Crushed by the march of time
White, E. B. The Trumpet of the Swan. New York : Harper & Row, 1970.
Plot: Growing up on a quiet swamp in Canada, Louis the trumpeter swan finds a friend in Sam, a quiet, nature-wise boy. However, Louis fails to find his voice. His father, determined to help his son, steals a trumpet for the cygnet. Louis, while grateful for the horn, realizes he must redeem his father by paying for the instrument. With Sam's help, Louis learns to play the trumpet and earn money as a musician. While the swan remains mute, he uses his wits, patience, and music to earn money, fame, and love.
Genre: Animals
Reading Level: Grades 4-9
Similar Titles: Charlotte's Web, The Capture
Personal Thoughts: The novel is remarkable. It combines a realistic problem (a bird with a flaw) with a series of fantastic but almost natural responses. Unfortunately, the solid plot cannot overcome the dated references and culture. Much like early Peanuts comics, several aspects of the story, such as chalk slates, swan boats, musician wages, and zoo collection policies are wildly outdated and require lengthy explanation for modern readers. As a result, the text, with its lovely plot, may prove unsuitable to current tweens.
The book won the William Allen White's Children's Book Award in 1973. It also provided a basis for an animated film universally panned for its poor animation and character design.
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