The Man With the Red Bag
January 26, 2008 by Kelly Phillips Erb
Filed under Parenting
The Man With the Red Bag is an interesting concept for a book marketed to children. It is deliberately set in a post 9/11 where everyone is on edge about strangers and travel and the safety of the world.
The protagonist in the book, Kevin, finds himself drawn to a suspicious looking man on a tour bus to the United States’ great historical sites – kind of a National Treasure meets Greyhound. He follows the suspicious looking man, convinced that the red bag that the man carries can only lead to trouble. Find out if it does (you can guess the answer).
It’s a nice morality tale about racial profiling, jumping to conclusions and not taking the time to understand more about your fellow humans. It won’t change your life but is worth the read.
Author Eve Bunting was born in Ireland and came to the US with her husband and three children. She has written more than two hundred novels and picture books.
The Man With the Red Bag is marketed for children ages 10 and up, which seems about right. It retails for $15.99, hardback.
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books, children’s book, The Man With the Red Bag, Eve Bunting
Thanks! This really helped me with my book report! It helped me understand what was going on!
Oh, don’t send me an e-mail, because that isn’t my e-mail address.
In the book The Man with the Red Bag, 12 year old Kevin Saunders is on a Star Tours bus, touring the major national parks of the United States with his Grandmother. Then, on the bus, strange Charles Stavros boards. He looked strange. Sits alone. Has a big bushy mustache and evil eyebrows. A red bag he carried everywhere and treated like it was a child. Kevin is suspicious of him, and starts following him with a new friend, Geneva. Together, they follow him through the states, watching, trying to find out the truth. They suspect he is carrying a bomb, and he is a terrorist after Kevin thinks that he was one of the people at the line-up for suspection. It all ends at Mount Rushmore at the dead of night in a stunning conclusion. To find out, you’ll have to read on!
Nice review of The Man with the Red Bag. I like leaving us in suspense at the end so we have to get the book and read it to find out what happens.
I’m glad Kelly’s post helped you with your book report, Emma.