Rating: 
Summary: For mature readers and Not appropriate for 5th graders.
Review: This book was assigned reading for my 10 year old son in 5th grade. Unlike some of Gary Paulsen's other books that are appropriate for this age group, this book contains the descriptions of a rape, a castration, and physical abuse of slaves, including the graphic description of chopping off of a slave's toes. Although the book would make an excellent springboard for a high school discussion about the abuses of slavery, I would recommend that you read it yourself before giving it to grade school or even junior high age readers. For a mature reader, the book was compelling and fast moving, which is why I have rated it 4 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: this book was interesting
Review: this book was very interesting, It wasnt so captivating at first, but when the main charecters were introduced the story became very exciting. This story told about slavery on a plantation;it is told about slavery from a young slave child named sarny who was being taught to read from a man named Night john, I recommand this book to enyone whois interested in the past and how slavery life was for the blacks. If book like these werent writen, nowone would know about this life and maybe slavery still would be in affect to this day. The neat thing is the story is true and was told from a real child, Allso reading this you learn their launguadg, Well enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: This is my fourth year to teach the book, Nightjohn, in my sixth-grade classroom. Nightjohn is set in the 1800's on a plantation. Sarny, a slave girl the age of most of my sixth graders, is the narrator. As the book unfolds, we get to experience the life of a slave during this period of time in America's history. It has thirteen curse words in it, and I had to black them out before letting my students have a copy. I did that job during the summer so my students could have the privilege of reading this one-of-a-kind book. Only by looking at the past can we possibily hope to make the present better. Nightjohn will evoke laughter, sadness, and despair as you read. As I teach children everyday how to read, it breaks my heart to realize that slave children were deprived of this great gift. I recommend this book highly. It has an extraordinary message that everyone needs to remember!
Rating:
Summary: A NOTE FROM GARY PAULSEN
Review: THIS IS NOT A REVIEW! I found a note (handwritten or a facsimile of his script) inside the cover of a used edition of this book. I want to share it with other Nightjohn readers and Gary Paulsen fans: "a note about Nightjohn: The research for this short book took over five years and it was heartbreaking. At many times, reading through the slave narratives I would find myself crying quietly, weeping for them, for the very real people I have tried to portray in the story. They wanted only one thing--to be free--and they knew reading, learning to read, was the best way to freedom. It still is... Gary Paulsen"
Rating:
Summary: powerfull and moving
Review: This is the best children book ever writen. It shows the true horrer of the slave trade and how cruel some men can be.How can people do that to there brother's,how can people treat other's like that and how can people put a price on a human life. I would like to thank Gary Paulsen for the short biography ay the about Sally Hemmings,it's nice to see some writer's haven't forgotten this poor slavegirl who spent her whole life being used and abused by someone who is meant to be one of the greatest people in history!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book for reluctant readers
Review: This short, poignant novel gives readers a graphic, often painful view into the day-to-day lives of slaves. John and Sarny's friendship drives the plot forward, and readers will be taken by both characters' drive to better their lives through reading and learning.
Rating:
Summary: brutal and graphic
Review: This story is an intense and graphic account of the brutal conditions endured by slaves. The "Master" exerted extreme control over all facets of the slaves' lives, including eating, sleeping, and reproduction. Horrific punishments were dealt out to those who violated any of the rules. I found this short book moving and affecting, illuminating the inhuman conditions the slaves endured.
However, this book was assigned to my 10-year old son as summer reading. This book is grossly inappropriate for children. Despite its brevity, this book is way too intense for children, dealing with a topic that is better suited to high school.
Rating:
Summary: Intense and graphic
Review: This story was assigned to me in a college class. It's content is no holds barred, graphic, and intense. I would not suggest children under 12 reading, and some would probably go with a higher age than that. The endearing story of a little girl wanting to learn to read, as taught by a heroic slave is the stuff good stories are made of. Is this a good book? Yes, no doubt. But, again, I caution the age it is ready for-do not be fooled by the small book with few pages. It says lots in few words.
Rating:
Summary: Hard hitting, realistic depiction of slave life
Review: What a great book! I disagree with the reviews above when they say that the violence is redundant and excessive. Truth is, life was really like that on the plantation. The reader is almost transported back in time. This book is a good contrast to many history books that tend to downplay the intense cruelty inflicted on southern slaves. My recommendation? Take this book with you to Williamsburg, VA and ask the tour guides questions about it as they tell you how "well treated" the slaves were.
Rating:
Summary: nightjohn
Review: What would you do if you told a lie and your mother were whipped for it? Sarny is a young black slave living in the1860's in the south. Sarny told a lie because she learns how to read and write. Mr. Waller found out that someone knew how to read and write. Sarny said it was not she. Then Mr. Waller found out, and Mammy was whipped for it because she would not tell on Sarny. The author of the book is Gary Paulsen. The book is Night John. The amount of pages is 90.The number of stars I would give it is four stars. The central conflict is Night John help blacks to write and read. A brief summary is Sarny a female slave at the Waller Plantation. I would recommend Night John. I like it because it is short. It talks about white people hating blacks. They talk about slavery. ...
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