• Twelve Mighty Orphans

  • The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football
  • By: Jim Dent
  • Narrated by: Barry Abrams
  • Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (252 ratings)

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Twelve Mighty Orphans  By  cover art

Twelve Mighty Orphans

By: Jim Dent
Narrated by: Barry Abrams
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Publisher's summary

More than a century ago, a school was constructed in Fort Worth, Texas, for the purpose of housing and educating the orphans of Texas Freemasons. It was a humble project that for years existed quietly on a hillside east of town. Life at the Masonic Home was about to change, though, with the arrival of a lean, bespectacled coach by the name of Rusty Russell. Here was a man who could bring rain in the midst of a drought. Here was a man who, in virtually no time at all, brought the orphans' story into the homes of millions of Americans.

In the 1930s and 1940s, there was nothing bigger in Texas high school football than the Masonic Home Mighty Mites - a group of orphans bound together by hardship and death. These youngsters, in spite of being outweighed by at least 30 pounds per man, were the toughest football team around. They began with nothing - not even a football - yet in a few years were playing for the state championship on the highest level of Texas football. This is a winning tribute to a courageous band of underdogs from a time when America desperately needed fresh hope and big dreams.

The Mighty Mites remain a notable moment in the long history of American sports. Just as significant is the depth of the inspirational message. This is a profound lesson in fighting back and clinging to faith.

©2007 Jim Dent (P)2019 Tantor

What listeners say about Twelve Mighty Orphans

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Not a fan of the narration, though. The narrator has weird accents for the characters in the book. He makes the characters sound dumb which they are not. Plus he tries to give them a southern Texas twang that’s not what Texans sound like at all. But other than that the storyline is excellent and I wouldn’t avoid the book just because of the narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Awesome story

Truly captivating and inspiring story, listened straight thru to the end, it was that good!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Will definitely listen to again. The story is compelling at every chapter knowing that it is true makes it even more compelling. I will study this more in hopefully it is a movie someday . A great story told greatly.

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1 person found this helpful

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elmer

good true story, love football and they were very mighty hope everyone enjoys it like I did

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Great story!!

What a great story! I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in football history!! Great narrator too!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed Listening

This was my first audio book so dont have anything to compare it to. I did throughly enjoyed listening. I thought it was well done.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Mighty Mites

This was a wonderful book, well written and all true!! I loved the football boys from the Masonic Homr. I
Definitely had a crush on Coach Russell

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    5 out of 5 stars
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HomeBoys

Rings true to me, as I was a HomeBoy in the 60’s and heard all of the stories of the 1930s Mighty Mites.
Was a tough school when I was there, though we never fielded a team that came close to matching the caliber of “The 12 Mighty Orphans”.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book if you are a Texas football fan.

I enjoy true life stories which made this book very interesting. I haven't seen the movie.

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Great Book

One of the most FUN books I’ve ever read. These scrappy, tough little cusses will have you laughing and crying.

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