
Orphan Hero
A Novel of the Civil War
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Narrated by:
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Peter Berkrot
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By:
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John Babb
About this listen
From a former US assistant surgeon general comes the epic tale of a young man’s struggle to survive a journey across America during the Civil War. Told by his stepmother that he alone had been responsible for the death of his mother, abandoned by the earlier departure of his father for the California 1849 goldfields, and threatened with being locked in a cage with his stepmother’s psychotic brother, eight-year-old Benjamin Franklin “B .F.” Windes decides to abandon home and trail his father’s path. Thus begins a trip of constant struggle with disease, severe weather, hardship, Indian attack, and death on his lone journey across much of what is now the United States. B. F. spends the next 11 years in gold rush towns in California - first as a barber, then as a physician’s assistant - before departing for the Caribbean at age 19, where he becomes a blockade runner during the American Civil War. At war’s end he discovers that the men he had been dealing with were nothing more than common murderers and thieves - Bushwhackers. He travels to the Missouri Ozarks, where he meets the girl of his dreams. But their romance is threatened when he finds himself battling a man from his past in order to safeguard his family and his future. Orphan Hero, based on the life of the author’s great-grandfather in the mid-19th century, is a tale of courage and perseverance in the face of incredible hardship.
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Orphan hero
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What did you love best about Orphan Hero?
It was a genuinely interesting story, and the flow of it was very nice. I was always looking forward to where BF would go next. The history was well done. Basic, but not in a bad way. The author threw in little tidbits from the era that made it interesting. Many that I already knew (like life on the Oregon Trail) but filled the book with other details that rounded out the feel of the era. And he got that part right. The book wasn't overly violent or anything but it wasn't a sanitized version of the mid 1800s, and since that era wasn't very sanitary I'm glad he went the realistic route.What other book might you compare Orphan Hero to and why?
Eh, not sure. Perhaps the much more adult version of Little House on the Prairie, but that doesn't really fit either. Though I must say I liked those books as a kid and like this one.Which character – as performed by Peter Berkrot – was your favorite?
I'm not a fan really when a single narrator has to do both male and female voices, but he did a fine job mostly. I enjoyed his gruff southern voices, but wonder of how much of a stereotype those are.Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
No extreme reaction. Just a very enjoyable one. I listened to it for 2 hours a day and work and looked forward to each day.Any additional comments?
This one went down smooth. There's nothing amazing about it, but it was a quality listen.A Fine Tale
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Great story about a little known time
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Captivating!
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The story degenerates after the war when the Benjamin falls in love. Cliche' and caricature abound in the last 25% of the book. The action is dull and predictable. I switched books with 20 minutes to go.
I don't recommend this book unless you have a hankering for a "boy becomes man on his own terms" story.
Degenerates Into Evil Caricatures
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I wish there were more
Like it.
Fantastic story. CLEAN
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takes me to the wild west
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Would you listen to Orphan Hero again? Why?
The story of a young boy facing adversity while searching for his father. All of this from a young boy in a time when our country was young. As the story continued I followed along on a map and could visualize the places this young man visited on his journey. In addition to the locations I've visited I could clearly imagine the awe this young man must have felt during his journey west.What did you like best about this story?
I was introduced to this book during a book signing and I had the opportunity to talk to the author about his inspiration for the book. To learn this story is based on his ancestor's journal and to know this journey is based on fact gave me a personal connection to the story. As I listened to the story I could not get over the fact this kid was only eight years old when he started his journey!What does Peter Berkrot bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
The narrator did a great job of placing you into the story. As a resident of the Louisville area and previously lived in the south the narrator's accent was authentic and added the kind of experience that placed you in the story. The narrator was telling a story rather than reading a novel. I highly recommend hearing this narration and loose yourself in the story!Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
As I read on I shared in the pain, suffering, struggle and heartache this child felt. I watched this young child grow into a young man and then a man.... I followed his journey and rooted for him all the way through.Any additional comments?
I don't normally feel this way about books but I would LOVE to see this book adapted to the big screen. The visual images I encountered during his travels can only provide a deeper and more passionate desire to see this child succeed. His journey through the wild west and the historical locations he visited can provide a stunning cinematic experience.Heart Gripping Story of Boy Trying to Survive
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Rags to riches coming of age story
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1849 Indiana to California to the Caribbean
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