Try Again by Oliver Optic (1868)
The narrative follows Harry West, a twelve-year-old boy living in a poorhouse in Redfield, Massachusetts. Harry is faced with the threat of being sent to work for Jacob Wire, a cruel man known for mistreating his workers. After a confrontation with Squire Walker, the pompous overseer of the poorhouse, Harry's future seems bleak. However, he resolves to escape his fate and runs away with the help of a friend, Ben Smart. As they navigate their escape, Ben's reckless behavior leads to trouble, including setting Squire Walker's barn on fire. Harry, who is innocent of this act, is caught up in the ensuing chaos and is wrongfully accused. Despite the challenges he faces, including being captured and taken to jail, Harry remains determined to prove his innocence and maintain his integrity. Throughout his journey, Harry encounters various characters, including Julia Bryant, a kind girl who becomes a source of inspiration and support for him. Her belief in his goodness motivates him to strive for a better life. As Harry navigates the complexities of his situation, he learns valuable lessons about honesty, friendship, and the importance of doing the right thing, even when faced with adversity. After several trials, including a confrontation with Ben, who has fallen into a life of crime, Harry ultimately finds work in a store in Boston. He faces challenges in this new environment, but his determination to succeed and his commitment to being a good person guide him through. The story emphasizes themes of resilience, moral integrity, and the impact of kindness, as Harry learns to navigate the world around him while holding onto the values instilled in him by Julia and his own experiences. As he grows, Harry's character develops, and he becomes more aware of the importance of helping others, reflecting the lessons he learned from Julia and his own struggles. The narrative concludes with Harry's continued journey towards self-improvement and his commitment to living a life of purpose and integrity.
By Oliver Optic · First published 1868 · Genre: Adventure, Young Adult, Coming-of-Age · 21 chapters · 58,542 words
First lines
"Boy, come here!"
Squire Walker was a very pompous man; one of the most notable persons in the little town of Redfield, which, the inquiring young reader will need to be informed, as it is not laid down on any map of Massachusetts that I am acquainted with, is situated thirty-one miles southwest of Boston.
What this Textopian page supports
Try Again is listed on Textopian as a novel by Oliver Optic, dated 1868 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Oliver Optic
- Date: 1868 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Young Adult, Coming-of-Age, Fiction, Inspirational
- Length: 58,542 words
- Structure: 21 chapters, 1,619 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Try Again by Oliver Optic
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Try Again?
- How does this novel by Oliver Optic fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Desk And Debit by Oliver Optic
- Little By Little by Oliver Optic
- In The Saddle by Oliver Optic
- Breaking Away by Oliver Optic
- Fighting For The Right by Oliver Optic
- A Lieutenant At Eighteen by Oliver Optic
Genres
- Adventure — The plot involves characters facing challenges and embarking on journeys, typical of adventure narratives.
- Young Adult — The themes and characters are geared towards a younger audience, focusing on growth and resilience.
- Coming-of-Age — The story likely explores personal development and the transition from youth to adulthood.
- Fiction — The narrative is a work of fiction, presenting imagined events and characters.
Tags
Coming-of-age · Adventure · Nautical fiction · Young adult literature · Sea stories · Friendship · Personal growth · Self-discovery · Moral lessons · Education · Maritime history · 19th century setting
Contents
- In which Harry West and Squire Walker Disagree on an Important Point
- In which Harry Finds a Friend, and a Practicable Scheme for Resistance
- In which Harry Leaves the Poorhouse, and Takes to the River
- In which it is Shown that the Navigation of the River is Difficult and Dangerous
- In which Harry Fights a Hard Battle, and is Defeated
- In which Harry Concludes that a Defeat is Sometimes Better than a Victory
- In which Harry Finds himself in a Tight Place and Executes a Counter Movement
- In which Harry Kills a Big Snake, and Makes a New Friend
- In which Harry Breakfasts on Doughnuts, and Finds that Angels do not Always have Wings
- In which Harry Fares Sumptuously, and Takes Leave of the Little Angel
- In which Harry Reaches the City, and Though Often Disappointed, Tries Again
- In which Harry Suddenly Gets Rich and has a Conversation with Another Harry
- In which Harry Becomes a Stable Boy, and Hears Bad News from Rockville
- In which Harry does a Good Deed, and Determines to "Face the Music"
- In which Harry Makes the Acquaintance of a very Important Personage
- In which Harry Goes into the Drygoods Business
- In which Harry Revisits Rockville, and Meets with a Serious Loss
- In which Harry Meets with an Old Acquaintance and Gets a Hard Knock on the Head
- In which Harry Finds that Even a Broken Head May be of some Use to a Person
- In which Harry Passes through his Severest Trial, and Achieves his Greatest Triumph
- In which Harry is very Pleasantly Situated, and the Story Comes to an End