Winner of the 1942 John Newbery Medal for most significant contribution to children's literature, "The Matchlock Gun" is one of the shortest--yet one of the most memorable--of all the Newbery Medal books. I've read every one of the Newbery books from 1922 through 2000, and this little story made a big impression on me. The novel covers but a day in the life of a very young boy who is left at home with the huge responsibility of safeguarding his family in the absence of his father.

SYNOPSIS: Edward ("Ateoord" in the story) Van Alstyne's father, Teunis, is a captain in the Guilderland militia and leaves the family overnight to defend their small community outside Albany City, NY against the French and Indians. The militia is unable to hold the Indians at the bridge, however, and five Indians reach the Van Alstyne farm.

Gertrude (Edward's mother) has the foresight to rig up her grandfather's heavy, awkward Spanish matchlock gun through a hole in the window shutter and acts as a decoy, picking beans in the garden, until the Indians reach the house. Edward must then defend his wounded mother and protect his family with the huge, ungainly weapon.

IMPRESSIONS: Today it is quite seldom that extremely young children must bear adult responsibilities in the face of such danger. Historical fiction like this is compelling reading; "The Matchlock Gun" is a very brief but well-written story which should interest any young reader.

This is a small book for children about a true incident in upper New York State in 1756. A young father, Teunis Van Alstyne, has to leave his farm to go with the militia to fight Indians in the French and Indian War. He leaves an old Spanish gun with his ten-year-old son Edward to protect Edward's mother and his little sister. Will edward be able to handle the gun that is bigger than he is? This book won the 1942 Newbery Medal for best contribution to American children's literature.

The story of this book is about how the courage and bravery of a mother and her young son saves the lives of their family from an indian attack. We get a view of exactly how it was in the 1700's. There are not many stories out there for children or adults that tell it like it was. But this is one of them! The pictures in the book are excellent also, giving pretty good detail of the story as you read along.

The story is wonderful for young children because it tells about an obedient boy who followed the instructions of his mother and father implicitly. Note as you read, that he never touched the gun without his father or mother's command. What a lesson to teach young children! Although he was afraid, he had to be brave to survive in the times in which they lived. His obedience saved the lives of his mother and sister, and his own. On top of that, the setting is in the home of a loving family.

Concerning the savages,exactly who was attacking whom? Were the people to just sit back and let it happen? Let me further add this..there is nothing wrong with loving and defending your own.
Highly recommended with Five stars!