(no subject)

[skygiants]

I mentioned that I did in fact read a couple of good books in my late-June travels to counterbalance the bad ones. One of them was The Pushcart War, which I conveniently discovered in my backpack right as I was heading out to stay with the friend who'd loaned it to me a year ago.

I somehow have spent most of my life under the impression that I had already read The Pushcart War, until the plot was actually described to me, at which point it became clear that I'd either read some other Pushcart or some other War but these actual valiant war heroes were actually brand new to me.

The book is science fiction, of a sort, originally published in 1964 and set in 1976 -- Wikipedia tells me that every reprint has moved the date forward to make sure it stays in the future, which I think is very charming -- and purporting to be a work of history for young readers explaining the conflict between Large Truck Corporations and Pugnacious Pushcart Peddlers over the course of one New York City summer. It's a punchy, defiant little book about corporate interest, collective action, and civil disobedience; there's one chapter in particular in which the leaders of the truck companies meet to discuss their master plan of getting everything but trucks off the streets of New York entirely where the metaphor is Quite Dark and Usefully Unsubtle. Also contains charming illustrations! A good read at any time and I'm glad to have finally experienced it.

Comments

[sovay]

Also contains charming illustrations! A good read at any time and I'm glad to have finally experienced it.

"By hand."

[julian]

This was one of my favorite books as a I-think-tween, and I am glad it holds up. (It is quite possible it strongly affected my political growth, come to think of it. How completely ludicrous.)

[thistleingrey]

I received a copy as a hand-me-down from an older kid and was completely baffled by the years. :) The Dell Yearling printing I read circa 1982 had not moved its dates, I guess! Good experience for small me to've had, I think now; it held up for me upon one adult-era reread.

[mrissa]

I made my partner wall art that is a piece of black velvet with dried peas pushed into it with pin-tacks, reading "DON'T BE A TRUCK."

[seekingferret]

I love this book and dream of someday organizing a Cantaloupe Day flash mob on Bleecker Street.

[ckd]

Had you perhaps conflated it with The Chocolate War? I confused them in the opposite direction due to the similar names and market segments.

[lirazel]

This sounds lovely!

[osprey_archer]

I've been meaning to read this book! Another push to get it done.

[skygiants]

BY HAND

[skygiants]

Not ludicrous at all, I think; I suspect that's exactly what it's intended to do, and is one of the better things I can think of to do it!

[skygiants]

Yeah, although I do sort of wish I'd found it as a kid, coming to it for the first time as an adult was a very successful experience.

[skygiants]

sja;dlkfjdl;k that's BEAUTIFUL

[skygiants]

I bet you could get substantial participation!!

[skygiants]

well, after I figured it out, that's what I thought, but then I read rachelmanija's write-up of The Chocolate War and that didn't sound familiar either!!

[skygiants]

I respect every one of our valiant pushcart warriors.

[skygiants]

It feels part and parcel of the Newbery project somehow even if it did not actually make the Newbery list ....

[ckd]

It probably didn't get a Newbery because no pets died (TVTropes time sink warning).

[osprey_archer]

General interest in ye olde timey children's literature!

[petra]

That makes my pushcart-initiated heart so happy.

[petra]

I'm really glad the publisher wants to keep the time of the book as "Soon, with your help, small child!" This one is very dear to my heart.

[cahn]

ahhhhh I LOVED this book as a kid and have not thought about it in decades! Clearly time for a reread!

Somehow I escaped youth

[jesse_the_k]

without reading this absolutely-on-theme book, so now I can enjoy it.

[cafemassolit]

I have experienced the Pushcart War first as a thread commentary (a very detailed one at that) from Malka Older - and it made me buy the book right away :)