Ink on His Fingers

by Louise A. Vernon

Book Overview

Johann Gutenberg is working on printing the first Bible with type. Twelve-year-old Hans Dunne works in Gutenberg's shop as an apprentice printer. Soon, Hans finds himself in the middle of a type-stealing mystery. Will Hans, and the other pressmen be able to keep Herr Fust from getting the type? Will they be able to finish the Bible so many people will be able to read and learn from it? For 9-to-14-year-olds.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0836116739
• ISBN13: 9780836116731
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Herald Press (VA)
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 9 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 9

Customer Reviews

Kid's Review

Ink on His Fingers is just the kind of history book I like. It is fiction, but has real facts too. It also shows how much Johann Gutenberg worked for his press, was in debt, believed in his cause, and was faithful. But it also leaves you hanging after Johann received more help and money from someone.

One son's opinion

My 11 yo son rates this a 4 star book because it has action and is told from the perspective of Hans, a fictional apprentice of Gutenburg. Although we studied Gutenburg in a text, this book was much more descriptive of the characters and it helped him learn what it was like to be a kid in the renaissance time period. Now when he thinks of Gutenburg he realizes how important Gutenburg was to history by printing books the way he did. He was also impressed that this happened only 600 years ago. (My 13 yo son was less impressed with the book and found it to be too easy and somewhat boring.)

delightful historical fiction for the entire family

I had trouble finding a book to use as a biography for our study of Gutenberg. I read a review of this book in a catalog and had to order it. Action, adventure, mystery are all interwoven with the biography of Gutenberg. My children begged me to read another chapter each night. You also get a feel for the time period. I am a fan of Louise Vernon and this book is among the best. We enjoyed it completely. Recommended