The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker

by Cynthia C. DeFelice

Book Overview

A Matter of Life or Death It's 1849, and twelve-year-old, Lucas Whitaker is all alone after his whole family dies of a disease called consumption which has swept through the community. Lucas is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374346690
• ISBN13: 9780374346690
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 151 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.7" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker

I think this is a awsome book! I would recomend it to almost everyone, I think 8 and up it a good age! It has a couple gross parts but overall it has a good message! A boy (Lucas) watches his whole family die and decides he has to get away from that terrible house so he tavels for days until he finds a job as a apprentice to a doctor. The doctor is amazing until one of his patients has a case of consumtion, then the Doc. is stumped. He tries to prove the rumor of a so called cure wrong, but Lucas won't believe him at first. Then he goes on a journey to see if maybe Doc. was right. It is touching to see the way he handles the situation of life or death. READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!! Written by Jesse Stephens

The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker

I really enjoyed reading "The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker". The story is based upon actual evidence that was discovered in 1990 about a cure for the consumption or, as it is known today, TB. This "cure" was practiced in the ninteenth century and included digging up victims of the consumption who were supposedly "undead". I found it fascinating to learn that people actually believed in this type of cure. We can see today how far we have come in the practice of modern medicine. The main character, Lucas Whitaker, becomes apprenticed to a country doctor after his family dies of the consumption. Feeling guilty because he could not save his mother, Lucas tries to help others by using the cure that he learns about from a neighbor. The doctor does not believe in the cure and tries to help Lucas see the truth. Lucas' journey from belief in superstition to scientific reasoning is the main theme of the book. I believe that middle school students would enjoy the story for its macabre theme and for the fascinating look into the life of a nineteenth century doctor. The inclusion of bodies, amputations,and a tooth drawing give the story a grisly touch that young readers will enjoy.

The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker

After 12 year old Lucas Whitaker watches his whole familyslowly die from consumption he decides to move away from all hispainful memories.After he leaves home he spends the days walking and the nights sleeping in barnes.Then one day while he is walking down the roads of Southwick,Connecticut Lucas sees a HELP WANTED sign.Lucas nocks on the door and a stern looking women named Mrs.Bunce answers it.As Lucas recalls his story to the kindly Doc.Beecher,he is overcome by grief and guilt.Well Lucas got the job and likes it well enough,but there are a few minor details Lucas thinks he could live without.It goes on to say that Lucas beleives with all his heart in a strange cure for this life taking disease,but Lucas finally relizes in the end that its just a hopeful superstition.Well I thought this was a remarkable book!It was definantly worth reading! ...

Very Good!!!

This book is very interesting. It really puts your life in prospective!!!!!

GROOVEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucas Whitaker was great! He was strong and smart. He knew how to take the pain whenever someone died or if he was wrong. This story was sad but exciting. When they undug Thomas Stukeley, Lucas saw his nails had grown, and blood in his heart, he wondered if that really was the cause of consumption. This was a freaky story! If Ihad the choice to read it again, I WOULD! Rewiewed by Tiffany Guptill