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Carmen's Reviews > Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web
by
by
Carmen's review
bookshelves: newbery-honor, american-author, children, classics, fiction, he-says, published1952, traditionally-published
Dec 23, 2020
bookshelves: newbery-honor, american-author, children, classics, fiction, he-says, published1952, traditionally-published
"Well, I don't like to spread bad news," said the sheep, "but they're fattening you up because they're going to kill you, that's why."
"They're going to WHAT?" screamed Wilbur. Fern grew rigid on her stool.
"Kill you. Turn you into smoked bacon and ham," continued the old sheep. "Almost all young pigs get murdered by the farmer as soon as the real cold weather sets in. There's a regular conspiracy around here to kill you at Christmastime. Everybody is in on the plot - Lurvy, Zuckerman, even John Arable." pg. 49
This book is amazing children's literature. It's as fresh and beloved as children today as it was when it was first published in 1952. That's an achievement.
I must have read this book dozens of times, not only by myself but to countless children. Still delights. Still entrances. Still tugs at heartstrings.
The book opens powerfully with young Fern, age 8, stepping in to stop her father from killing a piglet with an ax.
"Where's Papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
"Out to the hoghouse," replied Mrs. Arable. "Some pigs were born last night."
"I don't see why he needs an ax," continued Fern, who was only eight.
"Well," said her mother, "one of the pigs is a runt. It's very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it."
"Do AWAY with it?" shrieked Fern. "You mean KILL it? Just because it's smaller than the others?"
Mrs. Arable put a pitcher of cream on the table. "Don't yell, Fern!" she said. "Your father is right. The pig would probably die anyway."
Fern pushed a chair out of the way and ran outdoors. The grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime. Fern's sneakers were sopping by the time she caught up with her father.
"Please don't kill it!" she sobbed. "It's unfair."
Mr. Arable stopped walking.
"Fern," he said gently, "you will have to learn to control yourself."
"Control myself?" yelled Fern. "This is a matter of life and death, and you talk about CONTROLLING myself." Tears ran down her cheeks and she took hold of the ax and tried to pull it out of her father's hand.
"Fern," said Mr. Arable, "I know more about raising a litter of pigs than you do. A weakling makes trouble. Now run along!"
"But it's unfair," cried Fern. "The pig couldn't help being born small, could it? If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?"
Mr. Arable smiled. "Certainly not," he said, looking down at his daughter with love. "But this is different. A little girl is one thing, a little runty pig is another."
"I see no difference," replied Fern, still hanging on to the ax. "This is the most terrible case of injustice I ever heard of."
A queer look came over John Arable's face. He seemed almost ready to cry himself.
"All right," he said. "You go back to the house and I will bring the runt when I come in. I'll let you start it on a bottle, like a baby. Then you'll see what trouble a pig can be." pg. 1
This gets children immediately hooked. Wonderful opening scene by White.
But in case you think this is a book about a little girl who loves animals, it's not. Fern still cheerfully eats bacon every morning and - even though she can 'hear' animals and repeat verbatim what they are discussing - she doesn't show any distress when either the animals or her family members discuss slaughtering and eating Wilbur. She doesn't give a fuck. She's completely lost interest in Wilbur by the time the family takes him to the fair. So the point of the book is not, necessarily, about the value of animal life or anything like that. It's not even a book about the relationship between a girl and her beloved pet! That may shock some people who are not familiar with the story.
Instead, it's a book about true friendship - the friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte, a big grey spider. Charlotte likes Wilbur, despite the fact that she is genteel, cultured, intelligent, and innovative... and Wilbur is deeply stupid and also a whining drama king, prone to melancholy, despair, and codependency. Wilbur likes Charlotte, despite her being a bloodthirsty (literally), scheming predator. Because of the power of this friendship, (view spoiler) It's also about animals working together in the most unlikely ways to improve their lives under the tyranny of humans. Akin to Animal Farm, although obviously with a radically different conclusion and message.
The book is touching. You might tear up or cry reading it, and so might the children you are reading it to. I don't feel like the book is manipulative or overly sappy. White is a skilled author. I feel like it's naturally occurring, your feelings during the read, and not anything forced or contrived. The book doesn't go exactly the way you think it will, and IMO that's a plus.
The side characters are also completely delightful. The book just begs to be read with 'voices.' I always read it with 'voices.' My favorite is Templeton, the gluttonous, self-serving rat. He's hilarious. The goose and the wise old sheep are also pretty good. White is great at doing different characters, something that is difficult for an author.
The book is emotionally touching, but White is great at adding humor. And not only from the animals!
"Can I have a pig, too, Pop?" asked Avery.
"No, I only distribute pigs to early risers," said Mr. Arable. "Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig. A small one, to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly. Let's eat!" pg. 5
Charlotte's low opinion of human intelligence is also always good for a laugh. She gets in some real zingers at humans' expense.
You may find yourself discussing things with children like:
Why do we value some animals' lives and not others?
Why are some animals loved and treated as pets and others treated as objects and slaughtered?
Why can't I take an air rifle to school like Avery does in this book? Can you buy me an air rifle?!
You may also end up discussing how people who are very different may become friends and love each other, the way Wilbur and Charlotte do in this book.
TL;DR If you are unfamiliar with this book, I'd recommend it. Even for adults. It's a great book. And it may not be what you expect. If you have children or care for children in some capacity, I highly recommend reading it aloud to them. With voices. The story is gripping, funny at parts, and emotionally devastating at others. White definitely demonstrates his mastery of children's literature, and it's not dumb or patronizing toward children.
NOTE: It surprises me that Fern, a farmgirl who is already 8-years-old, is so distressed and shocked her father is going to kill a newborn pig with an ax. You'd think she'd be used to mercilessly killing animals on the farm, especially by age 8. The Little House on the Prairie series is much more clear-eyed about this. Those girls knew better. But I guess there'd be no plot if she didn't stop her father.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK:
(view spoiler)
"They're going to WHAT?" screamed Wilbur. Fern grew rigid on her stool.
"Kill you. Turn you into smoked bacon and ham," continued the old sheep. "Almost all young pigs get murdered by the farmer as soon as the real cold weather sets in. There's a regular conspiracy around here to kill you at Christmastime. Everybody is in on the plot - Lurvy, Zuckerman, even John Arable." pg. 49
This book is amazing children's literature. It's as fresh and beloved as children today as it was when it was first published in 1952. That's an achievement.
I must have read this book dozens of times, not only by myself but to countless children. Still delights. Still entrances. Still tugs at heartstrings.
The book opens powerfully with young Fern, age 8, stepping in to stop her father from killing a piglet with an ax.
"Where's Papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
"Out to the hoghouse," replied Mrs. Arable. "Some pigs were born last night."
"I don't see why he needs an ax," continued Fern, who was only eight.
"Well," said her mother, "one of the pigs is a runt. It's very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it."
"Do AWAY with it?" shrieked Fern. "You mean KILL it? Just because it's smaller than the others?"
Mrs. Arable put a pitcher of cream on the table. "Don't yell, Fern!" she said. "Your father is right. The pig would probably die anyway."
Fern pushed a chair out of the way and ran outdoors. The grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime. Fern's sneakers were sopping by the time she caught up with her father.
"Please don't kill it!" she sobbed. "It's unfair."
Mr. Arable stopped walking.
"Fern," he said gently, "you will have to learn to control yourself."
"Control myself?" yelled Fern. "This is a matter of life and death, and you talk about CONTROLLING myself." Tears ran down her cheeks and she took hold of the ax and tried to pull it out of her father's hand.
"Fern," said Mr. Arable, "I know more about raising a litter of pigs than you do. A weakling makes trouble. Now run along!"
"But it's unfair," cried Fern. "The pig couldn't help being born small, could it? If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?"
Mr. Arable smiled. "Certainly not," he said, looking down at his daughter with love. "But this is different. A little girl is one thing, a little runty pig is another."
"I see no difference," replied Fern, still hanging on to the ax. "This is the most terrible case of injustice I ever heard of."
A queer look came over John Arable's face. He seemed almost ready to cry himself.
"All right," he said. "You go back to the house and I will bring the runt when I come in. I'll let you start it on a bottle, like a baby. Then you'll see what trouble a pig can be." pg. 1
This gets children immediately hooked. Wonderful opening scene by White.
But in case you think this is a book about a little girl who loves animals, it's not. Fern still cheerfully eats bacon every morning and - even though she can 'hear' animals and repeat verbatim what they are discussing - she doesn't show any distress when either the animals or her family members discuss slaughtering and eating Wilbur. She doesn't give a fuck. She's completely lost interest in Wilbur by the time the family takes him to the fair. So the point of the book is not, necessarily, about the value of animal life or anything like that. It's not even a book about the relationship between a girl and her beloved pet! That may shock some people who are not familiar with the story.
Instead, it's a book about true friendship - the friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte, a big grey spider. Charlotte likes Wilbur, despite the fact that she is genteel, cultured, intelligent, and innovative... and Wilbur is deeply stupid and also a whining drama king, prone to melancholy, despair, and codependency. Wilbur likes Charlotte, despite her being a bloodthirsty (literally), scheming predator. Because of the power of this friendship, (view spoiler) It's also about animals working together in the most unlikely ways to improve their lives under the tyranny of humans. Akin to Animal Farm, although obviously with a radically different conclusion and message.
The book is touching. You might tear up or cry reading it, and so might the children you are reading it to. I don't feel like the book is manipulative or overly sappy. White is a skilled author. I feel like it's naturally occurring, your feelings during the read, and not anything forced or contrived. The book doesn't go exactly the way you think it will, and IMO that's a plus.
The side characters are also completely delightful. The book just begs to be read with 'voices.' I always read it with 'voices.' My favorite is Templeton, the gluttonous, self-serving rat. He's hilarious. The goose and the wise old sheep are also pretty good. White is great at doing different characters, something that is difficult for an author.
The book is emotionally touching, but White is great at adding humor. And not only from the animals!
"Can I have a pig, too, Pop?" asked Avery.
"No, I only distribute pigs to early risers," said Mr. Arable. "Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig. A small one, to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly. Let's eat!" pg. 5
Charlotte's low opinion of human intelligence is also always good for a laugh. She gets in some real zingers at humans' expense.
You may find yourself discussing things with children like:
Why do we value some animals' lives and not others?
Why are some animals loved and treated as pets and others treated as objects and slaughtered?
Why can't I take an air rifle to school like Avery does in this book? Can you buy me an air rifle?!
You may also end up discussing how people who are very different may become friends and love each other, the way Wilbur and Charlotte do in this book.
TL;DR If you are unfamiliar with this book, I'd recommend it. Even for adults. It's a great book. And it may not be what you expect. If you have children or care for children in some capacity, I highly recommend reading it aloud to them. With voices. The story is gripping, funny at parts, and emotionally devastating at others. White definitely demonstrates his mastery of children's literature, and it's not dumb or patronizing toward children.
NOTE: It surprises me that Fern, a farmgirl who is already 8-years-old, is so distressed and shocked her father is going to kill a newborn pig with an ax. You'd think she'd be used to mercilessly killing animals on the farm, especially by age 8. The Little House on the Prairie series is much more clear-eyed about this. Those girls knew better. But I guess there'd be no plot if she didn't stop her father.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK:
(view spoiler)
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Reading Progress
March 31, 2014
– Shelved
December 23, 2020
–
Started Reading
December 23, 2020
–
1.09%
""Control myself?" yelled Fern. "This is a matter of life and death and you talk about CONTROLLING myself." Tears ran down her cheeks and she took hold of the ax and tried to pull it out of her father's hand."
page
2
December 23, 2020
–
1.63%
""But it's unfair," cried Fern. "The pig couldn't help being born small, could it? If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed ME?"
Mr. Arable smiled. "Certainly not," he said, looking down at his daughter with love. "But this is different. A little girl is one thing, a little runty pig is another."
"I see no difference," replied Fern, still hanging on to the ax. "This is the most terrible"
page
3
Mr. Arable smiled. "Certainly not," he said, looking down at his daughter with love. "But this is different. A little girl is one thing, a little runty pig is another."
"I see no difference," replied Fern, still hanging on to the ax. "This is the most terrible"
December 23, 2020
–
2.17%
"At this moment her brother Avery came into the room. Avery was ten. He was heavily armed - an air rifle in one hand, a wooden dagger in the other.
When you read this to children, expect a lot of questions like "What's an air rifle?" "Why can't I have an air rifle?" and "Why does Avery get to bring guns to school and I'm not allowed to?!""
page
4
When you read this to children, expect a lot of questions like "What's an air rifle?" "Why can't I have an air rifle?" and "Why does Avery get to bring guns to school and I'm not allowed to?!""
December 23, 2020
–
2.72%
""Can I have a pig, too, Pop?" asked Avery.
"No, I only distribute pigs to early risers," said Mr. Arable. "Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig. A small one, to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly. Let's eat!""
page
5
"No, I only distribute pigs to early risers," said Mr. Arable. "Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig. A small one, to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly. Let's eat!""
December 23, 2020
–
6.52%
"When he was five weeks old, Mr. Arable said he was now big enough to sell, and would have to be sold. Fern broke down and wept. But her father was firm about it. Wilbur's appetite had increased; he was beginning to eat scraps of food in addition to milk. Mr. Arable was not willing to provide for him any longer. He had already sold Wilbur's ten brothers and sisters."
page
12
December 23, 2020
–
8.7%
""I'm less than two months old and I'm tired of living," he said. He walked out to the yard again.
"When I'm out here," he said, "there's no place to go but in. When I'm indoors, there's no place to go but out in the yard.""
page
16
"When I'm out here," he said, "there's no place to go but in. When I'm indoors, there's no place to go but out in the yard.""
December 23, 2020
–
9.24%
""You don't have to stay in that dirty-little dirty-little dirty-little yard," said the goose, who talked rather fast. "One of the boards is loose. Push on it, push-push-push on it, and come on out!""
page
17
December 23, 2020
–
10.33%
" "If this is what it's like to be free," he thought. "I believe I'd rather be penned up in my own yard."
Too bad Wilbur is deeply stupid."
page
19
Too bad Wilbur is deeply stupid."
December 23, 2020
–
17.39%
"The night seemed long. Wilbur's stomach was empty and his mind was full. And when your stomach is empty and your mind is full, it's always hard to sleep."
page
32
December 23, 2020
–
20.11%
""I think you're beautiful," said Wilbur.
"Well, I AM pretty," replied Charlotte. "There's no denying that. Almost all spiders are rather nice-looking. I'm not as flashy as some, but I'll do.""
page
37
"Well, I AM pretty," replied Charlotte. "There's no denying that. Almost all spiders are rather nice-looking. I'm not as flashy as some, but I'll do.""
December 23, 2020
–
21.2%
""Delicious. Of course, I don't really eat them. I drink them - drink their blood. I love blood," said Charlotte, and her pleasant, thin voice grew even thinner and more pleasant.
"Don't say that!" groaned Wilbur. "Please don't say things like that!"
LOL"
page
39
"Don't say that!" groaned Wilbur. "Please don't say things like that!"
LOL"
December 23, 2020
–
22.28%
""Well," he thought. "I've got a new friend, all right. But what a gamble friendship is! Charlotte is fierce, brutal, scheming, bloodthirsty - everything I don't like. How can I learn to like her, even though she is pretty and, of course, clever?"
Wilbur was merely suffering the doubts and fears that often go with finding a new friend. In good time he was to discover that he was mistaken about Charlotte."
page
41
Wilbur was merely suffering the doubts and fears that often go with finding a new friend. In good time he was to discover that he was mistaken about Charlotte."
December 23, 2020
–
24.46%
"And the gander opened his strong wings and beat the air with them to show his power. He was strong and brave, but the truth is, both the goose and the gander were worried about Templeton. And with good reason. The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency, no milk of rodent kindness, no compunctions, no higher feeling, no friendliness, no anything. He would kill a gosling if he"
page
45
December 23, 2020
–
26.63%
""Well, I don't like to spread bad news," said the sheep, "but they're fattening you up because they're going to kill you, that's why."
"They're going to WHAT?" screamed Wilbur. Fern grew rigid on her stool.
"Kill you. Turn you into smoked bacon and ham," continued the old sheep. "Almost all young pigs get murdered by the farmer as soon as the real cold weather sets in. There's a regular conspiracy around here"
page
49
"They're going to WHAT?" screamed Wilbur. Fern grew rigid on her stool.
"Kill you. Turn you into smoked bacon and ham," continued the old sheep. "Almost all young pigs get murdered by the farmer as soon as the real cold weather sets in. There's a regular conspiracy around here"
December 23, 2020
–
27.72%
""If she says they plan to kill you, I'm sure it's true. It's also the dirtiest trick I ever heard of. What people don't think of!"
Wilbur burst into tears. "I don't WANT to die," he moaned. "I want to stay alive, right here in my comfortable manure pile with all my friends. I want to breathe the beautiful air and lie in the beautiful sun."
"You're certainly making a beautiful noise," snapped the old sheep."
page
51
Wilbur burst into tears. "I don't WANT to die," he moaned. "I want to stay alive, right here in my comfortable manure pile with all my friends. I want to breathe the beautiful air and lie in the beautiful sun."
"You're certainly making a beautiful noise," snapped the old sheep."
December 23, 2020
–
28.26%
"If we are supposed to believe Fern can understand animal speech, why is she not getting upset upon learning that Wilbur is to be slaughtered?"
page
52
December 23, 2020
–
32.61%
""You needn't feel too badly, Wilbur," she said. "Not many creatures can spin webs. Even men aren't as good at it as spiders, although they THINK they're pretty good, and they'll TRY anything. Did you ever hear of the Queensborough Bridge?"
Wilbur shook his head. "Is it a web?"
"Sort of," replied Charlotte. "But do you know how long it took men to build it? Eight whole years. My goodness, I would have starved"
page
60
Wilbur shook his head. "Is it a web?"
"Sort of," replied Charlotte. "But do you know how long it took men to build it? Eight whole years. My goodness, I would have starved"
December 23, 2020
–
36.41%
""The way to save Wilbur's life is to play a trick on Zuckerman. If I can fool a bug," thought Charlotte, "I can certainly fool a man. People are not as smart as bugs.""
page
67
December 23, 2020
–
41.85%
"There, in the center of the web, neatly woven in block letters, was a message. It said:
SOME PIG!"
page
77
SOME PIG!"
December 23, 2020
–
42.93%
""I've got something to tell you, Edith," he said. "You better sit down."
Mrs. Zuckerman sank into a chair. She looked pale and frightened.
"Edith," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, "I think you had best be told that we have a very unusual pig."
LOL LOL"
page
79
Mrs. Zuckerman sank into a chair. She looked pale and frightened.
"Edith," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, "I think you had best be told that we have a very unusual pig."
LOL LOL"
December 23, 2020
–
48.37%
""I think 'terrific' might impress Zuckerman."
"But Charlotte," said Wilbur, "I'm NOT terrific."
"That doesn't make a particle of difference," replied Charlotte. "Not a particle. People believe almost anything they see in print. Does anybody here know how to spell 'terrific'?""
page
89
"But Charlotte," said Wilbur, "I'm NOT terrific."
"That doesn't make a particle of difference," replied Charlotte. "Not a particle. People believe almost anything they see in print. Does anybody here know how to spell 'terrific'?""
December 23, 2020
–
71.2%
"The children grabbed each other by the hand and danced off in the direction of the merry-go-round, toward the wonderful music and the wonderful adventure and the wonderful excitement, into the wonderful midway where there would be no parents to guard them and guide them, where they could be happy and free and do as they pleased."
page
131
December 23, 2020
–
94.57%
"As a result of overeating, Templeton grew bigger and fatter than any rat you ever saw. He was gigantic. He was as big as a young woodchuck.
The old sheep spoke to him about his size one day. "You would live longer," said the old sheep, "if you ate less."
"Who wants to live forever?" sneered the rat."
page
174
The old sheep spoke to him about his size one day. "You would live longer," said the old sheep, "if you ate less."
"Who wants to live forever?" sneered the rat."
December 23, 2020
–
Finished Reading
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Kandice
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rated it 5 stars
Dec 23, 2020 03:37PM
Why can't I take an air rifle to school like Avery does in this book? Can you buy me an air rifle?! or work? O_o
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Kandice wrote: "Why can't I take an air rifle to school like Avery does in this book? Can you buy me an air rifle?! or work? O_o"LOL Literally a question I got just the other day about this book. I was at a loss trying to explain why children could freely carry guns to school in 1952 and why that would be horrifying to adults today. o.O
This is one of the books my mother read to me when I was a kid. I think it's one of the things I'll remember most about her. So I'm getting emotional without discussing any of the story content. This book began a lifelong fascination with pigs and spiders, which are both amazing animals in their intelligence. I've never killed a spider. Might be Charlotte, who knows.
This is one of the books my mother read to me when I was a kid. I think it's one of the things I'll remember most about her. So I'm getting emotional without discussing any of the story content. This book began a lifelong fascination with pigs and spiders, which are both amazing animals in their intelligence. I've never killed a spider. Might be Charlotte, who knows.Awwwww, that's so sweet, Joseph. Those memories are special.
I don't kill spiders either. Not because of this book - although I'm sure it's done wonders for saving spiders' lives - but because if you saw the bugs that crawl around at night you'd being hailing spiders as heroes. *shudder* Very grateful for my spider friends who save me from creepy crawlies.
Wonderful review, Carmen. This book was one of my favorites when growing up and a favorite to read to my daughters. I’m glad you enjoyed it, too.
Donna wrote: "Wonderful review, Carmen. This book was one of my favorites when growing up and a favorite to read to my daughters. I’m glad you enjoyed it, too."Thank you so much! It's such a good book!
This review made me want to watch the movie again! Beautifully done
Nenia ✨️ Socially Awkward Trash Panda ✨️ wrote: "This review made me want to watch the movie again! Beautifully done"Thank you so much, Nenia! :)
Great review, Carmen!I agree with you that this book is good for all ages.
I think I first read it when I was eight and it remains one of my favorite books. I've also read it many times and your review is making me want to read it yet again.
Great review, Carmen!I agree with you that this book is good for all ages.
I think I first read it when I was eight and it remains one of my favorite books. I've also read it many times and your review is making me want to read it yet again.
Aw, the same age as Fern! It really holds up, Lisa. White truly wrote a masterpiece IMO.
Carmen wrote: "Aw, the same age as Fern! It really holds up, Lisa. White truly wrote a masterpiece IMO. "Carmen, yes, and I loved it at the time too. I read a few other books at the same time, some also classics, but this book is the only one of those that I love and I still love it.
