Book Review of "The Good Master" by Kate Seredy

Book Review of “The Good Master” by Kate Seredy.

This book, a winner of the Newbery Honor, chronicles the summer adventures of Jancsi, a young Hungarian boy, and his cousin Kate. Kate is sent by her father to the ranch owned by Jancsi’s father to “recuperate” after an illness. Jancsi and his family are expecting a docile lamb of a girl. What they get is more like a wild untamed colt. Janci’s father, sometimes called “the Good Master,” is used to taming horses. Now it is up to him to tame Kate.

I appreciated how Kate Seredy’s delightful tale shows how love-directed discipline does worlds more of good to train up an untamed child, (or an untamed horse,) then the use of discipline inflicted in anger. Also, that a child left without discipline turns out headstrong and stubborn. The approach of Jancsi’s father is not to break the will of the horses he handles, or the niece who eventually comes under his roof, but to direct and refine it.

Kate Seredy’s use of good vocabulary and the entertaining escapades of Kate and Jancsi make this book a joy to read.

Story Starter Ideas:

Write a story about two or more friends, siblings, or cousins who are spending their summer together. What character flaws show themselves during their adventures together? Are these flaws ultimately overcome? If so, how are they overcome?