Johnny Tremain

What’s the first book you ever finished and still remember to this day?

I probably read books before this, since I remember reading it in 3rd grade, though this is the 1st book that really felt like i was reading a life story… at least one worth remembering…

I’m gonna turn this post into a bit of an experiment for me. I haven’t touched the book since 3rd grade, and if you were to read my other writing, you’d find plenty on the subject of my memory, or rather, lack there of. So, it’s interestingwhen something burrows deep enough to survive, especially this long.

So, from what I remember, it’s about Johnny Tremain (surprise, surprise) – a young boy, somewhere in that 8-13 range, at least at the beginning of the story if I remember correctly. He’s either on his way to colonial America, or already there at the start. I’m not sure, just that he’s there as an indentured servant to the colony’s silver Smith.

Side note, silver is my preferred precious metal. I’ve never been a big fan of gold, and more I’m wondering if this story played a part in it…

Back to the story..

There isn’t really many details I remember about the actual story. I remember the beginning more than the end. I’m not actually sure what the climax was. Something is tickling my brain about “the British are coming” guy – though I’m blanking on his name at the moment #AmericanEducation

Anyways, I’m gonna give a few details i do remember from the story that really stuck with me.

The 1st thing that is probably more significant (to me, personally) than I’m gonna give credit at the moment is one of the key turning points in the story is when Johnny burns his hand, and he’s unsure if he’ll be able to continue his life as a silver smith…

The 2nd thing I’ll mention is particularly…fond to me, as the name I’m about to mention seems to pop up in weird parts of my life; it feels a little personal in a way, which is why I probably remember it so vividly. Anyway, the main love interest to Johnny is named Priscilla, though if I remember correctly, she went by “Cill” or “Cilla”. Johnny wasn’t too fond of her, at first at least. I’m pretty sure it was kinda like a “pre-arranged” thing – part of the deal of being an indentured servant. I don’t know if that’s exactly right, just that I remember him being hesitant about her.

This might be a false memory, though i think a detail i remember about Priscilla is that she was more on the petite side. It stood out since, if I’m remembering correctly, Johnny commented on how a heavier woman would probably make a better mother for his children or something like that, since in that time, … I’m not gonna really parrot something I was taught in school, just end with saying I found that perspective interesting while growing up in a society that idolized anorexia…

The 3rd thing I wanna mention is such a small detail, though that attention to detail made 3rd grade me feel like a genius. It’s funny, since now that the details are blurred, my…whatever.

The moment in the story was about how to stick to your beliefs without offending those you’re with, or at least that’s what i think it’s about upom retrospect.

Basically, this was during the tea boycott, and … I’m remembering, it’s not about respect, well not respecting them, just respecting yourself, both in your ideals and the reality of your safety.

So, it’s during the tea boycott, and one of the ways to tell if you’re a revolutionary or not is if you’re willing to drink tea sorta thing. I forget exactly how it got to this point, though they were having tea with someone who they didn’t want to spill their own with, let’s say. And so, do you go along with the little tea party, compromising your morals & what you stand for? Or do you refuse and expose yourself as a “traitor” in their eyes?

A little bit of “both & neither”

Manners save the day in this scene. The proper etiquette to refuse to without saying anything is to turn the cup over and place a spoon on top. No questions asked; kinda like a “don’t ask; don’t tell.”

Anyways, i remember this part of the book so vividly since a classmate answered the teacher’s question 1st of,  “what do you think he’ll do?” And they were correct in the sense that everyone knew what they meant, though, I had to chime in since they only mentioned flipping the cup over, so I reminded them about the silver spoon…