The Children's Story

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Overview

It was a simple incident in the life of James Clavell—a talk with his young daughter just home from school—that inspired this chilling tale of what could happen in twenty-five quietly devastating minutes. He writes, "The Children's Story came into being that day. It was then that I really realized how vulnerable my child's mind was —any mind, for that matter—under controlled circumstances. Normally I write and rewrite and re-rewrite, but this story came quickly—almost by itself. Barely three words were changed. It pleases me greatly because I kept asking the questions…

Questions like, What's the use of 'I pledge allegiance' without understanding? Like ...

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More About This Book

Overview

It was a simple incident in the life of James Clavell—a talk with his young daughter just home from school—that inspired this chilling tale of what could happen in twenty-five quietly devastating minutes. He writes, "The Children's Story came into being that day. It was then that I really realized how vulnerable my child's mind was —any mind, for that matter—under controlled circumstances. Normally I write and rewrite and re-rewrite, but this story came quickly—almost by itself. Barely three words were changed. It pleases me greatly because I kept asking the questions…

Questions like, What's the use of 'I pledge allegiance' without understanding? Like Why is it so easy to divert thoughts? Like What is freedom? and Why is so hard to explain?

The Children's Story keeps asking me all sorts of questions I cannot answer. Perhaps you can—then your child will...."

James Clavell, the author of Nobel House and Shogun presents a chilling tale of how patriotism can be reshaped in a person's mind with a few simple and resonable explanations. Both disturbing and enthralling, this short and stunning story asks many questions, yet leaves the answers up to the reader. Reissue.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780440204688
  • Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 10/28/1989
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Edition description: Reissue
  • Pages: 96
  • Sales rank: 130,708
  • Product dimensions: 4.10 (w) x 6.87 (h) x 0.26 (d)

Meet the Author

James Clavell, who died in 1994, was a screenwriter, director, producer, and novelist born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Although he wrote the screenplays for a number of acclaimed films, including The Fly (1958), The Great Escape (1963), and To Sir With Love (1967), he is best known for his epic novels in his Asian Saga.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 15 )

Rating Distribution

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(13)

4 Star

(2)

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Sort by: Showing all of 15 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 14, 2012

    Great tie-in for a class.

    I had to purchase this book for a class that I am taking through my education program. It was an easy read and didn't take long at all. It definitely tied in with what my professor was trying to get across to us.

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  • Posted January 19, 2012

    A Must Read for Future (and current) Educators

    A Children’s Story demonstrates how influential a role adults play in the development of children. It reminds us that anyone who works with children should strive to educate rather than indoctrinate. This book powerfully shows the reader how quickly adults can abuse their positions and betray the innocent lives and minds of those they are charged to teach. It should be required reading for all those considering entering into the field of education…. and perhaps occasionally reread by those of us that are already there.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 13, 2009

    Incredible little book to keep for all time. A quick read with a huge message to be read over and over.

    I find the book quite remarkable in the sense that we think we are strong in our beliefs and within one hour our lives can be changed. Teaching without understanding is a shame. With the globalization of our world it is even more important today that we understand, and be understook, when it comes to our values and beliefs. Teaching our children the why's is so important in providing them the groundwork for making good decisions.

    This book emphasizes all I feel.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 23, 2006

    Cautionary tale for all ages

    I have shared this story with my students for the past 15 years. From sixth to twelfth grade each age level reacted in a way that made them to start thinking of the expectations of the educational society to which they belong. This is a good starting point to studying more complex texts that deal with issues of government control and questioning authority. Clavell so eloquently addresses these themes in this very simple book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 28, 2005

    terrifying truth

    this book is not about teaching, it is not just about how impressionable children are. But these are methods that are used in certain 'governments' around the world right now. This is what you call propaganda this is what you call indoctrine. This shows you the truth and how many of us are being manipulated.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 15, 2005

    Even truer today

    I read this book soon after it was published. It made such an impression on me that I loaned it to one of Houston's leading journalists. He is long deceased, as is much of respectable journalism. And I had not thought about this book in years until recently it has come back to haunt me. I need to get a new copy, and I highly recommend that everyone read it today -- while we still are allowed that freedom.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 7, 2003

    Good Book

    A very well thought out book that makes quite an impact in the way we view things

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 1, 2003

    A must read for children, teens & the college bound

    I don't think I've ever read any book that affected me so profoundly and I estimate in my 60 years I have read close to 10,000 books. It is scary in that I see the book unfolding now in this country.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 15, 2002

    Great Book

    My teacher had said that "There is know point saying something if you don`t know what it means". She gave us a project to go and find another word for words in The Pledge Of Alliegence. So we had to go into theasarus`s and dictionary`s to find another word that we know for the words pledge, allegiance,republic,indivisible,liberty, and justice. After she told us about the project she read us a book called "The Childrens Story". I was amazed at how people don`t know the meaning to the pledge. They just say the words because they are told to do so.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 28, 2002

    Reccomended for Anyone Considering Becoming a Teacher

    I just got back from my Math 101 class for Education majors and my teacher read it. I didn't quite understand the whole point of the story until we had a class discussion about it. It was shocking to me to hear the end result that the kids were so impressionable. It is a must read for anoyone considering going into the teaching field.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 5, 2001

    A wake-up Call

    My english teacher, ms. gonzalez, read this to us in class. It was a really good book and now I want to buy it!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 31, 2000

    Chilling

    This is a chilling novel that was read allowed to my class by our Civcs teacher in 8th grade. He changed all of the names of the characters to the names of students in my class as we realized how truely easy it was for children to become brainwashed and corrupted in a very short matter of time. It is the best way I have ever had communism explained to me because it made it real rather than just facts on the page

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 29, 2000

    A New Sense of Freedom

    This book really gives you a lot to think about and also gives your mind a reason to change thoughts and different veiws on things.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 21, 2000

    Fascinating yet disturbing

    A great novel that exists on many different levels and, despite the title, is not necessarily for children.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 20, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

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