You might initially think this book was assigned because
adults like children’s books in which bad boys learn to be good. You would be
mistaken. If that had been the case, it would have been shelved fifty years ago instead of still being on  your summer reading list. Esther Forbes, who was been awarded the Pulitzer Prize
for her biography of Paul Revere, turned her talents into creating an  historically accurate classic that you will want to give to your children to  read, not because it will help their character develop, but because you want to  share with them a great book.