Otto of the Silver Hand

By Howard Pyle
Otto of the Silver Hand
Synopsis
This is the tale of the motherless son of a valiant robber baron of Medieval Germany. Young Otto, born into a warring household in an age when lawless chiefs were constantly fighting each other or despoiling the caravans of the merchant burghers, is raised in a monastery only to return to his family's domain and become painfully involved in the blood feud between his father and the rival house of Trutz-Drachen.
  • Virtue
    VIRTUE
    Is this the way I want my child to think and act?
    Ratings are based on how much a book extols Islamic morality and espouses classical ideals.
    ★★★★★
  • Language
    LANGUAGE
    Is this the way I want my child to speak?
    Ratings are based on a book's vocabulary, cadence, and overall eloquence suited to age level.
    ★★★★☆
  • Story
    STORY
    Does this story resonate with my child?
    Ratings are based on the integrity of plot structure, the depth of characters, the palpability of the book's conflict and resolution, and the lure of its setting.
    ★★★★★
  • Beauty
    BEAUTY
    Does this book develop my child's ability to recognize beauty?
    Ratings are based on aesthetics, linguistic beauty, poignancy, and how well a book embodies ihsan—harmonizing excellence.
    ★★★★☆
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Mindful Muslim Review

In an age of blood feuds, illiteracy, lawlessness, revenge and oppression, the young protagonist endures great hardship and forgives grievous evils that have harmed him and his family. As he grows, he learns to value books and knowledge, gaining wisdom and tranquility. He realizes there is not always an evil villain to defeat and promotes reconciliation by forgiving his enemies with generosity and grace. His ultimate goal is to bring peace to his region, which earns this book our Gold Star.

Teaching Tools
  • Otto believed in peace and justice. He could not achieve these goals himself so he sought out and supported a strong ruler striving for these values. Discuss why knowing your limits and asking others for help is so important.
Ages: ,
Genres: ,
Illustrator: Howard Pyle
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 1967 (originally published in 1888)
Page Count: 192
ISBN13: 9780486217840
*This review applies only to ISBN number noted above.
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