Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Reading Level: High School

I was pleasantly surprised that Mark Twain sets this book in history with one of the main characters being Prince Edward of Wales – son of king Henry the VIII. The author takes great care in tying his story to real events and real laws in England at the time. While the actual plot is fiction, there are some elements that make the book seem truly educational.

But this has a cost. Unfortunately, there were some brutally harsh and unfair laws at the time, some terrible living conditions for the poor, and horrors of religious persecution.

I walked away from the book feeling very grateful for how far our society has come -even if things aren’t perfect, we still have come a long way and we have so much to be grateful for! And, a reminder to keep seeking justice for those still suffering.

This book may or may not be a good fit for young readers in your family. It certainly has violence, but there is hope and at times redemption of sorts in the end. Overall, I would be excited about my high schooler reading it if (s)he was able to handle some of the darker realities of the time. Here are some specifics:

  • Alcoholism and Abuse. Tom, the pauper, has an abusive, alcoholic father and grandmother. He beats his wife and his children, and at one point a man steps in to defend Tom, the father actually accidentally kills him with a deathly blow. The details are not too specific ( Twain says things like “gave him a good thrashing.”), but it is the horrible reality that this sort of thing happened then (and still happens now!).
  • Martyrdom. Some sweet Baptist women who are kind to Edward in prison are burned at the stake for their religious beliefs. Edward is stunned (he expected them to may be get some lashes), and their daughters are screaming as they watch their mothers die this horrifying death.
  • Peril/Stranger Danger. A hermit who initially seems like a religions man ends up being an obsessive, revengeful, disturbed villain who plans evil for Edward.
  • Unscrupulous behavior. Tom’s father leads a band of outcasts who do all sorts of evil including stealing, terrorizing, blackmail, deceiving, and torture. At one point, one to boy tries injure Edward with chemicals strapped to his body.
  • Deceit/Betrayal. A man spurns his brother, steals his loved one, and has him put in prison.

These dark stories wrench at my heart, but they also stirred in me empathy for people in situations less fortunate than mine. There is darkness like this out there today- darkness that needs the light of God!

There are also some really beautiful themes in the book: stories of redemption, loyalty, truth, kindness, and justice.

  • Friendship and Loyalty. The loyal friend who pursues and protects Edward takes lashes for him, hunts down his captors, and frees him several times. Although not explicitly religious, it is a beautiful reflection of the type of relentless, sacrificial & unselfish love of our savior.
  • Hope. Tom grows up to manage a home for peasant boys – a home that provided education and hope in a dark place.
  • Response to injustice. After experiencing such horrors in his adventures throughout England, king Edward goes on to reform laws, and – respond to the injustice he observed. He redeems the estate of his dear friend, rights many wrongs he observed, and financially provides for the Baptist daughters whose parents were martyred. This is also a great reflection of our perfect king – who walked in our world and is able to sympathize with our troubles because he left his throne and stepped into our pain.

A few other considerations:

  • Difficult language. The old English is sometimes difficult to understand. It is still possible to get a lot out of the story even if some of the language isn’t grasped.
  • Gender Roles. The role of women is quite stereotypical. The princesses are pretty and gentle. The mothers are loving but not always bright or strong-willed. It might be good to follow up with something with substantive female roles.

Here are some essay questions to help your student make connections:

  • The Bible says,”God works all things together for the good of those who are called according to his purposes.” Give examples of how king Edward had difficult experiences that eventually led to the advancement of God’s kingdom & purposes. In what ways have you experienced difficult times but seen God work good out of them?
  • Compare and contrast miles hendon’s love for Edward with Jesus’s love for you.
  • The society of the time had some unfair laws and systems. In what ways has society improved, and in what ways is it still in need of reform?
  • The hermit at first seems like he may be a god-fearing man. But he ends up being quite an agent of darkness. What are some other figures in history (or the present) that may seem religious but are actually working out evil? How can we detect these figures before being damaged by their evil intentions?