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Graven Images
Paul Fleischman spins three engrossing stories about the unexpected ways an artist’s creations reveal truths — tales whose intriguing plots and many moods will entertain readers and inspire future writers.
Can wood, copper, or marble communicate? They can if they are the graven images in Newbery Medalist Paul Fleischman’s trio of eerie, beguiling short stories. If you whisper a secret into a wooden statue’s ear, will anyone find out? Can a wobbly weathervane bearing the image of Saint Crispin, the patron saint of shoemakers, steer a love-struck apprentice toward the girl of his dreams? And if a ghost hires a sculptor to carve a likeness of him holding a drink to a baby’s lips, what ghastly crime might lie behind his request? And, in a brand-new afterword, the acclaimed storyteller reveals how he found his own author’s voice.
Can wood, copper, or marble communicate? They can if they are the graven images in Newbery Medalist Paul Fleischman’s trio of eerie, beguiling short stories. If you whisper a secret into a wooden statue’s ear, will anyone find out? Can a wobbly weathervane bearing the image of Saint Crispin, the patron saint of shoemakers, steer a love-struck apprentice toward the girl of his dreams? And if a ghost hires a sculptor to carve a likeness of him holding a drink to a baby’s lips, what ghastly crime might lie behind his request? And, in a brand-new afterword, the acclaimed storyteller reveals how he found his own author’s voice.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1982
12 people are currently reading
931 people want to read
About the author
Paul Fleischman
66 books197 followers Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California. The son of well-known children's novelist Sid Fleischman, Paul was in the unique position of having his famous father's books read out loud to him by the author as they were being written. This experience continued throughout his childhood.
Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation.
In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.
Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation.
In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
June 10, 2012
I saw this lying about at the library, and the cover and title (not to mention the Newberry Honor!) prompted me to pick it up and give it a try. I like the short story format if it is done well, and I think it works for this small collection.
All three stories are written in a most classical prose that reminds me of a lot of the books I read growing up. In fact, since the book was originally published in 1982, perhaps this style is indicative of the children's literature that was in fashion at the time. Regardless, it is a nice clean prose that works well for the stories.
Certain types of plots and writing work best for short stories. The first story (The Binnacle Boy) is a good old-fashioned whodunit with a nice freaky twist at the end. While the plot and characters could have been spun out into a longer tale, it was fairly artfully done and works as a short story. The second is entitled Saint Crispin's Follower and is perfect as a short story in every way. Sweet and light-hearted, the action moves at the perfect pace for a nice little read.
The last story is what causes me to rate this as only four stars. The Man of Influence has a lot of potential to be a real soul-searching, chilling tale. However, the effect falls a little flat because the setup and execution is a roughly handled. The main character is too prideful and abrasive for the reader to really relate or sympathize, and the revelations about the figure requesting the statue come too quickly and bluntly to have any deep impact.
All three stories are written in a most classical prose that reminds me of a lot of the books I read growing up. In fact, since the book was originally published in 1982, perhaps this style is indicative of the children's literature that was in fashion at the time. Regardless, it is a nice clean prose that works well for the stories.
Certain types of plots and writing work best for short stories. The first story (The Binnacle Boy) is a good old-fashioned whodunit with a nice freaky twist at the end. While the plot and characters could have been spun out into a longer tale, it was fairly artfully done and works as a short story. The second is entitled Saint Crispin's Follower and is perfect as a short story in every way. Sweet and light-hearted, the action moves at the perfect pace for a nice little read.
The last story is what causes me to rate this as only four stars. The Man of Influence has a lot of potential to be a real soul-searching, chilling tale. However, the effect falls a little flat because the setup and execution is a roughly handled. The main character is too prideful and abrasive for the reader to really relate or sympathize, and the revelations about the figure requesting the statue come too quickly and bluntly to have any deep impact.
August 1, 2015
I don't understand why this book was picked for an Honor Book for the Newbery Awards. The three stories were not bad, but not all that special.
March 21, 2020
Really enjoyed this audiobook. The stories were engaging, with great little twists at the end. I found "Saint Crispin's Follower" to be predictable, but the telling was still good.
An added bonus was the author's note telling about how the book and stories came to be. This was not present in the original print book, but the print book of course does have the illustrations by Andrew Glass that are absent from the audiobook.
I'd to read more by Fleischman in this vein if such a thing exists.
An added bonus was the author's note telling about how the book and stories came to be. This was not present in the original print book, but the print book of course does have the illustrations by Andrew Glass that are absent from the audiobook.
I'd to read more by Fleischman in this vein if such a thing exists.
August 13, 2022
As the ebook edition says in the author's afterward, this is a book for readers older than the length of the tales would suggest. The blurb says 'young teens' and I agree. I found the first and third pretty darn horrifying, and am saved by nightmares because of the humor of the second. I'm not sure what exactly is Newbery worthy about it, though.
August 10, 2022
Three interesting, engaging short stories, each centered around a man-made art object: a wooden binnacle boy from a ship, a weather vane featuring St. Crispin, and a stone carving. Otherwise, the three stories are not connected in any way. All three stories seem to have taken place a couple of centuries or more ago. The first and third stories are a bit serious in tone; but the middle story is light-hearted and humorous. I believe this book well-deserved its Newbery Honor accolade.
July 7, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this small collection of stories. After immersing myself in postmodernist literature for the last few months, this book was a relief from the meaninglessness and existential despair. The author clearly possesses a comedic imagination, where everything is made right in the end, one way or the other; it's a world of order, beauty, and redemption. In the first story, "The Binnacle Boy," she who is quick to blame another for a heinous crime is soon discovered to be the real culprit (somewhat like a Flannery O'Connor story). The second story, "Saint Crispin's Follower," is simply lovely, reminiscent of a Shakespeare comedy: three men who, despite various blunders and mishaps, all find love, thanks to the guidance of the cobblers' patron saint. The third story, "The Man of Influence," examines a sculptor who undergoes an awakening--after his dealings with a ghost, he perceives how wealth and pride had blinded him, and he amends his standards.
The “graven images” all serve as icons that direct individuals to the truth.
A wonderful quote from the 2nd story: "He beheld all about him an unsuspected world alive with signs and meanings."
The “graven images” all serve as icons that direct individuals to the truth.
A wonderful quote from the 2nd story: "He beheld all about him an unsuspected world alive with signs and meanings."
February 4, 2021
Having now read several of Paul Fleischman's books, I think I can safely say that readers should anticipate a high level of innovation from his work. Fleischman seems generally resistant to the idea of penning a traditional novel, and the unconventional fruits of his labor have meant some outstanding contributions to the pantheon of contemporary literature.
In Graven Images, the author links three unrelated short stories together through use of a common theme: inanimate objects that, in one way or another, exert surprising influence on the world around them, making and breaking people's lives just as surely as if the objects in question had mouths, eyes, and a brain. It makes one pause to consider that anything can become a catalyst for destruction in our lives if we're not careful, even something as ostensibly innocuous as a simple graven image.
In the first short story, a town in mourning for a crew of sailors found dead aboard a ship washed ashore find solace in the unmoving, unspeaking wooden figurehead of the ship. Surely this wooden figure saw what happened, though it speaks not of whatever the tragedy may have been. The carefully crafted piece of wood eventually draws a bit of a "cult" following as people come to whisper their deepest, darkest secrets in its unhearing ears, sure that the figure can be trusted to keep their secrets as well as it has kept the secret of whatever happened that killed all of the crew aboard its ship. This cathartic practice of telling secrets to a harmless receptor takes on a sinister edge, though, when one of the town's residents figures out a way to learn the secrets being told to the carved wooden form. Might the answer to the mystery of the dead crew be found on the lips of someone seeking to unburden his or her soul to the wooden figure?
In story number two, a young apprentice cobbler finds his life heading in a new direction when he mistakenly interprets a signal given by a girl working in the grocery as meaningful of her love and devotion to him. This changes everything, and he immediately goes about trying to find just the right way to express in return the way that he feels about the girl. However, figuring out the complicated romantic meanings of different kinds of flowers isn't easy, and so in mild desperation he turns to the patron saint of cobblers for help, hoping that if Saint Crispin wills it, he might find true happiness with this girl after all. But is the saint said by many to be responsible for watching over cobblers really the one directing events?
The final story is that of a statue maker named Zorelli, whose once-thriving business has gone south and left him in meager financial straits. He'll have to give up his shop entirely before much longer, but his fortunes change when a ghost comes to solicit his work. The ghost wants to pay Zorelli a substantial fee to make a statue of him, but the odd requests that the ghost makes as to how he wants the statue to look puzzle Zorelli, and after a while he begins to wonder if perhaps he made a mistake by accepting the job at all. There's more behind the ghost's commissioning of the statue than just the chiseling of a personal sculpture, though, and as Zorelli nears the completion of the stone monument, he also arrives closer to learning the truth about what shocking past deed the ghost has committed, and where he received so much money to pay Zorelli in the first place.
In this edition of Graven Images, with a new afterword added by Paul Fleischman, I actually think that the afterword might be the most interesting part of the book. In it, the author gives some great examples of how he comes up with the ideas for his stories, and then allows us a background look into the process by which Graven Images was first dreamed up and compiled, and how much of a difference the steadfast belief of editor Charlotte Zolotow made in getting this book out onto the market. That belief of hers would be vindicated in early 1983 when Graven Images was selected as one of five Newbery Honor books that year, putting Paul Fleischman on the map as a promising talent for the future.
The only other thing I have to say about this book's Newbery connections is that, had it actually gone a step higher and won the Newbery Medal instead of an Honor, then Paul Fleischman would have beaten his father to the big prize despite, obviously, having been a novelist for a much shorter time. As it turned out, Sid Fleischman claimed the Newbery Medal first with The Whipping Boy in 1987, but Paul would taste Newbery gold of his own two years later, winning for Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices in 1989. To date, they remain the only parent and child to have ever both won a Newbery Medal, and that's a distinction that it's quite possible no other pair will ever match.
Graven Images is a good book, in my opinion; not necessarily what I usually think of in a novel recognized by Newbery, but certainly worth reading. None of the three stories really jumps out at me as definitely better than the other two, but if I had to designate one as the best it would probably be the second story, Saint Crispin's Flower. Fans of Paul Fleischman's esoteric writing style will want to get their hands on a copy of this book, though I might recommend a different starting point for those who are new to his body of literature.
In Graven Images, the author links three unrelated short stories together through use of a common theme: inanimate objects that, in one way or another, exert surprising influence on the world around them, making and breaking people's lives just as surely as if the objects in question had mouths, eyes, and a brain. It makes one pause to consider that anything can become a catalyst for destruction in our lives if we're not careful, even something as ostensibly innocuous as a simple graven image.
In the first short story, a town in mourning for a crew of sailors found dead aboard a ship washed ashore find solace in the unmoving, unspeaking wooden figurehead of the ship. Surely this wooden figure saw what happened, though it speaks not of whatever the tragedy may have been. The carefully crafted piece of wood eventually draws a bit of a "cult" following as people come to whisper their deepest, darkest secrets in its unhearing ears, sure that the figure can be trusted to keep their secrets as well as it has kept the secret of whatever happened that killed all of the crew aboard its ship. This cathartic practice of telling secrets to a harmless receptor takes on a sinister edge, though, when one of the town's residents figures out a way to learn the secrets being told to the carved wooden form. Might the answer to the mystery of the dead crew be found on the lips of someone seeking to unburden his or her soul to the wooden figure?
In story number two, a young apprentice cobbler finds his life heading in a new direction when he mistakenly interprets a signal given by a girl working in the grocery as meaningful of her love and devotion to him. This changes everything, and he immediately goes about trying to find just the right way to express in return the way that he feels about the girl. However, figuring out the complicated romantic meanings of different kinds of flowers isn't easy, and so in mild desperation he turns to the patron saint of cobblers for help, hoping that if Saint Crispin wills it, he might find true happiness with this girl after all. But is the saint said by many to be responsible for watching over cobblers really the one directing events?
The final story is that of a statue maker named Zorelli, whose once-thriving business has gone south and left him in meager financial straits. He'll have to give up his shop entirely before much longer, but his fortunes change when a ghost comes to solicit his work. The ghost wants to pay Zorelli a substantial fee to make a statue of him, but the odd requests that the ghost makes as to how he wants the statue to look puzzle Zorelli, and after a while he begins to wonder if perhaps he made a mistake by accepting the job at all. There's more behind the ghost's commissioning of the statue than just the chiseling of a personal sculpture, though, and as Zorelli nears the completion of the stone monument, he also arrives closer to learning the truth about what shocking past deed the ghost has committed, and where he received so much money to pay Zorelli in the first place.
In this edition of Graven Images, with a new afterword added by Paul Fleischman, I actually think that the afterword might be the most interesting part of the book. In it, the author gives some great examples of how he comes up with the ideas for his stories, and then allows us a background look into the process by which Graven Images was first dreamed up and compiled, and how much of a difference the steadfast belief of editor Charlotte Zolotow made in getting this book out onto the market. That belief of hers would be vindicated in early 1983 when Graven Images was selected as one of five Newbery Honor books that year, putting Paul Fleischman on the map as a promising talent for the future.
The only other thing I have to say about this book's Newbery connections is that, had it actually gone a step higher and won the Newbery Medal instead of an Honor, then Paul Fleischman would have beaten his father to the big prize despite, obviously, having been a novelist for a much shorter time. As it turned out, Sid Fleischman claimed the Newbery Medal first with The Whipping Boy in 1987, but Paul would taste Newbery gold of his own two years later, winning for Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices in 1989. To date, they remain the only parent and child to have ever both won a Newbery Medal, and that's a distinction that it's quite possible no other pair will ever match.
Graven Images is a good book, in my opinion; not necessarily what I usually think of in a novel recognized by Newbery, but certainly worth reading. None of the three stories really jumps out at me as definitely better than the other two, but if I had to designate one as the best it would probably be the second story, Saint Crispin's Flower. Fans of Paul Fleischman's esoteric writing style will want to get their hands on a copy of this book, though I might recommend a different starting point for those who are new to his body of literature.
October 30, 2022
Dark, creepy, tragic, unsettling. Certainly not my favorite from the Newberys, but a quick, atmospheric read very fitting for October. Only one is a ghost story. Another has equally sinister elements. And the third is more a story of misunderstandings, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but they do work together nicely as a collection. The author’s afterword helped explain how these stories came to be written & published together as well.
August 9, 2014
Maybe I just timed the book wrong, but it was a little dark for a summer read. In the afterword, Fleishman writes, "Its length suggested grammar school, but its reading level was higher." Very true, and I am sure some people would enjoy the tryptic of statue stories, but it's just the wrong season for me.
June 11, 2024
3.5 stars. Very strange but well written; it captivated my attention and told 3 good stories. I listened to this small collection of short stories while painting as part of my goal to read all the Newbery winners from my birth year. I never would have picked it up otherwise, but, surprisingly, I enjoyed it. Paul Fleischman writes very unique books- my kids and I loved his poetry collection, that won a Newbery later in the 80s, about insect poems. The short author afterward after the stories is worth a listen. So interesting to hear how authors are inspired to write their stories.
A couple of these stories have a very creepy element which usually I do not like it all, but I was kind of expecting it so it was OK. Definitely not for very young readers even though it is short.
These would make for interesting discussions.
A couple of these stories have a very creepy element which usually I do not like it all, but I was kind of expecting it so it was OK. Definitely not for very young readers even though it is short.
These would make for interesting discussions.
June 28, 2020
I picked this up because it's a Newbery Honor book. It is made up of three short stories. Each one features a statue of some sort. I had mixed feelings about it. It was mysterious and a little bit creepy, but not really creepy enough to satisfy someone who is looking for that and not really enough of a mystery in each story to please a mystery buff.
Also, my edition features illustrations by Andrew Glass. While they are kind of creepy, I'm really not a fan of them.
I did enjoy the book, but it didn't blow me away.
Also, my edition features illustrations by Andrew Glass. While they are kind of creepy, I'm really not a fan of them.
I did enjoy the book, but it didn't blow me away.
February 1, 2023
I have read Paul's father, Sid Fleishman, but clearly Paul got The Gene! Excellent voice and imagery!
When characters look to statuary and their legends for help and guidance there can be unexpected consequences. Are these driven by the images themselves, or maybe some misplaced faith that can eventually lead to an outcome because, well, life happens in and around fixed objects, and object du fixe?
Excellent writing for those who crave it for middle graders! I will be reading more Paul Fleishman.
When characters look to statuary and their legends for help and guidance there can be unexpected consequences. Are these driven by the images themselves, or maybe some misplaced faith that can eventually lead to an outcome because, well, life happens in and around fixed objects, and object du fixe?
Excellent writing for those who crave it for middle graders! I will be reading more Paul Fleishman.
May 31, 2023
So fun! This collection of stories are perfectly spooky and fun. The age range is the hardest to pin down—when I picked it up for its size I thought of my 7YO but decided to read it on my own first and I’m glad I did, and now I’m considering it for my 10YO niece. It’s a very quick read, and the stories were so engrossing. I sat down meaning to just read one story, and finished all three. Page-turning indeed! There are also some incredibly crafted sentences here. I’ll need to use this as a mentor text next grammar lesson I teach.
May 17, 2023
Reading this made me question why I don't read more compilations of short stories. These ones in particular were written by a master. Each one is so condensed that there's almost nothing that isn't important in some way. The writing style feels so dignified and the prose is distinct in how creative it is. Each story was short enough to read in a couple minutes, but also interesting enough to have me thinking about them long after finishing them.
May 22, 2024
Three eerie short stories explore the themes of where the line between animate and inanimate fall. A statue from a doomed ship is the only one who knows the secret of the crew's death, a young apprentice gets himself into all sorts of scrapes trying to divine the meaning of a mysterious weathervane, and a man carves a statue at the behest of a ghost. Those who love the spooky and the macabre will find this collection a nice rendition.
June 5, 2025
an absolute treat with a few dark twists that I adored. the author's note at the end spoke to the struggle of finding an audience since it's a middle grade book but it's definitely a more challenging read thematically, but that readers are probably the sort to become writers themselves.
the short story format was perfect, bite sized little chunks into the weird bookending a little love story in the middle (but also the one that wobbled the most)
the short story format was perfect, bite sized little chunks into the weird bookending a little love story in the middle (but also the one that wobbled the most)
October 8, 2019
Newbery Challenge 173/415. This is a collection of 3 short stories, 2 of which have a slightly spooky tone. The first story was definitely my favorite because of the twist at the end. I feel like there either needed to be more stories or the ones included needed to be longer. It just felt lacking to me. Also, the cover design is not doing this one any favors.
November 20, 2019
"The Binnacle Boy" When townsfolk begin telling secrets to a statue, a girl who can read lips learns the truth about the mysterious deaths on board a ship.
"Saint Crispin's Follower" A shoemaker's apprentice fumbles along trying to get the attentions of a girl.
"The Man of Influence" A poor stone carver makes an impulsive deal with a ghost which he later regrets.
"Saint Crispin's Follower" A shoemaker's apprentice fumbles along trying to get the attentions of a girl.
"The Man of Influence" A poor stone carver makes an impulsive deal with a ghost which he later regrets.
April 9, 2021
The binnacle boy:
WOW, what an ending! This story is so cleverly put together, the mystery is strange and the reveal is tragic and sinister.
Saint Crispin's follower: Such a fun story about misunderstandings between people and the over analyzing of situations and symbols.
The man of influence: Oh boy, a ghost story about coming to terms with the evils of man, especially those men we put up on pedestals.
Overall, this collection of stories is perfection.
Saint Crispin's follower: Such a fun story about misunderstandings between people and the over analyzing of situations and symbols.
The man of influence: Oh boy, a ghost story about coming to terms with the evils of man, especially those men we put up on pedestals.
Overall, this collection of stories is perfection.
January 19, 2024
The first story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Such an interesting story, especially after listening to the author's note at the end!
The second story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
This one made me laugh, which is always a good sign!
The third story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Interesting, but also sad.
Average: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.7 Overall rating is definitely worthy of the rounding up. I really enjoyed this little collection!
Such an interesting story, especially after listening to the author's note at the end!
The second story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
This one made me laugh, which is always a good sign!
The third story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Interesting, but also sad.
Average: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.7 Overall rating is definitely worthy of the rounding up. I really enjoyed this little collection!
March 23, 2024
This is a Newbery Honor book that is 3 short stories that all center around graven images. The author saw a couple of statues and decided to write some stories around them. They are semi-interesting and a very quick read. The stories are Binnacle Boy (hold the compass on a ship), St. Crispin's Follower (saint of shoe making), and The Man of Influence (ghost who wants a statue built).
August 17, 2019
I really liked it- I’m surprised by so many lukewarm reviews ! This is def a short story collection meant for teens-the syntax and some of the vocab is too advanced for children. This would be a great spooky read for the fall 👻 🎃 💀
October 18, 2022
Not really sure why this is a Newbery Honor winner. Probably the best parts- the common theme within the three short stories- the stories were short- and lots of new vocabulary for any level of young reader. Other than that- not much.
December 17, 2022
Wow, wow, wow! I loved these short stories! Definitely worth it's Newbury Honor. I'm going to be recommending it to lots of friends. I listened to this one on audiobook. The edition had an afterward by the author that I found every bit as awesome as the stories.
June 13, 2024
Maybe 1.5? The first one was odd, the second one I can’t remember, but the third was delightful. I think it’s because I have an obsession with ghosts.
I read Whirligig in high school and hated it. I tried to be impartial, but it was too hard for me. I’m sorry.
I read Whirligig in high school and hated it. I tried to be impartial, but it was too hard for me. I’m sorry.
September 5, 2024
I'm randomly listening to Newbery Honor audiobooks that are available through my library and these short stories caught my eye. I enjoyed them a lot, with the little twists at the end of each story, and am interested in seeing if Paul Fleischman has written any other short stories.
July 17, 2017
I thought the first story was excellent and the second lacking. What was the point?
December 31, 2017
Three short stories in this Newbery Honor Book first published in 1982 - the year my daughter was born :)
November 28, 2017
Interesting stories on the role statues play in our superstitious/religious/mystic engagement with life.
October 1, 2019
TWR: atmospheric, eerie, captivating
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews