"Mary Mapes Dodge created an instant bestseller with "Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates." She wanted the book to be partly a book of travels and partly a domestic story. It is a tale written for children that adults also find interesting and uplifting. Dodge writes as if she is sending a series of letters from Holland to children in America, and her you-are-there perspective is aided by a nice attention to detail and vivid imagery.
The Brinkers are a poor but stoic family under a dark cloud - Raff, the man of the house, fell from the dikes while reinforcing them during a bad storm, and for ten years he has been in a vegetative state. With no steady income, the family's lot is grinding poverty. Despite their unfortunate circumstances, Hans and Gretel are cheerful children, yet always attentive to the needs of their mother and their present-but-not-really-there father. Their social standing is very low, but they both attract firm friends, even among the gentry, for their honesty, industry, and good-heartedness.
Then a glorious skating race is proposed for the town of Broek, with the prize a pair of silver skates for both the winning boy and girl. In the weeks leading up to the race, we follow the adventures of five of the local boys who are showing a visiting relative from England the sights of the Netherlands. Hans improbably meets the one man who might be able to heal his father, and somehow Hans finds a way to afford some skates so that he and Gretel can enter the race.
This all leads up to a dramatic, moving, and entirely satisfactory conclusion. "Hans Brinker" hits a series of high notes and encourages children to cultivate and display their finer qualities."
"Young Hans Brinker and his sister, Gretel, live in Holland, the colorful land of sparkling canals and great flapping windmills. But the Brinkers are very poor, and the father is ill. How can Hans help his family survive the long Dutch winter that lies ahead? When Hans learns about a race and the prize-a pair of shiny silver skates-he sees a chance to restore security to the Brinker household. But to help his family triumph over hardship, the determined boy and his sister must overcome some almost impossible challenges before the race even begins. Hans Brinker has been classic of children's literature for over a century. Providing a fascinating look at daily life in Holland, it has inspired generations of American children to appreciate the people and culture of this industrious country. It is also the heartwarming story that made this Dutch boy a symbol for goodness and devotion."
"Set in the Netherlands, the beautiful land of windmills, tulips, and wooden shoes, this timeless story relates the adventures of the impoverished but virtuous Brinker family. Young Hans and Gretel work toward two goals: finding the doctor who can restore their father's memory, and winning the competition for the silver skates. Their good deeds help to bring about good fortune for their whole family.
With many interesting details about Dutch family life and the history, this charming tale published over 140 years ago continues to delight countless readers with its inspiring story that encourages us all to pursue our dreams."
