93 pages • 3 hours read
Johnny Tremain
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
322
Novel • Fiction
Boston, Massachusetts • 1770s
1943
Middle grade
10-14 years
840L
Super Short Summary
Originally published in 1943, Esther Forbes’s Johnny Tremain is a classic middle-grade historical fiction/adventure novel. After a prideful accident ends 14-year-old Johnny Tremain’s promising career as a silversmith, his search for a new trade leads to his direct involvement in the early events of the American Revolution. The novel won a Newbery Medal and explores themes of self-sacrifice, humility, and change. Content includes mentions of wartime violence, slavery, racism, ableism, brief offensive language, and harmful impersonation of Indigenous people.
Adventurous
Inspirational
Challenging
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
51,937 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Esther Forbes' Johnny Tremain is widely praised for its engaging storytelling and historical accuracy, bringing the American Revolution to life for young readers. Critics commend its compelling protagonist and rich detail, although some find the pacing slow at times. Overall, it is considered a valuable educational read, blending adventure with historical insights.
Who Should Read Johnny Tremain?
Readers who enjoy historically rich, coming-of-age novels like Esther Forbes’ Johnny Tremain are often drawn to stories blending personal growth with significant historical events. Fans of My Brother Sam Is Dead or The Witch of Blackbird Pond will appreciate the detailed Revolutionary War setting and the protagonist’s transformative journey.
51,937 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Cilla Lapham
Cilla Lapham
A gentle yet sharp-tongued and loyal girl, who plays a significant role in Johnny's personal growth. She is characterized by her commitment to Johnny and her evolving relationship with him.
Rab Silsbee
Rab Silsbee
A self-contained and resourceful young man who becomes Johnny's friend and ally. He is an influential character who inspires courage and commitment to a cause.
Dove
Dove
An insecure and hapless fellow apprentice who inadvertently sets off a series of events that alter Johnny's path. His actions serve as a catalyst for Johnny's transformation.
Mr. Jonathan Lyte
Mr. Jonathan Lyte
A wealthy, morally questionable merchant and Johnny's granduncle, whose interactions with Johnny are pivotal to the latter's development. His actions and motivations challenge Johnny's perceptions and decisions.
322
Novel • Fiction
Boston, Massachusetts • 1770s
1943
Middle grade
10-14 years
840L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.