Joshua's Song

Joshua's Song

By Joan Hiatt Harlow

3 ratings 3 reviews 3 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 1 - 4n/a427214

Boston, 1919. It's been a year of distressing changes for thirteen-year-old Joshua Harper. The influenza pandemic that's sweeping the world has claimed the life of his father; his voice has changed, so he can't sing in the Boston Boys' Choir anymore; and now money is tight, and his mother is asking him to quit school to get a job. It's not fair!

Joshua begins working as a newspaper boy, hawking papers on the street. He soon finds himself in rivalry with Charlestown Charlie, a tough, streetwise Irish boy. Now Joshua is completely torn between the privileged life he once knew as one of the well-to-do Beacon Hill Boys and his new existence on the street, among tenements and street vendors.

How Joshua adjusts and comes to find his voice, his song, and his place in the world by his acts of courage during a terrifying crisis is the heart of this fast-paced, suspenseful novel. Joan Hiatt Harlow has created a memorable character in Joshua and a remarkable story based on true incidents in Boston history.

Publisher: Thorndike Press
ISBN-13: 9780786255580
ISBN-10: 0786255587
Published on 7/2/2003
Binding: Hardcover
Number of pages: 173

Book Reviews (3)

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This is all a new experience for Joshua, his father has died and his mother and him take in borders into their home. Joshua gets a job from Charlie as a newspaper boy, however his mom doesn't know the full truth. He is selling the newspapers but his mom thinks he is just working at the newspaper company. While he is working he earns the nickname, "Gentleman Josh" he then gets good business and decides not to work for Charlie with the help of a friend. There is a molasses tank and his friend Angel or Angelica lives by it with her mother. Her father is someplace else. When Angel's building is collapsing because the tank explodes, Angel's mother is in their. And the lovely music sound he has not produced in a while comes out giving Angel's mother a peaceful and lovely pass away................Joshua finally finds his heart...............

There is a boy named " Joshua". He needs to get a job so he can get money for his family. So his job is to sell news papers ( he is really good at selling them). There is a big problem. There is a tank of molasses and it is spilling and he has a friend "Angel" and she lives where the molasses is spilling. Angel is living there because her mom is sick and she can not move. Joshua gets food and water and gives it to Angel and her mom. He is a great singer but he doesn't like to sing in front of people anymore. But at his old school, he used to be part of the Boy's Choir. I really liked this book because it has a good story in it and he is very nice no matter want happens. The author of this book is Margaret K. McElderry.

tristan tristan

I really thought this book wasn't good but it did have great message it was very sad i don't suggest to read this if you get sad easily