The Young Warriors

by Victor Stafford Reid

In 1735, five Maroon boys are ready to be initiated as warriors. They have prepared long and hard for this day, and must now pass a sequence of tests. How the boys approach this, the most important day of their lives, says much about how they will respond to the challenges ahead. When they encounter a Redcoat troop in the forest near their village, the defence of the village and surrounding Maroon communities will depend on these boys, their training, courage, and intelligence. On this occasion, their community depends on them for its survival, but their initiation as warriors also teaches them lifelong lessons about loyalty, responsibility, trustworthiness and friendship.

Genres: School, Literature, History, Historical, Drama, Education

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 1980

About the author

Jamaican writer born in Kingston, Jamaica. He wrote with the intent of influencing the younger generations. He was awarded the silver (1950) and gold (1976) Musgrave Medals, the Order of Jamaica (1980), and the Norman Manley Award for Excellence in Literature in 1981. He was the author of several novels, three of which were aimed at children; one play production; and several short stories. Two of his most notable works are New Day - "the first West Indian novel to be written throughout in a dialect form", and The Leopard.

As a writer, Reid aimed to instill an awareness of legacy and tradition among the Jamaican people. His writings reflected many of the social and cultural hardships that pervade the time periods illustrated in his literary works. As literary critic Edward Baugh stated, "Reid’s writing shows a fondness for the rebel with a cause… he wanted people to learn about their heritage through his writing."

Reid was one of a handful of writers to emerge from the new literary and nationalist movement that seized Jamaican sentiment in the period of the late 1930s. From this "new art" surfaced many of Reid's literary contemporaries, including Roger Mais, George Campbell, M. G. Smith, and H. D. Carberry. A common objective among this new generation of writers was an inclination to "break away from Victorianism and to associate with the Jamaican independence movement."

Reid's emphasis on resistance and struggle is reaffirmed in a 1978 lecture he delivered at the Institute of Jamaica on the topic of the cultural revolution in Jamaica post-1938. In the address, Reid contended that the collective discontent of the working class majority was the public assertion of a "new brand of loyalty" that situated itself not only beyond, but more importantly, in direct resistance to imperial rule.

Reviews

[Shulonie Mccalla · Rating 3 out of 5]

tommy and johnny are my favourite characters, the way they proved outstanding bravery.

[Jacy-ann Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love it.. the adventures the skill, the expertise tht the maroons used to fool the Redcoats.. but i wonder how comes Charlie became a hero in the end~ this is my school literature book

[Lilleka]

I loved this book and I thought that it was nice for the maroons to defeat the redcoats

[Nickeisha Senior]

It was fun, johnny rules

[Jennifer Fitzgerald]

i think the book is awesome.I would suggest it to everybody who likes to read.I had to read it for English Lit for school.So awesome!

[Abigail Melhado · Rating 1 out of 5]

How can you read this book

[Shanniequa Currie]

Gud

[Gary Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Jamaican coming-of-age story about 5 Maroon boys. Culturally rich. Historically relevant.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, delightful, 121 pages, easy to read, well written, relaxing, this book tells the story of 5 14-year old Maroon boys who learn what it means to be brave in British Jamaica. V. S. Reid's tone is like that of a storyteller, distant, yet playful and didactic, and I learned a bit about Jamaican culture, like what fruits and food they eat, as well as a warrior's routine like how to hunt and fight. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Abigail Allen]

it was very boring although it was about a warrior it could have been more exciting and shorter and more spicy

[Najwha Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it one of my best read book from 1st form in high school real page turner could. Ot stop reading till it end

[Kolisha Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it

[kesha lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smile

[Nakeshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't remember finishing this book before, so I re-read it. It was easy to read and a very thrilling adventure.

[Gwyneth Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boys and men overcome challenges facing the community.

This is a dream book to transfer the values of integrity, valour, sustainable communal life, and respect for each other. Not only do the young male warriors have to show respect to elders, they earned respect from their community. It shows that a community needs its young people to become useful members for their own survival.

It also gives a history of strife in a way that does not stir up anger but presents information in a way that invites other discussions about that era.

I read this as an adult for the first time and enjoyed the storytelling and the very familiar descriptions of Jamaica's mountainous woodland, rivers and wild creatures.

This is a book that could do well as an action and dramatic film for a wide range of audiences.
There are wonderful opportunities for wide angle shots of tropical forests.

[Latoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short novel because of the themes Reid dealt with in the story. Fear was one that stood out to me. Fear is defined in the novel and the reader is encouraged to keep pressing forward in spite of the presence of something we fear. Bravery is not the absence of fear. Bravery is the decision to fight forward despite fear. This is what I learned from this text.
I like the descriptions, the simplicity of the language and the weight of the lessons taught about fear vs bravery, tradition vs technology, teamwork and friendship.
Good read!

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the book because of the themes and literary devices in the book

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book Is vv interesting it teaches us how to be like our selves

[Donnette Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do i read this boo

[Tequan Sealey]

Nice

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love to read this book**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** Love this book

[Shamara Whittaker]

It was a good one

[Natanya Atkinson]

I would love to read young warriors

[Nardia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good choice for a young reader who needs to be taught the joy of reading and of literature.

[Kishauna Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

the young warriors V.S REID helps to accommodate this reading society of others to know more about Jamaicans culture.This story has proven the facts towards it.

[Meika Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing

[Shania · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book widened my vocabulary and spelling.

[lancelot wesley mckenzie]

Nice

[Rolyat · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Tanesha Somwaru · Rating 2 out of 5]

it is awsome