Roy Blakely, Pathfinder

Fitzhugh, Percy Keese, 1876-1950Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.6

Word count: 210K words
Chapters: 21

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Roy Blakely, Pathfinder by Percy Keese FitzhughAuthor: Fitzhugh, Percy Keese, 1876-1950,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Nov 14, 2006

Editor's review

Roy Blakely, Pathfinder is a juvenile adventure novel by Percy Keese Fitzhugh, available as a public-domain e-book. It continues the author's strength in coming-of-age narratives for boys, following the protagonist Roy Blakely's explorations; the plot moves briskly, and the language is close to the tradition of early twentieth-century American juvenile literature. The adventure scenes and character interactions satisfy young readers' imagination of outdoor exploration and comradeship while also offering a primary text for the study of early American children's literature. As a free e-book from Project Gutenberg, it is easy to obtain and suitable as introductory reading in the original English, as well as for enthusiasts of children's literature interested in the narrative tastes of that era. While reading, note how the protagonist faces difficulties and handles relationships with companions, themes that still resonate today. Because the book was written early, some wording and attitudes bear the marks of their time and may be read with a discerning eye.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Middle and high school students who enjoy juvenile adventure and want to read original English fiction
Teachers and students studying early American children's literature
Readers who want to practice extensive reading in English with public-domain e-books
Readers interested in early twentieth-century American coming-of-age narratives for boys

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting modern, fast-paced suspense and adventure
Beginners with weak English who need line-by-line annotations
Readers sensitive to the limited attitudes of early literature

Reading tips

Read the chapter titles first to grasp the main adventure line, then read chapter by chapter to keep from being slowed by unfamiliar words.
Guess unfamiliar words from context first; look them up and review them after finishing a chapter.
Read alongside the author's other juvenile novels to observe common methods of characterization.
After reading, write a hundred-word summary in English to check your understanding of plot and relationships.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What English level is this book suitable for?

The language belongs to the style of early twentieth-century juvenile fiction; sentence structures are not complex, but some older expressions appear. It is recommended for readers with a high-school level of English reading who can work through chapters with a dictionary; younger students can read with a teacher or parent.

Why does the description mention Project Gutenberg?

Because the book is a free e-book released by Project Gutenberg. The description mainly introduces that project's background rather than summarizing this book. Readers may take the description as a note on the publishing source; the actual story is in the text.

How is this different from other juvenile adventure novels?

It bears a distinct period stamp: the pace and language are closer to early twentieth-century American juvenile literature, emphasizing comradeship and character-building rather than the strong suspense typical of modern adventure fiction. It suits readers who want to understand the children's literature of that period.

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About the author

Fitzhugh, Percy Keese, 1876-1950 Author

Percy Keese Fitzhugh (1876–1950) was an American author of children's literature, best known for his two boys' series featuring Roy Blakeley and Tom Slade. The collection here includes twenty-six of his works, among them Roy Blakeley: His Story, Roy Blakeley's Bee-line Hike, Roy Blakeley's Motor Caravan, Tom Slade on Mystery Trail, Tom Slade, Motorcycle Dispatch Bearer, Tom Slade at Temple Camp, Tom Slade on the River, and Roy Blakeley's Adventures in Camp. These books are generally classified as inspirational coming-of-age stories. Set around boys' experiences in camping, hiking, cycling, and outdoor adventure, they portray friendship, courage, and responsibility in a light, humorous tone and stress honesty, mutual help, and self-reliance. Public information about his life is limited, but the series show his skill in creating lively, upright boy characters whose stories stay close to young readers' lives, giving him a representative place in early American juvenile fiction.