Tunes for Bears to Dance to

by Robert Cormier

Paper Book, 1992

Status

Available

Call number

T F COR

Publication

New York : Delacorte, c1992.

Description

Eleven-year-old Henry escapes his family's problems by watching the woodcarving of Mr. Levine, an elderly Holocaust survivor, but when Henry is manipulated into betraying his friend he comes to know true evil.

Barcode

917

Awards

Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 1996)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 1995)
Sydney Taylor Book Award (Winner — 1992)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 1993)

Language

User reviews

LibraryThing member amcguinn
Henry and his family are dealing with the recent death of his brother and decide to move to a new town. In this new town, Henry meets Mr. Hairston, his new boss at the grocery store, and Mr. Levine, an elderly Holocaust survivor. Mr. Hairston devises an evil plan to test Henry's character.

This
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story has a universal appeal in that it deals with good versus evil. I was anxious to find out what decision Henry would make. Readers who enjoy stories about people who are faced with making ethical decisions with huge risks will like this one.

Honors and Awards: None
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LibraryThing member meggyweg
This Cormier book is suited for a younger audience, from about age eight on up, and lacks the violence and sex that often appears in his other books. Just because it's not as explicit, however, does not mean it's a fluffy read: it tackles weighty issues of prejudice and the need to take a stand
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against evil. 11-year-old Henry's family has been torn apart by the sudden death of his brother, but he finds solace in his friendship with Mr. Levine, a Jewish Holocaust survivor. Then Henry's boss, a child-abusing bigot named Mr. Hairston, threatens to destroy Henry's relationship with Mr. Levine, and Henry must decide between what is easy and what is right. This would be a good book to use to introduce younger children to the Holocaust, and to teach them about prejudice.
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LibraryThing member STBA
Eleven-year-old Henry escapes his family's problems by watching the woodcarving of Mr. Levine, an elderly Holocaust survivor, but when Henry is manipulated into betraying his friend, he comes to know true evil.
LibraryThing member ABookVacation
It was okay. I really don't think there was much plot development or character development. I guess it's be good for 3rd and 4th graders?
LibraryThing member librarybrandy
Not my favorite of Cormier's books. It's got some interesting ideas, but the plot comes together too easily, and even though it's set in (I guess?) the early '50s and the language is trying to capture that, some of the terms the bigoted boss uses are offensive by 1992 standards. I get why they were
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used, but it just didn't feel true to the time to me. Or something. I dunno. This book just didn't do it for me, though I liked the title an awful lot.
This may be among my least useful reviews.
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ISBN

0385308183 / 9780385308182
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