Lynn Gordon Hughes

The basic information a child can pick up from this book is as follows:
a) There was a community of people who were non-resisters, meaning that they promise to never hurt, hate, or kill another human being.
b) They had jobs in their community, one of which was Letter Carrier.
c) The preacher's name was Ballou and he made the kids be very quiet.
d) The kids attended school.
e) Everyone in the community celebrated with a contra dance every Saturday night (woo-hoo!)_
f) One family (real names provided) fed any beggar, and one came back to rob them. That didn't even test their resolve not to hurt or hate, it made them want to hug the poor burglar and he stayed with them for a while until he could get back on his feet.
g) They were also abolitionists.

The narration and illustrations were flat and not engaging, unfortunately, and the spirit of Utopia doesn't really shine through. I will have my 9-year-old read it (while I think it's aimed at an even younger audience, perhaps), but I bet he won't even realize that it's an intentional community. I'll get back to you on that.… (altro)