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Soup #6
Soup in the Saddle
Worried that Dr. Elsa Pinkerton Uppit will try to get their favorite teacher fired, Soup and Rob attempt to devise a way to keep her from attending the Miss Kelly Day festivities
- GenresChildrens
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
46 people want to read
About the author
Robert Newton Peck
87 books81 followersRobert Newton Peck is an American author of books for young adults. His titles include Soup and A Day No Pigs Would Die. He claims to have been born on February 17, 1928, in Vermont, but has refused to specify where. Similarly, he claims to have graduated from a high school in Texas, which he has also refused to identify. Some sources state that he was born in Nashville, Tennessee (supposedly where his mother was born, though other sources indicate she was born in Ticonderoga, New York, and that Peck, himself, may have been born there). The only reasonably certain Vermont connection is that his father was born in Cornwall.
Peck has written over sixty books including a great book explaining his childhood to becoming a teenager working on the farm called: A Day no Pigs would Die
He was a smart student, although his schooling was cut short by World War II. During and shortly after the conflict, he served as a machine-gunner in the U.S. Army 88th Infantry Division. Upon returning to the United States, he entered Rollins College, graduating in 1953. He then entered Cornell Law School, but never finished his course of study.
Newton married Dorothy Anne Houston and fathered two children, Anne and Christopher. The best man at the wedding and the godfather to the children was Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame.
A Day No Pigs Would Die was his first novel, published in 1972 when he was already 44 years old. From then on he continued his lifelong journey through literature. To date, he has been credited for writing 55 fiction books, 6 nonfiction books, 35 songs, 3 television specials and over a hundred poems.
Several of his historical novels are about Fort Ticonderoga: Fawn, Hang for Treason, The King's Iron.
In 1993, Peck was diagnosed with oral cancer, but survived. As of 2005, he was living in Longwood, Florida, where he has in the past served as the director of the Rollins College Writers Conference. Peck sings in a barbershop quartet, plays ragtime piano, and is an enthusiastic speaker. His hobby is visiting schools, "to turn kids on to books."
—From Wikipedia
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-n...
Peck has written over sixty books including a great book explaining his childhood to becoming a teenager working on the farm called: A Day no Pigs would Die
He was a smart student, although his schooling was cut short by World War II. During and shortly after the conflict, he served as a machine-gunner in the U.S. Army 88th Infantry Division. Upon returning to the United States, he entered Rollins College, graduating in 1953. He then entered Cornell Law School, but never finished his course of study.
Newton married Dorothy Anne Houston and fathered two children, Anne and Christopher. The best man at the wedding and the godfather to the children was Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame.
A Day No Pigs Would Die was his first novel, published in 1972 when he was already 44 years old. From then on he continued his lifelong journey through literature. To date, he has been credited for writing 55 fiction books, 6 nonfiction books, 35 songs, 3 television specials and over a hundred poems.
Several of his historical novels are about Fort Ticonderoga: Fawn, Hang for Treason, The King's Iron.
In 1993, Peck was diagnosed with oral cancer, but survived. As of 2005, he was living in Longwood, Florida, where he has in the past served as the director of the Rollins College Writers Conference. Peck sings in a barbershop quartet, plays ragtime piano, and is an enthusiastic speaker. His hobby is visiting schools, "to turn kids on to books."
—From Wikipedia
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/robert-n...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 24, 2015
Of the Soup books I've been re-reading, this is another of the ones (along with Soup for President) that I have enjoyed a little more than the rest.
January 7, 2024
I think I got this at a library in my county for real cheap. The library didn’t have many books for sale, and I’ve always loved horses so I picked this up even though it didn’t look great.
It was soon clear the book would be funny, which if nothing else, is always a nice thing for a book to have.
“I’m climbing up.”
“You best not do it, Soup. This stack of barrels is already shaking enough with just me up here.”
“Don’t worry, Rob. I’m half steeplejack.”
As I felt the pile of barrels shake even worse, I wanted to tell Soup that his other half was jackass.’
‘“Easy,” I said. “I forgot my belt this morning. You’re pulling my pants down.”
“Sometimes,” said Soup, “stuff’s got to come down so that other stuff can climb up.”’
‘Cowboys, according to Soup, always wanted to die in the saddle. Here I was, dying underneath Mr. McGinley’s.’
I didn’t know this was a series until I added that I was currently reading it. I could see how it would be with all the mischief they get into. This is well into the series but it could have still explained why his friend was nicknamed Soup, which was weird. He was also not a good friend, making Rob carry all the heavy stuff and get on the horse first, and pretty much do all the dirty work.
The boys’ hygiene was pretty gross. Not washing up and then when Rob did it was a sponge bath in the sink just of his upper half, not even a real bath!
I liked how the boys and the county nurse cooked up a plan to help the teacher and to thwart that woman coming to town who might get their teacher fired and the school tore down. I liked how we heard part of their plan but it didn’t tell us what they were doing, we only knew they were getting paint, and something from the beauty parlor. I was looking forward to seeing what the plan was. And better for it to be a surprise.
“I’ve never made a speech before in my entire life. I’ll keel over with stage fright. I can open my mouth, but no words’ll flutter out.”
“Quick,” said Soup. “Where’s some paper and a pencil?”
“Help yourself.”
Soup made a leap for the desk, grabbed a pencil, and started to write. But after scribbling down one word, he abruptly stopped.
“What have you got so far?” I asked Soup.
“Hello,” he said.
“Well, that’s a start,” groaned Miss Boland.’
It was too fantastical that the horse jumped over the fence and the boys flew up off the saddle and Rob ended up behind Soup instead of in front.
Thunderbolt stops running in front of the bandstand, the saddle cinch breaks and the boys go flying on the saddle onto the stage.
“Hi,” said Soup. “We found your saddle, Mr. McGinley, and we’re returning it. But please, sir, don’t offer us a reward.”
This was humorous and didn’t know this was a series, and it took no time at all to read.
Reminded me of Andy Griffith, same kind of small town. It’s funny but idk if I’d be interested in reading any more. Soup isn’t a good friend and I don’t really care for the characters that much to really be invested in it.
And oh my goodness I just looked at the author and his character was named after him! Rob Peck! Idk if these are his actual stories from childhood or fiction.
It was soon clear the book would be funny, which if nothing else, is always a nice thing for a book to have.
“I’m climbing up.”
“You best not do it, Soup. This stack of barrels is already shaking enough with just me up here.”
“Don’t worry, Rob. I’m half steeplejack.”
As I felt the pile of barrels shake even worse, I wanted to tell Soup that his other half was jackass.’
‘“Easy,” I said. “I forgot my belt this morning. You’re pulling my pants down.”
“Sometimes,” said Soup, “stuff’s got to come down so that other stuff can climb up.”’
‘Cowboys, according to Soup, always wanted to die in the saddle. Here I was, dying underneath Mr. McGinley’s.’
I didn’t know this was a series until I added that I was currently reading it. I could see how it would be with all the mischief they get into. This is well into the series but it could have still explained why his friend was nicknamed Soup, which was weird. He was also not a good friend, making Rob carry all the heavy stuff and get on the horse first, and pretty much do all the dirty work.
The boys’ hygiene was pretty gross. Not washing up and then when Rob did it was a sponge bath in the sink just of his upper half, not even a real bath!
I liked how the boys and the county nurse cooked up a plan to help the teacher and to thwart that woman coming to town who might get their teacher fired and the school tore down. I liked how we heard part of their plan but it didn’t tell us what they were doing, we only knew they were getting paint, and something from the beauty parlor. I was looking forward to seeing what the plan was. And better for it to be a surprise.
“I’ve never made a speech before in my entire life. I’ll keel over with stage fright. I can open my mouth, but no words’ll flutter out.”
“Quick,” said Soup. “Where’s some paper and a pencil?”
“Help yourself.”
Soup made a leap for the desk, grabbed a pencil, and started to write. But after scribbling down one word, he abruptly stopped.
“What have you got so far?” I asked Soup.
“Hello,” he said.
“Well, that’s a start,” groaned Miss Boland.’
It was too fantastical that the horse jumped over the fence and the boys flew up off the saddle and Rob ended up behind Soup instead of in front.
Thunderbolt stops running in front of the bandstand, the saddle cinch breaks and the boys go flying on the saddle onto the stage.
“Hi,” said Soup. “We found your saddle, Mr. McGinley, and we’re returning it. But please, sir, don’t offer us a reward.”
This was humorous and didn’t know this was a series, and it took no time at all to read.
Reminded me of Andy Griffith, same kind of small town. It’s funny but idk if I’d be interested in reading any more. Soup isn’t a good friend and I don’t really care for the characters that much to really be invested in it.
And oh my goodness I just looked at the author and his character was named after him! Rob Peck! Idk if these are his actual stories from childhood or fiction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 2, 2020It is a great book!
January 31, 2024
Robert Peck and his friend, Soup (a.k.a. Luther Vinson), want to be cowboys. They steal an old saddle from old man McGinley's barn and put it on Mr. Carlotta's horse. Soup calls the horse, Gentle George. When Mr. Carlotta sees the boys he grabs the horse's mane and orders the boys off the horse. He isn't mad but only concerned for the boys' safety. He tells the boys the horse's real name is Thunderbolt because the horse runs very fast when fed applejack. Thunderbolt plays a part in Miss Boland's scheme for "Miss Kelly Day". Miss Boland is the school nurse. Miss Kelly is the teacher of Learning, Vermont's one room school. When Miss Boland hears that Dr. Elsa Pinkerton Uppit is going to be guest speaker at the ceremony honoring Miss Kelly's contribution to education she knows she must to something to keep Dr. Uppit from coming. Dr. Uppit is a self-avowed foe of one-room schools. With Robert's, Soup's, and Thunderbolt's help Miss Boland scares her out of town and then takes her place. The boys feed Thunderbolt applejack, race him to meet Dr. Uppit before she gets into town, and then scare her into thinking that they have Mongolian Pox. Then Robert, Soup, and Thunderbolt led the parade with Miss Boland following in her "pink" Hoover and red wig.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
December 6, 2010
I love the Soup books. I love the way Peck writes, and the stories about growing up in the 1930's. The stories are down-to-earth and get the reader instantly involved. I only gave this one a 3 rating, because I didn't laugh as much as I have laughed in the other Soup books. I wonder, though, if young people would like them as much as I (an old person) do. I don't know if they would relate as much.
June 21, 2015
We read this book on a short road trip and loved it. In this book, Soup and Rob get an opportunity to show their love and loyalty for their teacher, Miss Kelly. They also learn a little about being a cowboy.
May 10, 2008
I don't recall the specifics of this enough to write a review. I remember only that this one was somewhat of a let-down in comparison with earlier books in the series.
May 23, 2012
I Liked it.
September 13, 2013
Yet another Peck book that Owen and I enjoyed together, full of giggles, mischief and love! Just adore these books!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews