Guttersnipe

by Jane Cutler, Emily Arnold McCully (Illustrator)

Early in the twentieth century, ten-year-old Ben and his family live in the poorest part of their city with other Jewish immigrants. There is never enough money to make ends meet, so Ben, determined to do his part, lands a job delivering hat linings to a hat factory after school. He sets out on his boss’s bicycle feeling strong and free, and has a grand time until, on his way up Hill Street, he gets a harsh comeuppance, one that hurts his body and threatens to destroy his dreams as well.

Based on the experiences of the author’s father and illustrated in Emily Arnold McCully’s signature style, this book celebrates a boy who nearly loses hope, but then learns that the future shines bright and full of second chances.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 27, 2009

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting every time I read a historical book because of the change in the value of money. People used to earn 5 cents! This story is of a 12 years old at his first job because his dad fall ill and couldn’t support the family so the family will have to each find a job. He basically messed up the job to learn a lesson but there’s no consequences from the business owner for messing up his wares..

[Abbey Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guttersnipe is about a young ten-year-old boy named Ben who tries hard to help his family with making ends meet. Ben wants to get a job to help out his family. One day Ben gets a job as a delivery boy is delivers hat linings to a hat factory after school. His first day on the job Ben starts to bicycle up a hill and quickly falls, making the hat linings go everywhere. The illustrations on the last few pages when the hat linings are up in the air are very eye catching. The linings consist of almost every color and are bright which makes them appealing to the reader. While this book can be used to teach readers to never lose hope it can also be used to teach students what life is like in other countries, especially for immigrants. This book can be used to teach students about cultures different than their own.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guttersnipe was a well written book set in the great depression most likely. It is a historical fiction book told in third person as it follows a boy that gets his first job and it doesn't go so well. It was short and filled with nice pictures, I recommend you read this.

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setbacks are a matter of perspective and grit.

[Sarah Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written from a tale told to her by her grandfather, Guttersnipe explores the fragile relationship between loss and failure, and patience and hope. The ink and watercolor illustrations help to convey the feeling of desperate poverty, the devastation of failure, and the magic of renewed hope.

[Lupine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. The illustrations are great and I was really enjoying the first 3/4 of it but then..it just ended. I wish that the ending had a little more to it -- it just felt jarring to me.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tells the stuggles of an immegrant family in America trying to make ends meet. The historical pieces are nice and introduces how hard life was. Grades 1+