50 pages • 1 hour read
Sid FleischmanBy the Great Horn Spoon!
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1963A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman follows 12-year-old Jack and his butler, Praiseworthy, as they travel from Boston to California during the 1849 Gold Rush to save Jack's aunt from financial ruin. Their journey includes a shipboard adventure, episodes with thieves and highwaymen, and successes and failures in gold mining, culminating in a new beginning and family reunion in San Francisco.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Readers often praise Sid Fleischman’s By the Great Horn Spoon! for its engaging and humorous portrayal of the California Gold Rush. The vivid characters and historical accuracy appeal to both young and older audiences. Some note, however, that the pacing can occasionally lag. Overall, it’s a delightful and educational read that effectively blends adventure with history.
Who Should Read By the Great Horn Spoon!?
Readers who enjoy fast-paced historical adventures like By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman are typically ages 8-12. Fans of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain or The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman himself will appreciate the humorous, action-packed narrative set during the California Gold Rush.
RecommendedReading Age
8-12yearsLexile Level
730L