The Junior Trophy

"The Junior Trophy" by Ralph Henry Barbour is a story about growing up in the early 1900s. It follows Bert Bryant, a new student at Mt. Pleasant Academy, as he learns about making friends, dealing with tough situations at school, and understanding the different social groups. The book probably talks about being independent, teamwork, and trying to be the best, especially for young boys in school. When the story starts, Bert is late getting to Mt. Pleasant Academy because his train was delayed, and he feels a mix of excitement and worry. He quickly meets Nan Merton, another student, who shows him around the school and explains how the social groups work. As Bert gets comfortable, his roommate, Benson Holden, acts mean toward him, which makes Bert want to show how independent he is. The beginning chapters suggest that things will change between Bert and the other students, leading to friendship, standing up for himself, and trying to win in both social situations and sports at the school.