Brady

I'm glad to see this book is well-received. I remember ordering it from Scholastic's classroom paperback sales program as a middle schooler, back in the late 1960s. I'm curious: why the 2001 publication date? More accurately, that's a reissue date. I'm glad to see "Brady" is still around and still being enjoyed, because it made a strong impression on me about 40 years ago. But I wonder if books, along with starlets, now have to lie about their age to gain acceptance and attention.

I'm actually seventeen, but I read Brady back in the day. It was around fourth or fifth grade, and I checked it out from my elementary school library. I first checked it out because it shared its name with me, but it turned out to be a very pleasant read. I only remember it vaguely, but I remember it fondly. I would definitely recommend it for any young reader. Regardless of whether it starts slow or not, a book is more often than not worth the time spent chewing through the fat.

Brady Minton knows his father is against slavery, but when he finds that his father is an Underground Railroad agent he doesn't know what to do. Brady lives on a farm in Northern Virginia. He has a hard time keeping secrets, so when he finds out about his father being a Railroad agent; it takes all he's got to stay quiet. This book is a great historical fiction book. Brady written by Jean Fritz has a lot of suspense and keeps you on your toes. When Brady and his friend, Range, go snooping on the hermit in the woods, they find out that the hermit's house is an Underground Railroad Station. Because Brady can't learn to keep a secret he blabs at dinner. Another suspenseful part is when a slave catcher comes to town and finds out where the hermit lives. Range and Brady follow behind and find out that the hermit moved. When the Minton family starts finding threatening notes it's suspenseful because no one knows who wrote the notes. This book is also about how a young boy wants to grow up and be a man. Brady's brothers are written in their family Bible about all their accomplishments except for Brady. When Brady finds out about the runaway slave he takes matters into his own hands. But when their barn burns down Brady has to take the slave to the next station by himself. In the end his father writes his accomplishment of taking over his father's station. Jean Fritz does a good job of how certain things might have gone down before the Civil War Era. For example: When Brady finds an Underground Railroad Station. He is so overwhelmed with the secrecy that he blabs. And when he finds out about his own father being an agent he has to use all that is in him to keep quiet. People might have felt this way because if you were caught being an agent you could get in deep trouble. Brady by Jean Fritz is a really good historical fiction novel. It contains: suspense, portrays life back then and also how a young boy longs to be a man. H. Wissmann

I enjoyed reading the book Brady. We read it as an assignment in my 5th grade class. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. It teaches kids to always tell the truth and to stand for a cause that you beleive in. It was an excellent way to learn about the history of slavery in the USA and the willingness of people to help others to have their freedom. The entire class was begging the teacher to keep on going. We did not want to put the book down.

I gave Brady four stars because it starts out a little slow, and for that reason it might be hard for kids to see it through. But it is worth the effort. I like how Fritz comments on character as she shows the different attitudes about slavery before the Civil War. The end is exciting. Brady conquers his own character flaws, and learns to live for something beyond himself.