On My Honor

Title: On My Honor          

Author: Marion Dane Bauer

Copyright Date: 1986                     

Genre: Realistic Fiction                                     

Pages of Book: 90 Pages

Publisher: Dell Publishing                                                 

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Summary: Joel and Tony have been friends since they were really little. Tony's mom babysits Joel and his younger brother but she doesn't worry much about the older boys. Tony is a daredevil and when he gets his heart set on something there is no stopping him. Today he wants to go climb the bluffs where it is really dangerous. Joel doesn't want to but he doesn't want Tony to think that he is scared. Joel asks his dad if they can ride to the park thinking his dad would say no. Then Joel's problem would be solved. However much to Joel's surprise his dad says that he can go but to stay away from the river and the bluffs. Joel really didn't want to go but no he really has no excuse not to. Joel and Tony set out on their adventure and halfway there Tony stops at the bridge and decides that they should go swimming in the river. Joel knows how dangerous the river is but Tony just says he sounds like his dad. They argue and finally Tony pushes Joel and he challenges a race to the sandbar. When Joel gets to the sandbar he turns around to see Tony and he is nowhere to be seen. At first Joel thinks that he is playing a joke on him. Then he starts to panic and look for Tony. He can't find him anywhere and Joel gets swept in the current himself and barely gets out of it. He runs to the highway and flags down a teenage boy and girl. They hurry and drive back to the river and the boy searches for Tony but can't find him. It hits Joel that Tony is dead there is no way he could survive this long underwater. The teenagers head on to their destination and Joel goes back and forth whether he is going to go home or not. He decides to go back home but he doesn't tell his parents or anyone. Pretty soon Tony's parents are asking where he is and Joel just tells them that he got tired on the way to the park and came back. Finally later that night when the police show up at Tony's house, Joel breaks and tells them what happens. Joel feels guilty for this happening and thinks its all his fault. His parents don't punish him like Joel thinks but he realizes he is already being punished. He gains a little reassurance when his dad tells him that he is sure Tony is in heaven. 

Reaction: I really enjoyed this book though I was hoping that they would have ended it different. Especially whereas this is a children's book. It ended way too sad I thought. I sort of thought that Tony would have ended up playing a prank on Joel and the boys both learned a lesson from it. 

Problem: Tony is nowhere to be found and is supposedly dead. Joel doesn't know how he is going to face his parents and Tony's. They were going to blame Joel. 

Recommendation: I don't think I would recommend it to any child under the age of twelve. This is kind of a sad depressing ending. It wasn't light reading like children need.