The Silver Spoon of Solomon Snow

by Kaye Umansky

Book Overview

Readers will laugh out loud at this daft and clever account of a foundling who sets out in search of his destiny, only to encounter some woeful misadventures along the way. In a wretched hovel at the top of a moor lives a boy named Solomon Snow. Each day he slaves for Ma and Pa Scubbins's laundry service, and each night he slurps down a bowl of vegetable slop, wishing only for the luxury of a spoon. Imagine poor Solly's surprise when he learns that...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763627925
• ISBN13: 9780763627928
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

Solly's Silver Spoon Review

I really loved the book.It was so detailed and it has a mix of other books like The Lighting Thief and Peter Pan in high adventure.I listened to the book on CD the reader was very talented in her different voices. The book is about a boy named Solomon Snow who finds out he's adopted and sets out on a quest to find his real parents. His one clue is a spoon with the engraved letters V.I. and P.He sets out with Prudence a person he knows and picks "The Prodigy" she gets her way by batting her eyelashes. Also later along a stray and curious chimney sweep.So read the book and take off with adventures of Solly and his friends!

Excellent Read Aloud

This a great story, a kind of Dickens "spoof" if you will. The characters are very funny, the story has a nice surprise ending, and it is just so darn good to read aloud! Each chapter starts with comments to the "Intelligent Reader", and it just goes on from there. My kids, son aged 10, daughter aged 8, really enjoyed it. The cliff hanger at the end of each chapter had them begging for more of Solly, Prudence, Rosabella, Mr. Skippy, and Freddy. If you "do" character voices, it adds even more "zip"! Highly reccommended.

I loved It

Personally, I thought it was a fabulous book. Solomon Snow is a woeful being with a sad existance. When he meets the stubborn Prudence Pridy, and discovers that he is a foundling, Solly sets off to find his long lost silver spoon. Solly encounters several situations that he would never dream of, prior to meeting Prudence. I think that thoug it is somewhat predictable, it was satisfying, and I can't wait for the sequel.

Great read!

Solomon Snow is a poor peasant boy that lives with his Ma and Pa in the village of Boring. He works with his parents in their laundry business and has nothing to his name. He befriends another outcast child from the village, a girl named Prudence, who takes him on an adventure he will never forget. Together Prudence and Solly discover that his past and true identity is connected to a silver spoon he had as a baby. They decide to journey to Town and uncover all the secrets in Solly's life. On their way they meet an unforgettable cast of characters. In this well written book Umansky strives to model Dickens' style of writing. She inserts humor as often as possible, which gives this dark and frustrating tale a good balance that keeps the reader interested. The story is clearly character driven. Without each distinct character it would fall apart. Each character from the lonely and worrisome Solly, to the boisterous chimney sweep Freddy, brings a different feeling and tone to the tale. The character's actions and words make this book easy and enjoyable to read and move plot along. The reader is bound to connect to one of the many characters present; therefore, when the story is over the reader is left wanting more. This book is a fun read and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for good story about a journey, and self discovery. I can't wait for the sequel to find out how Solly and all his friends will deal with the secrets that were revealed!

Clever and Fun

Silver Spoon of Solomon Snow follows Solomon the son of poor washer people, Prudence, an aspiring writer, and the Prodigy Rosabella, good at getting whatever she wants, on a quest to find Solly's inheritance - a silver spoon. A spoon that was found literally in his mouth as a baby, when he was discovered on the doorstep of very poor people. The fun is in the journey and the people they meet along the way. The characters are well developed and easy to visualize. I think this book would be well enjoyed when read aloud. Those who love books such as Horatio Alger's Ragged Dick stories and the Series of Unfortunate Events, will enjoy this quick read. I am looking forward to its sequel