Title: Pearl

Author: John Steinbeck

Genre: Realistic Ficition

Pages: 96

This is summary for the first three chapters of The Pearl by John Steinbeck, our class book.  This novella is good, but I find that the details are very specific, sometimes too specific.  In the beginning of the book, Steinbeck introduces the main character, Kino, who is trying to deal with his new place in the community because of the giant pearl he finds. 

Kino and his family were VERY poor Mexicans and he the doctor wouldn’t even treat his son when he was bitten by a scorpion because Kino has no money.  Although Kino and Juana his wife dream of the better life the pearl can bring for them, other in their village think about how they want the pearl and how they might cheat and steal it away from Kino instead of being happy for him. 

One night, someone tries to steal the pearl and Kino stabs and kills a man.  I read that Steinbeck based the Bible parable “pearl at a great price” and that he also intended it to be a commentary on the American dream of success in the 1940s.

It is a good book and my mom said she read it in middle school 30 years ago.  I don’t think it is going to end happily based on what has happened so far.  I think that most kids would only read it for class and wouldn’t go to buy it at the store because it is an old story and harder to relate to.