Onion John facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Joseph Krumgold |
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| Illustrator | Symeon Shimin |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Publisher | Thomas Y. Crowell |
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Publication date
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1959 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-06-440144-8 |
| OCLC | 29858305 |
Onion John is a popular children's book written by Joseph Krumgold. It came out in 1959 and won the famous Newbery Medal in 1960. The story takes place in the 1950s in New Jersey. It's about a 12-year-old boy named Andy Rusch. He becomes good friends with a very unusual man, a hermit, who lives outside their small town of Serenity.
The Story of Onion John
Onion John is a very unique person. He is an immigrant from Europe. He lives in a small hut made of stone. Inside, he uses old bathtubs for furniture! Young Andy Rusch is the only person in Serenity who can truly understand what Onion John says.
As Andy gets to know him, he learns why the man is called Onion John. It's because he grows the best onions in town. He even eats them like apples! Andy also discovers that Onion John has some very strange beliefs.
In Onion John's world, friendly spirits live in the clouds. He also believes that bad spirits can be scared away by smoke. Onion John doesn't need much. The people in town often give him old clothes. He also earns a little money by doing small jobs around Serenity. Andy and his friends always enjoy going along with Onion John's ideas.
A New Home for Onion John
One day, Onion John's life gets turned upside down. Andy's father decides to help him. He convinces the Rotary Club to build Onion John a brand new, modern house. This new house would have electricity and running water. It would also have a stove and only one bathtub.
The whole town agrees to help. Committees are formed, and the new house is built. It stands right where Onion John's old stone hut used to be.
Soon after moving in, Onion John has trouble with the modern things. He isn't used to them. He accidentally leaves newspaper on the stove. This causes a fire, and the new house is destroyed.
Andy's father is determined to rebuild the house. He doesn't notice that Onion John was actually unhappy in his new, modern home. He even wants to "fumigate" the whole town, which means to clean it with smoke. Andy suggests to Onion John that he should leave town. This way, the people of Serenity might leave him alone. Andy even wants to run away with him. In the end, Onion John decides to leave the town of Serenity on his own.
Awards and Recognition
- Newbery Medal 1960
- Notable Children's Books of 1940 -1970 (ALA)
- Lewis Carroll Shelf Award 1960
