April Morning
First edition
|
|
| Author | Howard Fast |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | William Plummer |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical fiction, young adult |
| Published | 1961 Crown |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 202 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 3116580 |
April Morning is a 1961 novel by Howard Fast, about Adam Cooper's coming of age during the Battle of Lexington. One critic notes that in the beginning of the novel Adam is "dressed down by his father, misunderstood by his mother and plagued by his brother." In the backdrop are the peaceful people of Lexington, forced "to go into a way of war that they abhorred."
While the novel was not originally written as a young adult story, it has increasingly been assigned in middle school English and social studies classes, due to the age of the protagonist and author Howard Fast's meticulous efforts to recreate the texture of daily life in colonial America and the political currents on the eve of the American Revolution.
In 1987, a film version was made for television starring Chad Lowe as Adam and Tommy Lee Jones as Moses.
The novel begins in the afternoon of April 18, 1775, when Adam Cooper's father, Moses Cooper, sends Adam out to draw water from the well for his mother, Sarah Cooper. After completing this task, Adam heads upstairs to talk with Granny. During the talk with her, they engage in a debate on religion. Afterwords, they head downstairs to eat dinner. Then the family prays and the meal, consisting of bread pudding and donkers, begins. In the middle of the meal, Moses confronts Adam about a "spell" to be said while drawing water. As a result, the confrontation starts an argument, which is interrupted by Cousin Simmons arriving. Cousin Simmons, chosen to draft a letter on the rights of man, comes to Moses with his draft seeking criticism. Another debate arises over Cousin Simmons' description of rights as "god-given." Moses asserts that rights come from the people backing them, not God.
After dinner is over and Adam finishes some evening chores, he heads over to the Simmons' house to meet with Ruth, his love interest, and go on a walk. Before he is able to see Ruth, however, Aunt Simmons makes conversation with Adam and feeds him pie. Then Ruth comes downstairs, and Adam and Ruth leave on a walk. While they are walking, they talk about various things, including their futures and what they want to be in the world. After a kiss Adam walks Ruth home and then he himself heads home. Upon arrival, Adam spots Levi cleaning his gun. Adam does not like this but his mother insists that he let Levi do it. Then Adam heads upstairs and goes to bed. Before falling asleep he overhears his parents talking about the committee meeting. Finally he falls asleep.
...
Wikipedia