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The events of that small-town summer forever alter David Hayden's view of his family: his self-effacing father, a sheriff who never wears his badge; his clear sighted mother; his uncle, a charming war hero and respected doctor; and the Hayden's lively, statuesque Sioux housekeeper, Marie Little Soldier, whose revelations are at the heart of the story. It is a tale of love and courage, of power abused, and of the terrible choice between family loyalty and justice.
2. Late in the novel, Gail Hayden changes her attitude. She no longer wants her husband to continue the course of action that earlier she encouraged him to follow. What causes her to change?
3. What does Wesley Hayden mean by his admonishment not to "blame Montana"?
4. A great deal of attention is paid to locating Bentrock (a fictional community) on the map. Why? What role does the setting play in the novel?
5. Whose story is this? Wesley's? David's? Why?
6. Who is the moral center of the story? Why?
7. How does prejudice play into the story?
8. Why is Wesley Hayden especially concerned when his son David tells him that Len McAuley might "know something"?
9. What would the outcome of the story have been had David's father publicly arrested his uncle? Would things have turned out better? Worse? Would you have done the same thing as Wesley had it been your family?
10. Was there any justice for the crimes committed by Uncle Frank?
11. Most of the novel's action takes place in 1948. Why did the author choose that year? Could the events occur today?
12. In what ways is the novel about privilege and the abuse of power?
13. What is the effect of David Hayden telling this story so many years after the fact?
Anonymous
Posted May 29, 2008
Montana1948, a novel by Larry Watson, deserves a 4 star rating because of its meaningful, relevant content and well-written exploration of the depth and changes of character of the main personas as a result of making difficult choices under immense pressure. Montana 1948 lays out the experiences of David Hayden, a 12 year old boy, during one summer in the small town of Bentrock. From the very first page, the author indicates the significance of the events that are to follow and provides snapshots of a few particularly vivid moments. Soon after the characters have been described the action proceeds and tension begins to build between the characters. By the time the final chapter is reached David had left behind his childhood and been forced to drastically change his perspective on both his family and the world they live in. As stated in the 1993 book review by Booklist, Montana 1948 is a ¿reflection on the hopelessly complex issue of doing the right thing ¿ and on the courage it takes to face one¿s demons.¿ Many times throughout the narrative characters have questioned the `right choice¿, as when Len, the deputy, spoke of learning when to look away, as when David¿s father decided to lock his brother in the basement, and as when, at the conclusion, David felt that he had lost all belief in the rule of law. David¿s father faced the knowledge of his brother¿s crimes and stood up against his father to bring Frank to justice. Secondly, as stated in the above mentioned book review, Montana 1948 also explores the ¿cataclysmic events on naturally reticent people.¿ David¿s perspective of nearly all the people in his family life is forever altered by his exposure to other, hidden sides of them. Because armed men came into their yard, David saw his mother use a shotgun. Because Marie spoke out, David realized that his uncle was not as wonderful as he seemed. Because of the combination of nearly unbearable living conditions and the admitted guilt of Frank, David¿s mother and father completely switched sides his mother now asked that Frank be released and his father could not do so. When faced with such a stark admission, he could no longer pretend nothing was happening.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 23, 2012
This novel is fast paced, brilliantly populated, and beautifully set. The author does a great job of articulating his alienated characters over the unforgiving landscape he has created. I recommend it, but with one reservation... it's too short.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This short book is one that expresses the importance of justice, family, and loyalty, as well as decision making and power. Decision making and loyalty are closely tied in this book. You also begin to question yourself as you read. Would you stay loyal to justice and the good of the whole, or abuse your power to stay loyal to your family? These intriguing questions will keep you interested and wanting to read on. This quick read is one that is sure to keep your attention and keep you thinking.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 7, 1999
Montana: 1948, written by Larry Watson, is an example of a four star novel. It is clear and interesting. He introduces to the reader a story of a family torn by a scandal. The Hayden family lives in a small rural town of Montana. The silent scandal is revealed to the reader through the eyes of a twelve year old boy whose innocence and truth allows justice to prevail against the immoral acts committed by his uncle Frank. A review that appeared in Publishers Weekly said, 'David confronts his uncle's racism and the evasions and denials his family has constructed to cover up the affair. In crisp, restrained prose, Watson indelibly portrays the moral dilemma of a family torn between justice and loyalty.' I agree with this statement because the family of this man (Uncle Frank) hides the fact that he had been taking advantage of young Indian girls in his past. When he is confronted by his brother the town sheriff, Frank's father backs him up and accuses Wesley of jealousy and that Wes is only confronting Frank in revenge. The father believes that one should know when to look and when to look away. The cover for this crime is hidden through the prejudice that swarmed so many cities alike in that time. Wesley, his son, and his wife stand up for what is right, and choose justice over loyalty to the family by deciding to go through with the arrest of Uncle Frank. Barbara Hoffert from the Library Journal said, 'The moral issues, and the consequences of following one's conscience, are made painfully evident here. Watson is to be congratulated for the honesty of his writing and the purity of his prose.' I agree with this statement made by Ms. Hoffert because when the Haydens face the issues involved with the scandal, many moral issues arise. One's conscience is challenged here. Should the man of the law stay true to the law, or should there be special conditions when a family member is involved? The answer is painful in itself because in order to fulfill justice, Uncle Frank takes the blow. The story exposes the cruelty of human nature through the crimes committed by Uncle Frank and also the crime of his father who didn't hold Frank accountable for his actions. The honesty of Watson's writing tends to draw the reader in, wanting to help the author in his painful dilemma. I don't agree with Barbara Finkelstein from The New York Times Book Review, who said, 'Purple prose is the real culprit in this shallow overwrought tale.' I believe that the intense language developed the characters of the story and fit the times that the book was based on. David's detailed descriptions in his imaginations of woman weren't inappropriate. I believe that it showed the true thoughts of all boys at his age. Watson didn't deny the reader of any truths of sexual impurities that the characters had; thus, revealing all honesty and truth of the whole story. I gave the book four stars instead of five because although I thought the story was clear and had a strong plot, character development wasn't high on Watson's list. His story revealed many areas of the human condition and displayed the pain and suffering of each of the characters well. I was left wondering about the characters on a more personal level.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 6, 1999
The ideas Larry Watson brings to light about human behavior transcend time and cultural barriers. However, Mr. Watson's five star novel, Montana 1948, is more than just a story. Its pages tell the true story of life's fairness and the rewards of doing the right thing. Although Barbra Finkelstein of The New York Times Book Review says that the novel, ¿¿depends on cliched characters to lug the story to its conclusion,¿ I disagree. The ability to relate to the narrator¿s family and upbringing is one of this story¿s greatest attributes. The stereotypical the characters add a sense of familiarity for many readers, and allow them to better immerse themselves in the plot. Also, the story itself did much more than ¿lug¿. Its suggestions about how our society were thought provoking such as in the part where the narrator recounts how the people in town would often ¿look the other way¿ when faced with problems such as his uncles molestation of the Indian girls. In addition to this, its unpredictable twists leave the reader unable to turn the pages fast enough. Wesley, the narrator¿s father, is the town sheriff and is faced with a, ¿moral dilemma,¿ as Publishers Weekly puts it. His All-American brother has been molesting Indian girls and may have murdered one. It is then that Wesley must decide between treating the situation as a family member and simply letting it slide out of loyalty or as the county¿s Sheriff with the intent of prosecuting this criminal to the fullest extent. When he decides that prosecution would do nothing but embarrass the family name, he plans to let his brother off the hook. However, once his brother admits to and tells explicitly of his crimes without any show of remorse, Wesley becomes determined to bring him to justice. I agree with Barbara Hoffert of Library Journal when she says, ¿The moral issues, and the consequences of following one¿s conscience, are made painfully evident here.¿ Mr. Watson does not make life out to be a fairytale. When the narrator and his family are forced to move away from their home because of the choice they made to do what they thought was right Mr. Watson stated simply the truth that often times the ¿good guys¿ don¿t win.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 7, 2012
This was one of those books that you cant put down. It makes.you wonder whats gonna happe next.and i love thie twist at the end
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Posted November 27, 2011
It was a good book
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Posted November 27, 2011
My English teacher is reading this to us and i find it very good and wish that class would not end so we could finish it and find out what happens in the end. I recomed this book to other high school students who love to read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.My first book of Larry Watson's and I would definitely read another of his again. Although the synopsis reads as if this were a mystery it is not. It's just a coming of age event in a teenager's life described in the no nonsense writing style of most Western writers. A hearty thumbs up for this one. Can't wait to read its prequel-esque partner, "Justice."
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Posted February 8, 2010
This relatively short book can, and unless you start on it very late in the day, will most likely be read by you in one sitting because your mind demands to know what happens next. Completely different than what I espected, but in a good way.
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Posted April 6, 2009
Montana 1948 shows how a small town can be subjected to politics and justice at the same time. The father of a young boy is the law in a town that has many American Indians living in it. After the death of one of the young women from the reservation, questions begin to arise about the Sherriff's brother who by the way is the town Doctor. The father of the two men owns a lot of political capital earned while he was the Sherriff of the same town years earlier. The Story comes to a head and the conflict within the family of the young boy which includes the grand parents and his mom, who is the inlaw to everyone involved. Great read.
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Posted June 7, 2007
¿When I first picked up Montana 1948, it didn¿t seem like one of those page-turning books¿. This is exactly the fist thing that I thought when my teacher showed us the book. I thought, ¿Oh my god. This book is so boring with all the wheat fields and the front! How could this book possibly be a good book?¿ The book started off a little slow for me, but I stuck with it hoping that is would get better. And what do you know, it did. What I loved about this book is that it wasn¿t just a story about farming and buying 25 cent candies, it was actually in depth and told an actual story. With the whole thing about Uncle Frank ¿killing¿ Marie and them trying to figure out how she got so sick, it got you into it right there. Then, when you least expect it, they think that Uncle Frank is raping these Indian girls. This took the book to a whole other level! You don¿t expect something like this because in the beginning it just starts out with David, a 12-year-old boy, living his life on the farm with his family and him describing there life. Then you get back into the good stuff. When the father, Wesley. Hears these rumors about Frank it¿s almost too hard him to believe. What makes this even harder for him is the fact that he is the Sherriff and Frank is his brother. More and more evidence starts to come in about these horrific rumors. They even go as far as to questioning a few of the Indian girls. Now what is he to do? A reviewer describes this part as ¿a choice between loyalty to the family and pure justice.¿ With this I would have to agree. He finally takes the step to take in his brother and lock him up in his basement. This would frighten me to be living in a house with a crazed Uncle that god only knows what he would do to my family and I if he had enough guts to kill our housekeeper. I highly recommend this book. I had a wonderful time reading it.
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Posted December 14, 2006
When I first picked up Montana 1948, it didn¿t seem like one of those page-turning books. I assumed that it was going to be a rough read and that I would have to bear it out to the finish. But as I started reading, I was sucked in and couldn¿t stop. Montana is told in the eyes of an innocent twelve-year-old boy, David Hayden. Life is seemingly going well for David and his parents, Wesley and Gail, until they find out that their Sioux housekeeper and long-time family friend Marie Little Soldier has become ill from pneumonia. They are worried about her health, so they call in Uncle Frank, a local war hero and town physician. Marie quickly refused to be examined by Uncle Frank but for an unknown reason. When Marie is being examined, David hears screams and moans coming from the room. He thought nothing of them because he thought it was just standard procedure. As the story continues, the suspense increases as you find out why Marie didn¿t want to be examined. She has been told that Frank molests and rapes Indian patients. When Wes finds out about this issue, he confronts Frank and they both make racial remarks about Native-Americans. Publisher Weekly said that Watson ¿illuminates some dark corners of our national history.¿ I believe that Larry Watson put racism into his book to show that racism is still a major problem in today¿s society and that it is a hated topic that is ignored but should be considered. As Marie¿s health is clearly improving, she suddenly dies. The day of Marie¿s death, David actually witnessed Uncle Frank sneaking out the back door of their house. He finally confesses to his parents and tells them the truth about Marie¿s death. Wesley was completely shocked by this situation and ponders carefully about what he should do to Frank, since being the town sheriff. He takes it into deep consideration and does the only thing he could morally do arrest his brother Frank. But to save the family¿s name from total humiliations, he locks Uncle Frank up in their basement. Barbara Hoffert from the Library Journal says, ¿The moral issues and the consequences of following ones conscience are made painfully evident here.¿ This evidently true being that Wesley had to arrest his own brother and choose justice over family loyalty, which I think was the correct decision in this circumstance. This book was very realistic because it was a prime example of how power is abused and how karma can strike back. This book was fantastic and I would rate this 4.5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to walk away from the book with new morals and outlooks on life. Words: 459
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Posted January 24, 2007
'When I first picked up Montana 1948, it didn¿t seem like one of those page-turning books.' This is exactly the first thing that I thought when my teacher showed us the book. I thought, ¿Oh my god. This book looks so boring with all the wheat fields on the front! How could this possibly be a good book?¿ The book started off a little slow for me, but I stuck with it hoping that it would get better. And what do you know, it did. What I loved about this book is that it wasn¿t just about farming and buying 25 cent candies, it was actually in depth and told an actual story. With the whole thing about Uncle Frank ¿killing¿ Marie and them trying to figure out how she got so sick, it got you into it right there. Then, when you least expect it, they think that Uncle Frank is raping these Indian girls. This took the book to a whole other level! You don¿t expect something like this because in the beginning it just starts out with David, a 12-year-old boy, living his life on the farm with his family and him describing there life. Then you get back into the good stuff. When the father, Wesley, hears these rumors about Frank it¿s almost too hard for him to believe. What makes this even harder for him is the fact that he is the Sherriff and Frank is his brother. More and more evidence starts to come in about these horrific rumors. They even go as far as to questioning a few of the Indian girls. Now what is he to do? A reviewer describes this part as ¿a choice between loyalty to the family and pure justice.¿ With this I would have to agree. He finally takes the step to take in his brother and locked him up in his basement. This would frighten me to be living in a house with a crazed Uncle that god only knows what he would do to my family and I if he had enough guts to kill our housekeeper. I¿ll leave the ending for you guys to figure out what happens to Uncle Frank and what gets made of the case with Marie. I highly recommend this book!
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Posted January 24, 2007
¿The title Montana 1948 seemed to imply a story of a boring childhood, spent hunting, fishing and doing other boring, Steinbeck-style, Midwest activities¿. This was the first thought that came into my head when my teacher handed us the book and told us we were going to be reading it for the next couple days. ¿Oh great, this should be interesting.¿ I thought to myself. My thoughts didn¿t get any better. ¿When I first picked up Montana 1948, it didn¿t seem like one of those page-turning books,¿ Brianne mentioned in her review. I felt the same way. I¿m the type of person if I¿m not interested from the beginning I have no interest at all. Being this was an assignment and required for a grade, I read on. To my surprise the book became interesting and I couldn¿t stop turning the pages. Every page was filled with excitement that I had to know what was going to happen next. The climax of the story was all in the air. I knew the book was going to be an interesting one once the family started to suspect Frank, the doctor, and also family member, of molesting the ill girl. I fist wondered how a family could accuse their own blood of doing something so sick. It all seemed so messed up, but once the end came it was clear to me. If you¿re the type of person that once you¿re into something you don¿t stop until it¿s finished, then I would recommend you reading this book. I¿m not a reader either, so for me to actually finish this book amazes me. It just goes to show how good of a book Montana 1948 is! The saying of don¿t judge a book by its cover is true. Because like I said in the beginning I was not excited at all to be reading a book with a bunch of tall wheat grass, and a barn on the front of it. It seemed like it was going to be a ¿westernized¿ book, but it turned out to be one of the best books I have actually read through, all the way!!
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Posted January 22, 2007
When I first picked up this book, I was apprehensive to read it. The title didn¿t jump out at me as a book that I would enjoy reading. I figured it would just be a typical western story, like all other books of that time. I soon found out that Montana 1948 was an excellent read. It¿s one of those books that keep you hooked until the very end and I didn¿t want to put it down. The story takes place in the summer of 1948 in Montana and is told through the eyes of twelve year old David Hayden. While it starts out as any normal summer for a twelve year old boy at the time, David¿s life is soon turned upside down in a story filled with tragedy and justice. Everything seems to be going perfect for David, he has a close family, great friends, and a town that seems to look out for him. Everything changes when his nanny falls ill to pneumonia and she refuses to allow David¿s uncle, Frank, to examine her. After some investigation, rumors begin to surface that Frank has been molesting his Native American patients. When Marie suddenly dies, Frank is the number one suspect, and David¿s father is the one investigating him. This story sends you on a journey filled with rape, racism, murder, and suicide but most importantly loyalty and justice. This is best described by a reviewer from Minnesota, in 1997, as, ¿a choice between loyalty to the family and pure justice.¿ To appreciate Montana 1948 fully, one needs to look past the excitement and really take a look at the moral issues being discussed. While reading you can¿t help but put yourself in the narrator¿s shoes and really imagine yourself in the same position. What would you do if your uncle was accused of murder and your father was the one convicting him? David is faced with questions like this, and is really forced to grown up during this summer which sends him on an emotional coming of age story. Although, Montana 1948 starts out slow, I couldn¿t take my eyes off it and really grew to love it. I highly recommend Montana 1948 to anyone who hasn¿t read it.
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Posted January 25, 2007
Montana 1948 was written by Larry Watson, when I first heard the title I thought ¿what a boring book,¿ but not for the reason I found it boring. I thought it would be about hunting, fishing, having nothing to do, and all the other boring things that you can do in Montana, since that is usually what comes to mind when hearing Montana. However this book has nothing to do with any of these things, yeah sure they are mentioned a few times but that is not the main focus of the story. I found this book to be very boring and hard to get involved in reading. There were too many details and it was hard for me to stay focused and want to continue to read. There was a slow pace in the events that took place. It took forever to get to the point that the author wanted u to get out of it. There were parts in the middle that were interesting but other than that I believe that this book was almost a waste of my time to read. I feel like there is too much detail in this book. I personally don¿t like all the detail that is involved, unlike most people. Montana 1948 is about a twelve-year-old boy, David Hayden, living in a small Montana town. His parents, grandparents, Aunt and Uncle spoil David who is the only child in his family. Marie, an Indian woman who helped David¿s family, got sick and had to see Frank, a doctor, who had been accused of molesting her and many other Indians on the nearby reservation. Frank was later accused of killing Marie and was taken into custody by Wesley, David¿s father, and kept in the basement instead of jail, because of how well known the family was.
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Posted January 23, 2007
This book was excellent! When I first started reading I didn't have a clue as to how much this book would interest me and keep me wanting to read more. Starting out int the small town in Montana, David Hayden and his family didn¿t know what events were about to happen. In the Kirkus review they described the story very well when he said this book was a lean gaunt narrative rich with impaction about a 12-year old boy who witnesses the anguish of his sheriff father, who is forced to arrest his own brother for rape. While reading this book it seemed as if I couldn¿t ever put it down. It was one thing after another happening in the little Montana town. The ¿ harshness of the land and the flattening effect of the wind¿ made life hard in Mercer County, Montana, in 1948, ¿ so much so that nothing was left over for raising hell or making trouble.¿ Well after reading this book there was more than just a little left over for things to go wrong and David and his family got the worst of things that summer. His family is forced to make a choice between loyalty to the family and pure justice. I like how a reader from Minnesota puts it, Watson sends the powerful message of morality and praises the man who answers to himself and his god rather than his father, brother, neighbors, or friends. Having power and prestige in a community is a responsibility and it should never be abused. I feel that this book was written very well. Something interesting is always happening. Its also not a long book its short and a fast read. Like a reader from Wisconsin said It¿s a frame story, so you know something¿s going to happen and you have predictions as to what it is from what was said in the frame, but you just have to know what it is. So you keep reading to find out what it is. All in all this is a wonderful book that I would recommend everyone to read its fast and easy.
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Posted January 22, 2007
I thought the book was very good it gave your great detail and depth. And you also David Hayden begins to understand the facts of life and he begins to understand his father more. I also agree with Margaret Simmion who said that David from montana 1948. And Scout from to kill a moking bird have to deal with alot of the same things. They both discover who there fathers are and they both deal with family concicuences from what there fathers decide to do. But over all I enjoyed the both with its great deatail and its story always kept me interested and wanting to read on. It also gave good detail on his heritage and his famly orgins it was interesting because of how much he knew about his family. So this is why i gave this book a four star rating
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Posted January 2, 2007
My first Larry Watson book - a good page turner. Interesting first person narrative keeps the story alive and moving forward and gives the illusion of true to life events. It covers all the basics of a good story: conflict, rejection, justice, etc. I read a borrowed copy and will buy this one for my personal library.
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Overview
The events of that small-town summer forever alter David Hayden's view of his family: his self-effacing father, a sheriff who never wears his badge; his clear sighted mother; his uncle, a charming war hero and respected doctor; and the Hayden's lively, statuesque Sioux housekeeper, Marie Little Soldier, whose revelations are at the heart of the story. It is a tale of love and courage, of power abused, and of the terrible choice between family ...