 pages from the end, and every time you thought MAYBE he figured it out earlier on he went right back to spewing hate and falling inline with what his friends were saying. That was a level of frustration. There was also no character development among his friends. Sawyer was a horrible boy who ended up making Aiden just as horrible.
There are a lot of discussion points, and while I did enjoy the story I also found myself annoyed a lot of the time.
I received a copy of this book for consideration for an award.
I liked how Jones was able to paint a picture of what many Americans thought of everything going on during WWII in a way that will be understandable to younger kids. I also enjoyed the comic book aspect of the story since this was at the tail end of the Golden Age of Comic books. It was very interesting.
However, I will say that there were a number of spots I had to re-read sentences or paragraphs because the phrasing was odd or there were typos. I also wish that there had been more character development for Cory. Yes, at the end he comes around to realize that hate is never good, but it was about 10 pages from the end, and every time you thought MAYBE he figured it out earlier on he went right back to spewing hate and falling inline with what his friends were saying. That was a level of frustration. There was also no character development among his friends. Sawyer was a horrible boy who ended up making Aiden just as horrible.
There are a lot of discussion points, and while I did enjoy the story I also found myself annoyed a lot of the time.
I received a copy of this book for consideration for an award.
December 29, 2015
First of all, Kevin Whipple's illustrations add so much to this book. He's created a comic book within the story lines that will entertain readers. I love the 1940s children and their view as they deal with the reality of war and how it affects them, their town, and their families. As I read the story, I felt I had a better understanding of what my parents went through as WW2 hit home. This would be a good book to help kids understand the history, the value of friendship, and family. A word of caution, there are some swear words in the book and some sad events. Overall, I'd recommend the book to kids 4th-8th grade.
I received this book in exchange for a fair review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair review.
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April 7, 2016Cory Woodford wants to be Woodford brave, like his father, off fighting in WWII, and his grandfather, a war hero. But, while his letters to his father are filled with comics about the Mighty Space Warrior and his son, Cory feels less than heroic. His best friend is deserting him to hang out with someone else, he is teased about spending time with the new girl in the neighborhood, and a Nazi spy is hiding out down the street. When Cory learns about his own family’s past, he realizes not everything is as it seems—and finds out who his true friends are.
October 21, 2016
Historical fiction during WWII that highlights the stereotypes, the fear, the comic heroes, and most of all the hate that abounded during that time period.
November 5, 2016
Unsatisfactory ending
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews