In 1970 I read a novel about a rural schoolteacher named Shadrick. I was so enamored with the main character that I named my son after him. Now I can’t remember the title or the author. Does anyone remember such a book? I’d love to revisit it and share it with my son.
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
Across Five Aprils?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Across_Five_Aprils
The details don’t quite match (esp. the beloved name “Shadrick”), but I wanted to mention “The Water is Wide” by Pat Conroy (1972). The Gullah children he taught called him “Conrack.”
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, although it’s spelled Shadrach as in the Old Testament story? From Wikipedia: “Matthew and Ellen Creighton have 12 children….The deaths of the ‘three little boys’ led Ellen to be more lenient on youngest son Jethro (main character) than with her older children. Shadrach Yale is the schoolmaster from Pennsylvania that has noted the potential of young Jethro. He also has the love of 14-year-old Jenny Creighton, and wants a marriage, which her father disapproves due to her youth….a letter comes from Shadrach Yale’s aunt in Washington. He was severely wounded at Gettysburg. She asks for Jenny to come. Matt allows her to go to him and Shad improves under her care. Matt gives permission and they are married at Shad’s bedside.