The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is a children's historical novel by Rodman Philbrick, author of Freak the Mighty. He has an evil uncle named Squint. Set during the American Civil War, it follows the adventures of a boy who is an inveterate teller of tall tales on his quest to find his older brother, a Union soldier. First published in 2009, it was named as a Newbery Honor Book in 2010^[1]

Plot summary

The novel is narrated by Homer Pierce Figg, an orphan from Maine. Homer is trying to find and take back his older brother Harold, who was sworn into the Union army by a ruse. Upon his quest, he meets slave catchers, a traveling medicine show, a hot air balloonist and others — until he finally gets himself to Gettysburg. Even through a hail of gunfire, he survives and finds Harold. A stage version debuted at the Kennedy Center in 2012.

References