The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg
Encyclopedia
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is a children's historical novel by Rodman Philbrick
. Set during the American Civil War
, it follows the adventures of a boy who is an inveterate teller of tall tales
on his quest to find his older brother, a Union soldier. First published in 2009, it was named as a Newbery Honor Book in 2010
, a hot air balloon
ist and others — until he finally gets himself to Gettysburg
. Even through a hail of gunfire, he survives and finds Harold.
Rodman Philbrick
Rodman Philbrick is an author of novels for adults and children. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1951, and currently lives in Maine and Florida. Since 1980 he has been married to Lynn Harnett, who sometimes co-writes with him. They have no children. He has also written using the pen names...
. Set during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, it follows the adventures of a boy who is an inveterate teller of tall tales
Tall Tales
Tall Tales may refer to:* Tall Tales , 2004* Tall Tales , by American band The Hot Club of Cowtown* "Tall Tales" , an episode of the television series Supernatural-See also:...
on his quest to find his older brother, a Union soldier. First published in 2009, it was named as a Newbery Honor Book in 2010
Plot summary
The novel is narrated by Homer Pierce Figg, an orphan from Maine. Homer is trying to find and take back his older brother Harold, who was sworn into the Union army by a ruse. Upon his quest, he meets slave catchers, a traveling medicine showMedicine show
Medicine shows were traveling horse and wagon teams which peddled "miracle cure" medications and other products between various entertainment acts. Their precise origins unknown, medicine shows were common in the 19th century United States...
, a hot air balloon
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
ist and others — until he finally gets himself to Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
. Even through a hail of gunfire, he survives and finds Harold.