  johnny tremain is a 1943 children's fiction historical novel by esther forbes set in boston prior to and during the outbreak of the american revolution. the novel's themes include apprenticeship, courtship, sacrifice, human rights, and the growing tension between patriots and loyalists as conflict nears. events described in the novel include the boston tea party, the british blockade of the port of boston, the midnight ride of paul revere, and the battles of lexington and concord. the book won the 1944 newbery medal and is the 16th bestselling children's book as of the year 2000 in the united states, according to publishers weekly.infoplease in 1957, walt disney pictures released a film adaptation, also called johnny tremain. ==plot summary== the story begins in the boston, massachusetts silversmith shop of ephraim lapham, where protagonist johnny tremain is a promising apprentice. the lapham shop soon receives a challenging order from wealthy merchant john hancock. while preparing hancock's order, johnny's hand is badly burned when dove, another apprentice, gives him a cracked crucible that leaks molten silver. johnny's hand is crippled beyond use, and he can no longer be a silversmith. it is later learned that the injury is not as severe as he is told and can be fixed with minor surgery. after a series of rejections, johnny tremain turns to mr. lyte, a successful businessman. johnny explains that his mother told him that he and mr. lyte were related. lyte requests proof, and johnny shows him a silver cup with the lyte family's coat of arms. lyte claims it was stolen from him, and johnny is arrested. eventually, johnny is freed by the court. johnny settles into a job with a newspaper, the boston observer. the observer is a whig publication, and johnny is introduced to the larger world of pre-revolutionary boston politics. as months go by and tension between whigs and tories rises, johnny becomes a dedicated whig himself. johnny matures and re-evaluates many personal relationships, including that with c
1943_novels 20th-century_American_novels American_Revolutionary_War_novels American_children\'s_novels Boston,_Massachusetts_in_fiction Children\'s_historical_novels Houghton_Mifflin_books Newbery_Medal-winning_works Novels_set_in_Boston,_Massachusetts