Boy with an R in His Hand (Hardcover, Turtleback School & Library ed.)

It is a pleasure to find that James Reaney's first book for children, first published by Macmillan of Canada in 1965, has just been re-issuedin a handsome paperback edition, complete with the original illustrationsby Leo Rampen. "The Boy with an R in His Hand" tells the story oftwo orphan brothers who arrive in York from the Red River Settlement in1826 and quickly become involved with the complex politics of Upper Canada.Joel, the elder brother, aligns himself with the Family Compact and hisoverbearing, stuffy uncle, while Alex, more imaginative and courageous, becomes an apprentice to William Lyon Mackenzie at the Colonial Advocate.There he (and the reader) learn in some detail about Mackenzie's pressand the art of type-setting. Alex, rather improbably, "had it set up right, and from that moment on his progress in the skill of type-setting was...like a house on fire."

This is a satisfying, fast-moving story, full of incident and detailabout colonial life. It climaxes with the wrecking of Mackenzie's printshopand press by a band of young Tories acting with the implicit approval ofthe government, at the end of which Alex finds a single capital R, hissouvenir of life as a printer's apprentice. Recommended for ages nine andup, as a piece of Canadiana which enlivens history for the young reader.'

-- Marilyn Rueter, "The Devil's Artisan."James Reaney is widely regardedas one of Canada's finest authors, a writer who is comfortable with a wide variety ofliterary forms. His very first book, "The Red Heart (1949), won theGovernor General's Award; he would receive this honour again in 1958 and1962. From 1960 to 1971, Reaney edited the literary magazine "Alphabet.Reaney is perhaps best knownfor his many successful plays which includethe landmark trilogy "The Donnellys and his popular books for youngadults such as "The Boy with an R in His Hand (1965), and "Take theBig Picture (1986). He has also written the libretti fora trilogy of operas on themes from Canadian history. The first, "Serinette, with music by Harry Somers, premiered in 1990 at Sharon Temple.