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Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates  By  cover art

Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates

By: Mary Mapes Dodge
Narrated by: Christine Marshall
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Publisher's summary

Set in the Netherlands, the beautiful land of windmills, tulips, and wooden shoes, the story concerns the experiences of the impoverished Brinker family, including the thrilling race for the silver skates. The good deeds of the Brinker children, Hans and Gretel, help to restore their father's health and bring about their own good fortune. Mary Mapes Dodge also included many interesting details about Dutch family life and the history and geography of the country.

Although Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates was published over 140 years ago, it continues to delight countless readers with its story of a virtuous family that inspires us all to have the courage to pursue our dreams.

(P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

What listeners say about Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates

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Wonderful Story

This is a wonderful story and has so many wonderful things to recommend it. In fact, most of the meat of the tale is excellent! I recommend as a read to anyone. However, be prepared for parts to drag since the author also gets quite long winded in her love letter to Holland at times. I love historical information so it works for me, but others may have some struggles in those sections.

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1 person found this helpful

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Silver skates

I always find it so interesting to get a glimpse into what life was like in 1846. You can see what it was then with all the prejudice of the upper class for the poor and working class and yet it is about social reforms and change. The description of life in Holland was a bit tedious but on thinking about it how else can one see historical context.

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An Enjoyable Opportunity to Learn

Listen and learn of the remarkable and unique nation, culture, history, and people which is the Netherlands.

Learn and be encouraged by the decency and humanity of the Brinker family and their neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens as the best of them exemplify a higher way to live as families and citizens in society.

This title is well worth the time of persons of all ages.

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Lovely story

Not for children only! This book not only tells the story of the Brinker family and all of its challenges. It also takes you on an adventure into the amazing city of Amsterdam. Into its museums and libraries teaching you wonderful facts about the history of the country and city through the eyes of an adventurous boy. Skating the canals of the Dutch city. Emphasizing values such as honesty, hard work, patience, strength of a family. A delightful story!

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Lovely

Such a beautiful story. Truly a “loving book.” I listened with my four boys ages 6-10 and we all loved it. 💗

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Very good, not what we expected

Not only did we hear an engaging, heart-warming story, but we learned a lot about Dutch life and history. i highly recommend this story.

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Magical descriptions of Holland

Engaging descriptions of personalities, child-like sacrifices and endeavors, all entwined in a story of hardships and virtues that in the end come full circle to right the wrongs and redeem the time lost.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Different than I remembered, but still good.

I’d read the book a couple times as a child/teen, and remember liking it quite a bit. I must have forgotten or skimmed all the the tangents about the Netherlands and its traditions etc.
Not in a bad way, exactly, but you can definitely tell the author was very enthusiastic about the place and strays from the main story quite often to talk of it… I must say, if I had not known I liked the book, and already been mentally set on listening to it, I may have been more irritated by the tangents and left the story for others. As it is, I decided to use it as a learning experience, but I think younger readers might grow restless.
Regardless of the title, much of the story isn’t even about Hans or the silver skates/race. Several chapters in a row are about a group of boys skating a long distance to another town and hardly even mentioned the troubles of the Brinker family.
Despite what sounds like complaints, I did enjoy listening to the book. The story is good and I would recommend it to others, but I think I preferred reading it to myself so as to more easily skim through to the next bits of the actual story.
The reader did an excellent job, her voice was nice to listen to and though I can’t say personally if she pronounced the names correctly, it sounds as if she did. There were also a few bits of song in the book that she actually sang, which I appreciated. Not long ago, I was listening to another audiobook, and was left disappointed when they didn’t even attempt to sing.

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Classic

This is a timeless classic as it transports you to Holland. Amazing that it was written in the late 1800’s

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

great story, too much description

great story, but a bit too much description of information about holland,, non essential to story.

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