Living in a small Vermont town in 1899, ten-year-old Robbie considers himself a free-thinker. A mischievious boy, Robbie rarely behaves in a manner expected of the son of the town’s Congregational minister; in fact, he seems hellbent on breaking the rules whenever he can. But Robbie grows emotionally and morally when he begins to see the consequences of his actions, and can come to grips with the relationship he has with his father. Robbie, who is a great admirer of Mark Twain, seems to have more than a little Huck Finn as he recounts his humorous, yet thought-provoking, story. Paterson’s distinctive use of idiomatic language helps to add comedic flavor, as well as to anchor the novel in a specific time and place. (Ages 10-14)