Bigger

By Patricia Calvert

Book Overview

In the spring of 1865 the Civil War has finally ended. Men are coming home. Families are being reunited -- except for Tyler's. His father is going with a band of men to Mexico, where they will regroup, rearm, and continue the fight against the Yankees. Tyler is stunned. For four years he's dreamed of seeing his father again, and he can't let go of that dream. There's only one thing Tyler can do -- go get his father and bring him home. Tyler starts his trek from Missouri to the Rio Grande alone, but he quickly gains a companion -- a strange dog made mean by cruelty but tamed by hunger and Tyler's desperately lonely need for him. Tyler names him Bigger. The journey is long and hard but, with Bigger by his side, possible. Tyler might make it all the way to the Rio Grande. He might even find his father. But most importantly, Bigger helps Tyler realize that some dreams might not be worth holding on to.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 068986003X
• ISBN13: 9780689860034
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Not a dog of a book

The Southern cause was lost and many never came home. We have a brave boy here who goes looking for his father and winds up both finding a friend in a dog and growing up at one time. Unlike others he came home and used his new understanding to make life better after the war had gone away.

Could you go 800 miles for your dad?

Could you go 800 miles for your dad?BiggerBy Patricia CalvertPublished in 1994 When his father, Black Jack Bohannan disappears near the Mexican border at the end of the Civil War,twelve-year-old Tyler decides to go after him over a 800 mile journey on the Rio Grande. Then he will bring him home, acquiring in his journey a strange abused `Devil Dog' which he comes to name Bigger and he also meets an slave who's name is Isaac who escaped, but he has many scars and Tyler befriended him. An interesting part in Bigger is when Tyler gives Isaac a pair of shoes and Isaac was surprised and said,'My stars a pair of shoes! Might be a little too big for these big feet.' Then he tries them on and says,'Nossir these are big enough for me.' Then Isaac gives him a fishing pole and some line. This is a book for boysand/or girls who like adventure. I give this book a 9 and 1 half out of 10 because I love this book. (:D>

Bigger Review-By Steven Pincus

I have read Bigger over a million times. It deserves every award it has earned and more. I have found the book to be the most interesting historical fiction book on the market. Patricia Calvert wrote THE BEST book anyone could buy.

Powerful and Moving

This story doesn't settle for easy answers. I don't think we ever picture Tyler's father as quite the hero Tyler starts out believing he is; but Patricia Calvert doesn't take cheap shots: the man is complicated and doing what he thinks is right, even though we may want to shake him and tell him he's wrong. Sad without being depressing, BIGGER shows that sometimes we simply have to let go of our dreams and move on. The scene with the gravediggers is one of the shortest but strongest anti-war moments I have ever read.

Couldn't put the book down for the week I read it.

Bigger written by Patricia Calvert was a very well written book. The characters in the book were well described in the story. The book had a great narritive hook and irony. I encourage you to go get the book to read.