August 2008
What's new this month?

Updated Events Calendar.

New video trailers for Class of 2k8 books.

Answer questions! Win books!
Check out the Class of 2k8 scavenger hunt. It's a mid-term you'll want to take!

As I'm a newbie to all this web page business, I'd appreciate your comments! What brought you to this page? What do you like about it? Dislike? What would you like to see added? Do you have any questions about the book, the author, writing, history, etc.,? Ask them here--or just stop by and say hello!

is "a difficult boy" a christian book?

That's an interesting question. I guess that depends on what you mean by a Christian book. The story is not meant to advocate a particular religious point of view. But certainly the values that Daniel and Ethan hold dear--loyalty, kindness, friendship, self-sacrifice--are universally cherished by Christians and non-Christians alike. I didn't set out to convey a moral or preach any specific message, but rather to explore how adversity causes these two very different characters to forge a friendship strong enough to overcome prejudice and abuse. I hope their story can appeal to readers of all ages from any religious or cultural background.

Since you raised the subject of religion, I thought it would be a good opportunity to give readers a little background about religious attitudes in New England in the early 19th century. There is some discussion of religion in the book because Daniel is Catholic, which was not a very acceptable faith to have in New England of the 1830s. Most New Englanders at the time were Congregationalists. There were also some Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, and a few other Protestant denominations. Prejudice against Catholics was very strong among Protestant groups. Anti-Catholic sermons were preached in Congregationalist churches, and ministers often claimed that Catholics weren't Christian but were the next thing to pagans.

This anti-Catholic bigotry wasn't just a matter of name-calling and dirty looks, either. At times it could be seriously dangerous to be an Irish Catholic. There were anti-Catholic riots in some cities. In 1834, a mob burned a Catholic convent in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and several years later there was an attempt to burn a new Catholic church in Westfield, Massachusetts. Anti-Catholicism led to the formation of a secret Nativist society (known as the "Know-Nothings," because they were supposed to deny any knowledge of the existence of the society). The Know Nothings tried to restrict the rights and citizenship opportunities of immigrants, particularly Irish Catholics.

Although the book doesn't talk about these issues in detail, religious prejudices are reflected in the attitudes of the characters toward Daniel. Mrs. Lyman, for example, gets terribly upset when she learns that the Irish plan to build a Catholic church in a nearby town. Ethan, who is only nine years old, doesn't understand the ins and outs of religious bigotry. It doesn't make any sense to him that a person could believe in Christ and not be considered a Christian. At one point in the story, he's very worried because the minister has preached a sermon saying that Catholics are going to hell. Of course, Ethan doesn't want his new friend Daniel to go to hell. He tries to get Daniel and later Silas (the oldest son in the Lyman household) to explain things to him, but he doesn't get much satisfaction from either one. Click on the following link to read an excerpt in which Ethan discusses religion, heaven and hell with Daniel and Silas:

Although the question of who is and isn't a Christian or that some people think there's only one "right" kind of Christian is raised in the story, the point of the story isn't to promote or oppose Christianity or to say that one form of Christianity is better or worse than any other. The point is to explore the effect of prejudice--not necessarily religious--on people. I can't say that I have any brilliant insights on how to eliminate prejudice from the world, but I hope that the way Daniel and Ethan face and overcome their differences will resonate with readers of any faith.

Which is a VERY long answer to a very short--but very thought-provoking--question! Thanks for asking!

MPB

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In just a few sentences, you gently lifted me into the world of Ethan and Daniel, where your vivid descriptions let me walk side by side with them, as though I was an unnamed, unmentioned character in the story. Your dialogue is so real that I almost become embarrassed for eavesdropping. Now that I've finished the book, I wonder about the boys, hope they're both doing well. Will we be reading about them in a future book? cwm

Thanks! Daniel will be returning--I'm about half-way through a sequel that brings him back together with Jonathan Stocking, the peddler from A Difficult Boy. I can't say too much without giving the story away, but it involves a circus with six dancing ponies, Irish railroad workers, and a child custody case. Lots of research to do!

MPB
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I grew up on a farm and milked cows and rode horses. My brothers mucked out the barns. I was amazed at how real your story felt to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book and put it down only when my eyes wouldn't let me go on. (I'm 91.) Thanks for such a delightful story that could keep my attention and bring me back to some childhood memories of my own. HW

Thanks, HW! I hope the story brought back some good memories, and no bad ones!

MPB
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I have read the novel, and there are sections that I still think about now, long after I have closed the book and gone on to other works. The story brings the reader back to a time that was not as simple as we would like to believe, and the characters come to life on the pages with such detail that I could have sworn I have met them in my own childhood and teen years. I am an adult reader and still appreciated the rich historical background and the plot that kept me intrigued about what would happen next. Congratulations on a great book! MJM

Thanks so much!

MPB

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Ms. Barker, I just finished reading A Difficult Boy and thought it was wonderful. I'm particularly struck by how you capture the sights, sounds and smells of life on a 19th century farm and how your characters draw you into their world. I couldn't put the book down. I want to stress that this book is great for adult readers. I'm fifty-one and just loved it!

Thanks! My publisher lists the book for ages 10 and up, and I like to think that "up" has no limits! I think the test of a really good kids' book is that it's also a really good book for grownups to read. I was excited to see so many grownups as hooked on Harry Potter as the kids were (yeah, I'm one! Read #7 in one Sunday sitting on my front porch). I'll try reading just about anything, and I get kind of crabby over people who pigeonhole books into little restrictive slots based on genre or gender or ethnicity. I think people miss a lot of good books by deciding "Oh, I don't read kids' books," or "I don't read fantasy," etc.

MPB

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Ms. Barker, Congratulations on your novel! I read the first chapter and thought it was wonderful. I am working on what I hope is my "final" draft of a young adult historical novel. Being on the other end of the process from you, I'd love to ask you a few questions via e-mail if you have the time. I actually submitted my first chapter to the PEN New England's Children's Book Caucus Award - which is how I found your name! My e-mail is jane(at)janehealey(dot)com. If you don't have the time, I completely understand! Congratulations again on your success!! Best - Jane Healey

Hi, Jane!

Thanks for your comment. I hope you'll enjoy the rest of the book when it comes out (I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas to come). Good luck with the PEN contest. Although for various reasons way too long to get into here, I didn't end up with the publisher who was involved with the contest, I think having that on my resume was a definite plus in my eventually getting an agent and a publisher. Hope you do well! PEN's a great organization--they really advocate strongly for writers and free speech world-wide.

Best back atya!

MPB