| Title | : | The Seventeenth Swap |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 162 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1986 |
The Seventeenth Swap Reviews
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I read this book I-don't-know-how-many times as a kid, and loved it every time. For this year's reading challenge, I wanted to see if this simple 150-page story held up as well as I remembered, and guess what? It did!
This book is just so . . . satisfying. I love watching all the little pieces of the puzzle slide perfectly into place. The network of swaps that Eric orchestrates to reach his goal is fascinating and impressive, but never unbelievable. The author does a great job setting everything up well in advance so that the payoff (for a person like me, anyway) is immensely rewarding. None of the characters are probably going to stick with you for days after the book concludes, but they brim with life and personality nonetheless.
Also, props to Eloise McGraw for doing such an excellent job with narration. The prose itself is nothing to write home about, but the simple, straightforward character voice draws you into Eric's head and never lets you out for even a moment, despite the 3rd-person perspective. She uses so many deft turns of phrase that perfectly communicate while maintaining the sparse description of a 6th-grader.
This book is like a well-made sandwich. Nothing here is particularly exotic, thrilling, or surprising. But the flawless layering and evenly placed ingredients still make every bite a pleasant, comforting experience. Sometimes you don't want curry chicken, you know? Sometimes you just want a well-made sandwich. -
Does anyone remember a man who, a few years ago, started with
one red paperclip and kept trading it for bigger and better things until he eventually ended up with a house? Well, that's basically the concept of this book! Except, instead of a paperclip, the book's protaganist (Eric) starts with a postage stamp and ends with $18: the amount he needs to buy Jimmy, the boy he babysits, the pair of red cowboy boots that Jimmy has set his heart on.
I read this for school years and years ago. Remembering I liked it, I recently rescued it from being given away. After that how could I not re-read it? I am happy to report I liked it the second time around too! It really is a very sweet little story; and there's more to it than just swapping, which I didn't remember from the first time around. It's also about being the person you should be and climbing metaphorical Everests and other such things that sound very cheesy when you try to talk about them.
I have to say, if I had been in Eric's position what with trying to figure out the puzzle of swapping and how to get what he needed... my brain would have exploded. Even just the act of reading it was enough to make my brain ache! -
Another re-read from homeschooling days, although I didn't actually remember this one at all. I loved how the main point of the story - the change in the main character's thinking - is very subtly woven in throughout and only clearly stated at the very end. It's a book packed with adventure and running around, but at the end there's this sudden profound thought that makes you realize there was more all along.
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I picked this title up at a book sale a few months ago, having recognized the author as one we've enjoyed before! (Last year, we read her Newbery honor book "The Golden Goblet", as well as "Mara, Daughter of the Nile"). Recently, my 12 year old son chose this book for us to buddy-read together.
I went into this book not altogether sure I would enjoy it, but both my son and I ended up enjoying it quite a bit!
Twelve-year-old Eric Greene is lucky enough to have a part-time job a few hours a week as a sitter for Jimmy, an eight-year-old with disabilities who lives in the same apartment complex as Eric. One day Jimmy shares with Eric his dream of owning a pair of black and red cowboy boots that he saw in a shoe store advertisement. Jimmy's family can't afford them due to all the medical bills they have, and most of Eric's pay from the babysitting job goes for necessities. But Eric decides he wants to find a way to get Jimmy the boots - and maybe he can do it through swapping things that different people want!
In a very "1980s small town" way, Eric knows or gets to know a variety of people in his neighborhood - an older gentleman with a basement full of oddities, a candy store owner, an antique store owner, a shoe repairman, his dad's co-workers at a grocery store, and even an artist. Between friends at school and his many neighborhood acquaintances, Eric has a puzzle to solve. Can he make enough swaps to get the $18 to buy the boots for Jimmy?
My son and I really enjoyed reading about Eric's adventures around the neighborhood, making friends and making deals. Perhaps some small towns are still like this, but it feels like this book does a good job capturing a bygone era when many small shops lines the streets and one could get to know the proprietors (who might, just maybe, be willing to make a deal or two).
Eric lives with his dad (his mom died a number of years earlier) and they are just getting by financially, but this book emphasizes working hard and earning what one needs to get by. By the end of the book, Eric is looking forward to finding even more opportunities to work hard, and maybe even make a few more deals.
Content Considerations:
Outdated language: A couple of times (including on the back cover description), Eric's young charge Jimmy is referred to as "crippled." Overall though, the portrayal of Jimmy is pretty decent for a book from the 1980s, and Jimmy is shown as very smart - just limited in what he can do because of his physical disability and compromised immune system.
Family issues: Eric's mom died when he was younger. Eric's dad is mentioned to have been previously divorced, and has to send child support payments to his previous wife and child (whom Eric has never met).
Relationships with adults: Eric has a lot great, respectful interactions with the adults in his neighborhood. Today, some of situations would be considered more risky/less appropriate for a pre-teen or young teenager. For example, he hangs out alone with several adults, and accepts a future job as a model for the artist who needs kids who can stand still and pose as a model for book illustrations. It could merit discussion with modern-day readers on how to stay safe and have positive relationships with adults in the community. -
I really love this book, but it's not written for our time. You would never want you child to be referred by the homeless man to have his portrait painted by a bachelor who lives above a store. But it might be an accurate account of how good and simple the old days could have been. I will say, besides that, the main character meets a host of wonderful people and he learns to work our his small problems to acheive the desire of his heart and helps bring joy to all those he meets. He develops people skills and learns to listen to those talking to him.
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This was very good for a children's book and I was very impressed with the execution of the plot and climax and the message sent by the story.
This is the second book I've read by McGraw and I've loved both of them. -
As heartwarming as they come.
I started out at a fast pace then slowed down and I sort of lost the thread of the swap connections but this is a great book. Gives me such a sense of how, not too long ago, the pace was simpler. People were actually connected and connecting. -
Everybody loved this story and it's memorable, quirky characters who are so charming and sweet. This was fun to read and see how it's going to get pulled off. Very thought-provoking in it's own way, about how to work hard for something that matters, stay motivated, and follow a dream.
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A quick, fun read about a boy willing to sacrifice time and get to know his neighbors to make his friend's dream come true!
Parent note: Rated G (by 1980s standards). No cursing, violence, sexuality, or woke agenda. -
Meh. This book didn't do anything for me. I don't understand why it was included in my boys' curriculum. There seemed little point to it.
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This book is cute, funny and made me smile. This book was also really instructive in learning how to develop my writer's voice because this one was distinctive and struck me on the first page.
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11 year old daughter says, “The Seventeenth Swap is about a boy who is trying to get money fast. He learns a lot of life lessons. A great book to read.”
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(4.5 STARS) A little dated, but not enough to lessen the great delight I had while reading this gem. I rooted so hard for Eric all the way through.
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One of my favorite read-alouds. Beautifully written.
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4.5 Stars
A sweet, coming of age read as young Eric sets out to do a kind deed and discovers more about himself than he bargained for.
Excellent for children 10-12. -
this book is one of my favorites from my childhood and I am so glad it holds up! Times are different now than they used to be (esp. the homeless person portrayal?? no kid is going to hang out with a random homeless guy and trade antiques with him) but overall it was so wholesome, and give a snapshot into how times used to be. all of the side characters were beautifully real and unique at the same time.
the depth and emotional complexity of the story surprised me, as I didn't remember that from previous reads. The way Eric grew up and matured throughout the course of this book was really well done, and I really like his character as the protagonist for a children's story.
the story structure was also really impressive: the way the premise was set up then slowly built to the payoff was really satisfying without being cheesy or overdone. the narration is impeccable: a view into Eric's head is not only feasible but easy.
there are some terms that aren't the most PC now (e.g., using "crippled" to describe a disabled boy of unknown diagnosis) but there weren't any slurs (as far as I remember) and overall sill holds up, which I'm really glad for!
overall, it was just a really wholesome book and I love it! -
## A Charming Tale of Barter and Friendship
**The Seventeenth Swap** by Eloise Jarvis McGraw is a delightful children's story that follows thirteen-year-old Eric as he embarks on a series of trades to acquire a pair of cowboy boots. With no money to spare, Eric's ingenuity leads him on a journey of bartering, friendship, and unexpected discoveries.
The novel's charm lies in its simplicity and heart. McGraw's writing is clear and engaging, making it easy for young readers to follow Eric's adventures. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the setting, a small town in the American Southwest, is vividly described.
The central idea of the story, the power of bartering and the value of friendship, is a timeless theme that resonates with readers of all ages. As Eric trades his way toward his goal, he learns valuable lessons about the importance of perseverance, resourcefulness, and the connections we make with others.
While the plot may be straightforward, **The Seventeenth Swap** is a heartwarming and enjoyable read. It's a story that celebrates the power of imagination, the value of friendship, and the joy of achieving one's goals. -
This story resonated for me because it has "heart." Eric is a likeable and sympathetic main character, and the "swapping" story is interesting, but the growing relationships between Eric and the many unique and well-developed characters is what makes this one of my new all-time favorite stories. I'm only sorry I didn't discover it long ago.
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Such a great story! Very touching! Great lesson in selflessness and learning to really see what other people need/want and have to offer. Also the lesson of don't give up. Highly recommend this book!
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3.5 stars. The author did a great job crafting her characters in the book, especially since there are so many and they're so diverse. It was a good story, even though it had a couple viewpoints/philosophies that I didn't necessarily agree with.
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reading for school.
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This was one of our family's favorites when the girls were little.
