The Yearling

Oct 20, 2010 Stoic rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Stoic by: a librarian

Shelves: nature, classic, southern, coming-of-age

A classic I had never been assigned to read or really had recommended, this 1938 novel was suggested to me by a librarian and I read it chapter by chapter over a number of weeks.

Taking place on "Baxter's Island" in post-Civil War Florida, this follows the bond formed between a boy, Jody Baxter, and a fawn he rescues from the wild and attempts to domesticate. I found it surprisingly touching, with some beautiful passages depicting the ineffable link we may feel between ourselves and nature, espec...more

like 2 likes · see review

May 23, 2011 Ri-Rin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hadiah-teman-gri, indonesian, klasik, own

The Yearling, kisah Jody dan seekor rusa.

Akhirnya Senin dini hari (23 Mei), aku menyelesaikan novel setebal 501 halaman ini. Saat membaca bagian awal novel hadiah Kuis Buku Gratis Bulan Mei dari GRI sempat khawatir tak bisa menyelesaikan tepat waktu. Bukan hanya karena ketebalannya yang lumayan—biasanya aku membaca buku setebal 200-300 saja—juga pada bagian awal kurang menarik minat.

Terbiasa dengan dialog atau kejutan adegan di awal, sehingga narasi panjang di bab awal membuatku khawatir!

Ternyat...more

like 1 like · see review

May 01, 2013 Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sometimes you read a book and it is just words on a page, sometimes it becomes a story. And sometimes, when you're very lucky the book becomes so real you feel transported right into the pages. That was my experience here.

I loved Jody and Penny's relationship, how overwhelming Penny's love is for his son, how much he wants for Jody to learn and grow. And how he watches Jody enjoying life.

The Forresters were entertaining and heartbreaking at the same time. There is much to learn from the characte...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Christopher rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Yearling is not a book for those who get bored easily. The book is slow-moving, taking its time to vividly describe the Florida wild. Although the description is indeed colorful and paints the picture well, there's a fine line to walk between enough description, and too much. Sadly, The Yearling doesn't quite walk this line.
The book is the tale of young Jody Baxter, a twelve year old boy living in the wild of Florida. When his father shoots a doe, Jody convinces him to let him take the you...more The Yearling is not a book for those who get bored easily. The book is slow-moving, taking its time to vividly describe the Florida wild. Although the description is indeed colorful and paints the picture well, there's a fine line to walk between enough description, and too much. Sadly, The Yearling doesn't quite walk this line.
The book is the tale of young Jody Baxter, a twelve year old boy living in the wild of Florida. When his father shoots a doe, Jody convinces him to let him take the young faun into his care. Jody names the faun Flag, and a bond develops between the two. However, Jody's mother accidentally shoots Flag, fatally wounding him. Convinced his mother did it on purpose, Jody runs away in anger. After he finally returns, his father tells him that he is now a man, and Jody realizes that Flag wasn't the only thing that died.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings certainly knows how to write good, fully-fledged characters. When Penny is bitten, the readers afraid for him. When Jody gets to keep the faun, the readers are happy for him. The book convincingly takes one on a journey through this young boy's life as he grows up and faces the reality of death and loss. Although the ending did seem a bit rushed, perhaps losing some of the potential emotion, it was a decent end. The issue at the heart of this book, however, is not the characters.
The issue with this book is two-fold. First, is the over-descriptiveness of the prose. Second, the resulting slow-moving plot.
A book is a package, created to either entertain, or to share a theme. Both are valid options, and some books combine the two. Imagine that one ordered a fragile glass plate from Amazon. The package was shipped, but when one opens it, they find the plate broken. Upon examination, it's discovered that there was no packaging to cushion the plate. Imagine now, that the order shipped, but arrived without a box. The plate was wrapped in styrofoam. Still, the plate would probably be broken, and the customer disappointed. Imagine once more that the order arrived in a nice, brown box. Packaging was present within in an abundance, but there was no plate. Still the customer would be disappointed. But why?
The customer would be disappointed because he paid for a full package. He paid for the plate, and for the plate's shipping. A book works much the same way. The best books are packages with everything present: the box, the packaging, and the item itself. All of it has to be there, each depending on the next for their weight and significance. Prose is the box, packaging is the plot and characters, and the item is the theme. Too much prose with too little plot, characters, and theme ends in a dull book. Too little plot or character, even if the theme and prose is fantastic, is still a dull book. Everything has to be there in it's proper proportions to deliver a really good book.
Sadly, The Yearling has a box that's a bit too big, and ends up eliminating the point of the packaging and the item itself. The prose is too flowery, and too overbearing. Rawlings is good at description but only so much is needed per book. A writer has to use color carefully. The focus shouldn't be on topping Van Gogh, the focus should be on providing enough color to illuminate the scene, but not so much that the scene is drowned out in favor of the color. The Yearling, makes this mistake. Rawlings tries to be Van Gogh, lavishly taking her time belaboring sprawling trees and hanging moss, without giving us the reasons why we should care about the trees and the moss.
The characters, plot, and theme were interesting, but they were lost in the whirlpool of description, and more description, and even more description. Using simple words, the primary colors if you will, to paint a picture is fantastic. There's no need to give us an art class though. Big, long, extravagant words should be used sparingly. As a wise man once said, "Never use a big word where a diminutive one will do."(less)

like 1 like · see review

Aug 16, 2007 Jenn Garrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had never read this classic, despite the fact that it is set just south of here, I have seen the original manuscript at UF archives, and been to Rawlings house where whe wrote it. It was slow, but there is some nice vivid imagery of rural Florida. The story is centered around a boy, maybe ten years old, and his expireinces growing up as an early settler in Florida. I was shocked by Rawlings descriptions of some of the female characters, but understood after finishing the book whay she wrote th...more

like 3 likes · see review

Apr 11, 2013 Aubree Dawson rated it 5 of 5 stars

"You've seed how things goes in the world o'men. You've knowed men to be low down and mean. You've seed ol' Death at his tricks. You've messed around with ol' Starvation. Ever' man wants life to be a fine thing, and a easy. 'Tis fine, boy, powerful fine, but 'taint easy. Life knocks a man down and he gits up and it knocks him down again. I've been uneasy all my life. I've wanted life to be easy for you. Easier'n 'twas for me. A man's heart aches, seein' his young uns face the world. Knowin' they...more

like · see review

Feb 08, 2013 Steve Hemmeke rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rawlings explores life themes in a compelling way. Falling out with friends or neighbors, a son following in his father’s footsteps, a boy growing to take on the responsibility of a man, facing the loneliness and difficulty of life.

The contrast between Jody’s father and mother instructs. She is hard-bitten and complaining, though helpful to her natural allies (family). He is generous, patient and gives to those who do not deserve it. Jody learns that it can pay off to be kind in the face of host...more Rawlings explores life themes in a compelling way. Falling out with friends or neighbors, a son following in his father’s footsteps, a boy growing to take on the responsibility of a man, facing the loneliness and difficulty of life.

The contrast between Jody’s father and mother instructs. She is hard-bitten and complaining, though helpful to her natural allies (family). He is generous, patient and gives to those who do not deserve it. Jody learns that it can pay off to be kind in the face of hostility. And that it can be futile.

Little acts of sacrifice and kindness can (or should) atone for relational breakdowns. Jody stays overnight with the Forresters, when their son dies. Jody’s father comes, too, and speaks for them at the funeral. This patches things up tremendously. But such alliances can be fragile. A lot of peacemaking effort can be trashed by one reckless incident.

Lots of time goes to develop the character of Jody’s father, Penney. He is hardworking, looking ahead to provide, kind, and skillful. Jody looks up to him and follows him.

Jody is like the yearling deer he tames. Growing into maturity, running away for a time, bucking against his parents at times. He will either keep bucking and be shot down (figuratively, drowning in the ocean trying to reach Boston), or he will return to bear the yoke while he is young. At the end Jody the boy is willingly and gladly doing the work of a man for days on end, to provide for the household.

The relationship with nature is intriguing. Jody is sad when animals are killed, but glad when he can eat the meat. What mystery occurs in between? The death even of such animals brings separation between doe and fawn – a loneliness that Jody feels himself. It is the self-consciousness emerging. A soul aware of itself, and wants to be known but is not yet known.

The relationship between man and nature fascinates. The death of the bear and the death of a deer evoke different responses – one triumphant, one sad. Every creature, every man, is not the same. Some are malicious. Others are benevolent. They need different responses.

One reading list puts “The Yearling” at the 6th grade level, and that’s the earliest, I think. I’m going to wait a year or two before my 10 year old reads it. It’s perfect for boys right on the cusp of transition to manhood.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Annette rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is a classic, first published in 1938 and still in print today. Jody Baxter is a boy growing up with his mom and dad in the backwoods of Florida during the turn of the century, the former one, not Y2K. Jody is an only child in a poor family who desperately wants a pet. Ma Baxter, however, is a tough nut. She’s lost half a dozen kids before Jody and lives a hard life. She’s no softie. There’s not enough food to feed an animal. So Jody learns that “no” mean...more

like · see review

Dec 31, 2012 Scott Hubbard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: literature

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Rawlings sets us up for loss from the end of the first chapter: "A mark was on [Jody] from the day's delight, so that all his life, when April was a thin green and the flavor of rain was on his tongue, an old wound would throb and a nostalgia would fill him for something he could not quite remember." And as shet sets us up, she inspires the same feeling of vague loss that each of us carries. There is an old wound that is the shared experience of all mankind, a wound that binds us all together ev...more Rawlings sets us up for loss from the end of the first chapter: "A mark was on [Jody] from the day's delight, so that all his life, when April was a thin green and the flavor of rain was on his tongue, an old wound would throb and a nostalgia would fill him for something he could not quite remember." And as shet sets us up, she inspires the same feeling of vague loss that each of us carries. There is an old wound that is the shared experience of all mankind, a wound that binds us all together even as it plunges us into the same loneliness Jody would feel every time he would hear the whip-poor-will sing.

In his reflection after reading the book, Andrew Peterson writes, "The book didn't wound me. The wound was already there. The book gave the wound a name, which is strong medicine." Rawlings names the wound, indeed. This is the story of the wounding of the human soul. Not Jody's only, but everybody's. Yet there is hope in the naming of the wound. Rawling's may leave us without a shred of hope for the death of the yearling (i.e. Jody)--"It was not his own voice that called. It was a boy's voice. Somewhere beyond the sink-hole, past the magnolia, under the live oaks, a boy and a yearling ran side by side, and were gone forever"--but there is, as Peterson intimates, implicit hope in the simple naming of it. What hope do we have of healing without knowledge of the injury?

The wounding of the human soul captured by Rawlings is caught up in the larger wound of the world. Creation groans in the novel, and it's more than the changing of seasons. Creation groans with the sorrow of pain and death, the unnatural intruders that seem the fitting means and end for so great a loss but that ring with the cry of outlaws. It takes powerful writing to bring forth the blatant unnaturalness of pain and death, the terrible and rebellious presence of a nature that is "red in tooth and claw."

Rawlings did half the job of a prophet. She indeed named the wound, but she did not name the Healer. After I finished the book, I was left in grateful wonder over two stark statements in the New Testament: "God raised [Jesus] up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it" (Ac. 2:24); "[Jesus] abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tm. 1:10). It was not possible for Jesus Christ to be held by death; indeed, He Himself abolished it. It reminds me of the title of Owen's book, "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ." Here is our Savior. Here is our Healer of the wound.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Nov 07, 2012 Elevetha Houre rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: No one. EVER.

Shelves: characterize-please, for-school, head-meet-your-new-friend-the-desk, images-involved-in-review, meh-worthy, once-is-enough, one-time-too-many, nothing-special-here, pathetically-wanting-dialogue, please-edit-this-book, start-the-fire, what-on-earth-is-this-junk, why-was-this-written, 2011

I absolutely hated this book. I'm not even sure that "hate" describes how I feel.

This is based purely on how I felt reading it and not the writing quality, though that was really rather poor as well.

I suppose that most people were supposed to have this reaction:

description

and then natter on about how amazing this book is. How the "coming of age" story is so poignant and beautiful. How they wept and then fainted from the overwhelming feelings that they had for Jody. And, of course, how they recommended thi...more

like 4 likes · see review

Jun 01, 2012 ShaLisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book! It was so beautiful in story, writing and depth. This book was tender as well as hard. Tender because of the mercies of his father and his feelings for the creatures - especially Flag. Hard because they had to make difficult choices for their own survival.

Without meaning to be, this book was one of the best parenting books I have read. I loved and craved the relationship between the father and son because of the understanding of the father and the longing to carry each others...more

like · see review

May 16, 2012 Abigail Larsen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Travel back in time to the late 19th century and bushwhack your way into the thick woods and scrubland of northern Florida. Here you'll find young Jody Baxtor living with his parents in a small, isolated house. Jody is the last of seven children, but none of his six siblings survived infancy. Jody's father is a tough yet generous man, but the heartache and tragedy Jody's mother has undergone have created a barrier that prevents her from growing close to her one living son. Life in these Florida...more Travel back in time to the late 19th century and bushwhack your way into the thick woods and scrubland of northern Florida. Here you'll find young Jody Baxtor living with his parents in a small, isolated house. Jody is the last of seven children, but none of his six siblings survived infancy. Jody's father is a tough yet generous man, but the heartache and tragedy Jody's mother has undergone have created a barrier that prevents her from growing close to her one living son. Life in these Florida woods is difficult, and Jody is lonely. He longs for a pet of his own, but feeding just the three people in their home is challenge enough without the added burden of an animal.

A series of unusual events involving a dangerous bear hunt and a serious rattlesnake bite eventually lead Jody and his father to an orphaned fawn, which Jody eagerly adopts and dubs "Flagg". An unbreakable and happy bond develops. While Jody hangs on any tender moment he can capture with his parents, he depends on Flagg to help to fill the aching void in his young heart. Flagg becomes a bright spot Jody can't live without.

As he grows up, Jody learns to cope with the sadness of strained relationships, the constant fight against starvation, the reality of death, and the numerous dangers that, given his location and the era, are par for the course. Catostrophic floods, fights with unrefined neighbors, and exposure to snakes, alligators, and other predators are just a few of the obstacles Jody will face and learn to overcome throughout his childhood. His is the life of a farmer, hunter, and survivor, and it is far from easy.

As Jody reaches adolescence, he is forced to recognize that his one stable and happy treasure, Flagg, may not be his forever. Turns out growing up and letting go is far more difficult than he could have imagined. Will Jody find the resolve to part with the one true companion he has come to cherish so deeply?

The Yearling is eye-opening for the average American child, who has no real concept of the kind hardship Jody experienced. It's a window into another lifestyle in which survival was the first priority, forcing love and emotions to take a back seat. It's also an educational look at what it was like to grow up in this part of Florida, isolated from most civilization and exposed to various dangers. And of course, the unique bond between a boy and his pet deer is a classic story sure to warm your heart. This is a long read, and feels slow in spots, but it's worth the time if you're willing to plow through.

Recommended read-aloud age: 10 and up
Recommended read-alone age: 14 and up

To read more of my book reviews, visit www.larsenreviews.org.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Oct 28, 2011 04GoldaD rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings for Honors English. It is 400 pages and it's set in Florida in 1938. It is told in third person limited, past tense. I thought it was way too long and sometimes boring, so I rated it 2 stars.
The main characters are Jody, a young boy who loves to hunt. His father, Penny Baxter and his mother, Ma Baxter. Fodder-wing is Jody's best friend and Flag is Jody's beloved pet fawn.
Jody lives in the woods a few miles from other houses or buildings. They live...more I read The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings for Honors English. It is 400 pages and it's set in Florida in 1938. It is told in third person limited, past tense. I thought it was way too long and sometimes boring, so I rated it 2 stars.
The main characters are Jody, a young boy who loves to hunt. His father, Penny Baxter and his mother, Ma Baxter. Fodder-wing is Jody's best friend and Flag is Jody's beloved pet fawn.
Jody lives in the woods a few miles from other houses or buildings. They live closest to the Forresters, who are a lively and riled family. Jody's best friend is Fodder-wing Forrester, and he loves showing Jody his new pets and what he has named them. Penny is hard working and strong, but has a rather small frame, like Jody. They work hard to plant and fetch water and Ma Baxter works hard cooking and sewing. One day while hunting Jody and Penny shoot a deer and come across the deer's baby fawn. Jody begs to keep it as a pet. Fodder-wing suddenly dies, but not before naming the little fawn Flag. Jody loves Flag and takes care of him, but Flag starts to eat the crops and damage other things. After his Ma tries to shoot him and misses, Jody is forced to shoot him himself to put Flag out of his misery. His Pa becomes sick and Jody does a lot of the hard work. Jody becomes a man and his father lives.
I liked how detailed it was in some parts. "Somewhere beyond the sink-hole, past the magnolia, under the live oaks, a boy and a yearling ran side by side and were gone forever." I also liked this line, "Wild honey bees hummed in the small lacelike flowers of the St. Augustine grapes."
I didn't like the more gruesome parts when they were hunting. Like "Flag quivered a moment, then lay still." Or "Laid here open, end to end, and only ate a mouthful."
One theme of this story is Humans can create strong bonds with animals. The intended audience is teenagers and older. The main issue in the book is Jody keeping Flag safe and making sure there's enough to eat. This book is different than any others because it uses heavy slang and very old-fashioned. Although I liked parts of this book, I would NOT recommend it. There are so many other better books out there! (less)

like · see review

Oct 27, 2011 08IsaacF rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-reports

I read this book recently and had mixed feelings that changed all through the book. I laughed, I wondered, and I had a great time with this book. I would definitely recommend it.

This book is written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and has 428 pages. It is a 1st person story. The main character of this book is a boy by the name of Jody Baxter, living in the backwoods of Florida sometime during the late 1800's. In this book, you see everything through the eyes of Jody. He could be compared to Huckleb...more I read this book recently and had mixed feelings that changed all through the book. I laughed, I wondered, and I had a great time with this book. I would definitely recommend it.

This book is written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and has 428 pages. It is a 1st person story. The main character of this book is a boy by the name of Jody Baxter, living in the backwoods of Florida sometime during the late 1800's. In this book, you see everything through the eyes of Jody. He could be compared to Huckleberry Fin. He's young, clever, and is learning the ropes of life. The intended audience of this book would be anyone able to take the time to read it and is able to understand it. I would say it would be for young adult or adult.

Jody is lives with his parents on a farm passed down through his family and their only neighbors, the Forresters. Jody and his dad, Penny Baxter, are very close throughout this book. Penny is everything to Jody. He's his teacher, his provider, and his best friend. Penny teaches Jody how to get by in life by hunting, farming, trading, and other things.

The Baxter's neighbors, the Forresters, interact with them a lot in this book. They fight each other, they hunt together, and they solve the problems that come along in their area together. Jody's best friend, Fodder-wing, is a part of the Forrester family.

As Jody is working his way through his life as a boy, he encounters many problems. His friends and him face bears, wolves, rattlesnakes, and a close friend dying. To deal with this Jody finds a surprising new best friend. After a doe dies by his father's hand, he discovers that it was the mother of a fawn. Jody becomes a close companion with this deer which he names Flag. Flag and Jody go through so much of the story together, the whole time Flag is becoming a yearling. Flag tends to be rather mischievous and causes problems that make a big impact in the Baxter's lives. In the end Jody must choose either his family or the yearling.

What I liked most about this book is how the author describes each feeling and emotion that Jody has and the setting that he is in. He has very boyish thoughts. On page 3: "It seemed a strange thing to him, when earth was earth and rain was rain, that scrawny pines should grow in the scrub, while by every branch and lake and river there grew magnolias." On page 22: "Jody opened his eyes unwillingly. Sometime, he thought, he would slip away into the woods and sleep from Friday until Monday." What I had a hard time with at first, though, was their grammar and speech. It's very southern and you have to think about it to figure out what they are saying. On page 239: "He asked,"Kin Flag foller along, too?" On page 240: "If you figger on frolickin', you kin stay home, too." After a while of reading this book I got used to it and could understand it.

The main theme to this book I think is that it doesn't matter how life goes, you can always move forward with it. Jody and his dad show this by always trying their hardest and, in the end, they are able to resolve their problems.
(less)

like · see review

Oct 21, 2011 Rob Warner rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Civil War-era coming of age novel that's a spiritual cousin to Where the Red Fern Grows, but with a broader story and a deeper dive into life's challenges. Reading this book reminds you how deeply people understood the consequences of choice, as sloth translated brutally into starvation. Indeed, the need to work for one's supper every day, planning for both the moment and the future, contrasts starkly with our present-day welfare state that, for some, rewards indolence.

One other thing that jum...more

like 2 likes · see review

Feb 19, 2011 Shelley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jody Baxter lives in the Florida wilderness with his family and the animals. Magnolias grow wild in the tangle of moss. Palmetto bushes and pine trees and wildlife at every turn. Rain falls at the drop of a hat, winters can be cold, and the living conditions are not the most favorable for people who are not well off. Jody and his parents, Ora and Penny live in a hard time and are poor. Jody is a typical boy- running the woods with his friend, playing, having fun, but also learning how to work an...more Jody Baxter lives in the Florida wilderness with his family and the animals. Magnolias grow wild in the tangle of moss. Palmetto bushes and pine trees and wildlife at every turn. Rain falls at the drop of a hat, winters can be cold, and the living conditions are not the most favorable for people who are not well off. Jody and his parents, Ora and Penny live in a hard time and are poor. Jody is a typical boy- running the woods with his friend, playing, having fun, but also learning how to work and survive. Jody's parents lost their previous children as babies so he is very special to them. One day while Jody and his mother Penny are out trying to find some of their pigs that went missing, Penny is bitten by a poisonous snake. She kills a deer to get its liver. She uses the liver to draw the poison out but did not realize when she killed the doe that there was a fawn left behind. Jody has always wanted a pet and convinces his parents to let him adopt the fawn which he names Flag because his tail reminds Jody of a flag. Flag and Jody become best friends. Jody can tell Flag all his deepest fears and secrets and they are inseparable.

This is a classic coming of age story. Jody starts out running kind of wild and trying to find his place in the world he lives in. He has to deal with being poor, hunger, fearing where his family will end up, and even death when his friend dies from illness. Through it all, Flag is there beside him. As the story continues, Jody must face a harsh reality. Flag is growing. Flag is a deer. Flag has a natural attraction to the corn and other crops that Jody's parents grow to survive. Jody is unable to keep Flag out of the garden and Penny shoots the deer in the leg. Jody ends up having to finish the job and shoots Flag in the neck, killing him. This is entirely too much for Jody so he runs away. He comes face to face with himself and is forced to leave his childhood behind. He finally returns home to his thankful parents who don't question him. They just take him back and love him.

For me, the most poignant part of the book is one of the last two paragraphs of the book.
" He found himself listening for something. It was the sound of the yearling for which he listened, running around the house or stirring on his moss pallet in the corner of the bedroom. He would never hear him again. He wondered if his mother had thrown dirt over Flag's carcass, or if the buzzards had cleaned it. Flag- He did not believe he should ever again love anything, man or woman or his on child, as he had love the yearling. He would be lonely all his life. But a man took it for his share and went on."

If I were to reccommend this book for a certain age I woudl say probably 6th grade and up. It is a long book and while it is SO well written, it is a very descriptive and detailed book. Smaller children may not have the patience to deal with the details. It is a wonderful story though and older children should enjoy it.

The Yearling (less)

like · see review

Aug 28, 2010 Agnes Mack rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: pulitzer

I'd never given much thought to The Yearling, but apparently Ithought it was some kind of young adult novel. I remember first noticing it on my list of Pulitzer winners and being a bit surprised. However, not only did it win the Pulitzer - it deserved it.

The general story is that of a boy named Jody living in the Florida backwoods. He works the land with his father and goes on adventuresome hunting trips, but has no people his own age to spend time with. After years of begging for a pet, his mot...more

like · see review

Jul 24, 2010 Willow rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jody faces the harsh realities of life and grows from a boy into a man in this Pulitzer prize-winning book for middle school, teen, and adult readers. Jody and his folks live a hard life on a Florida farm in the late 1800’s. He gets very little schooling, but instead is expected to help out with the chores: hoeing, hauling in wood for the fire, and tending the cow, the pig, and the chickens. Everyone in the family must pitch in to make sure there’s food on the table every day.

When Jody desperate...more Jody faces the harsh realities of life and grows from a boy into a man in this Pulitzer prize-winning book for middle school, teen, and adult readers. Jody and his folks live a hard life on a Florida farm in the late 1800’s. He gets very little schooling, but instead is expected to help out with the chores: hoeing, hauling in wood for the fire, and tending the cow, the pig, and the chickens. Everyone in the family must pitch in to make sure there’s food on the table every day.

When Jody desperately wants to take in an orphaned fawn as a pet, his father agrees, even though the fawn will need to drink some of their precious milk. Jody rescues the fawn and loves it as he’s never loved anything.

As time goes on, the boy has to take on a greater share of the work. Even though he’s busy, Jody delights in watching the fawn grow, and the two of them play together as the best of friends. However, the family’s troubles mount when Jody’s father is seriously injured. Then Jody faces, not just hard work, but the most difficult decision of his life.

The author’s knowledge of farming, hunting, and the habits of animals is amazingly detailed. You’d think she herself lived that hardscrabble life of half a century earlier (The Yearling was published in 1938).

Rawlings has woven together a powerful story and a rich and detailed world into a profound vision of the joy and pain of life. She’s an amazing writer: the final sentence, which captures the theme of the novel, is a poetic image that pierced my heart.

Reading level: Ages ten and up. Unfortunately, the racially offensive “n” word is used in descriptive phrases, though not directed at people. The violence of hunting and fighting is handled tastefully. This middle school book was written in a time when the pace of storytelling was slower than today’s novels. This and the detailed descriptions could be off-putting to some young readers, but lovers of literature, whatever their age, will revel in her prose and be moved by the compelling story.

From my blog: http://middleschoolbookreviews.wordpr...(less)

like · see review

Sep 12, 2009 Shanna Gonzalez rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-12

The Yearling is a masterfully written, Pulitzer prize-winning novel about a backwoods family in post-Civil War Florida. Jody, the child of Penny and Ory, adopts an orphaned fawn, naming it Flag. Flag provides the central theme of the story, as Jody's friendship with the animal comes to represent his childhood innocence. At the end of the story, when Flag is destroyed, Jody painfully comes of age and assumes responsibility for his family.

The family's struggle to survive and thrive in a hostile en...more The Yearling is a masterfully written, Pulitzer prize-winning novel about a backwoods family in post-Civil War Florida. Jody, the child of Penny and Ory, adopts an orphaned fawn, naming it Flag. Flag provides the central theme of the story, as Jody's friendship with the animal comes to represent his childhood innocence. At the end of the story, when Flag is destroyed, Jody painfully comes of age and assumes responsibility for his family.

The family's struggle to survive and thrive in a hostile environment is masterfully told, and the reader experiences the pain of their many setbacks, rejoicing with their victories, and eagerly anticipating the events of the unfolding story. It well deserves the awards it earned.

Unfortunately, the novel reflects an unbiblical view of childhood that consists of innocent play and the pursuit of natural impulses, and this makes the story fit only for mature readers. Implicit in this view is the sentiment that adult responsibility is an unpleasant necessity to be resisted as long as possible, rather than a good to be pursued. This perspective is expressed in the behavior of Jody's father Penny who, while expressing tenderness and warmth toward him, fails to discipline him for repeated disobedience. Instead he indulges his immature impulses toward laziness and selfishness, and shields him from the punishment his mother is inclined to administer. He reasons that there is plenty of time to learn responsibility, and that Jody ought to have the opportunity to enjoy his childhood.

The tenderness of the father toward his son is moving, but his overindulgence endangers the entire family and brings to mind Proverbs 13:34: "Whoever spares the rod hates his son,but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." Rather than protecting his son from the real consequences of laziness and self-centeredness and training him to work hard and care for others, he waits until Jody's cumulative foolish choices threaten not only Jody's life but the entire family's. This poor parenting hinges on the explicit assumption that when the child becomes a man his sense of joy and wonder will have to be put aside: "'Leave him kick up his heels,' Penny thought, 'and run away [from his work:]. Leave him build his flutter-mills. The day'll come, he'll not even care to." (21). Near the end of the story, the boy does in fact make a flutter-mill toy and places it in the water, but on looking at it discovers that he can no longer take pleasure in it.

Jody's mother, in contrast, relates to him coldly and often with anger, and while she does oppose his childish impulses it is not clear that she is acting for his good. In the climax of the story, the half-domesticated yearling deer begins to destroy the family's primary food source. Penny tells Jody to kill it, and when he refuses, he distracts his son so that his wife can do it. She shoots it, but does not succeed in killing it and Jody is forced to finish the task. This experience is very painful and comes as a tremendous shock after a lifetime of indulgence.

Contrast this scene with the coming-of-age scene in Old Yeller, in which Travis's mother offers to destroy the rabies-infected dog who has saved their lives. Instead of resisting this painful task, the young man courageously does his duty, and is subsequently commended and comforted by his father upon his homecoming. Jody refuses to do what is necessary until forced, and then he responds to his parents' appropriate action with passionate anger and runs away from home, returning only when driven by hunger. At this point, he accepts the necessity of his parents' action and is forgiven by his father for his rebellion.

It is the circumstances of their hardscrabble life which finally force reality upon the child, rather than the loving discipline of his father. Rather than preparing his son to live in their difficult environment, he actually shields the boy from the consequences of his decisions, leaving him unprepared to deal with the necessity of destroying his deer when it happens.

The scriptural standard for coming of age may be drawn from 1 Corinthians 13:11: "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways". This passage speaks about growing up as gaining a fuller life by leaving foolishness behind. Maturity and responsibility are worth striving for, and they bring joy rather than extinguishing it. The worldview reflected in The Yearling contradicts this principle. For discerning older readers it ought to be useful as a discussion of worldview, but parents ought to be aware that the best-told stories are the most convincing, and if introduced too early it may appeal to all the wrong instincts.(less)

like · see review

Jul 17, 2009 Kathleen L. rated it 5 of 5 stars

By today's standards, this slow-paced and ponderous work seems ill-fitting to Y/A, and yet too ordinary or naive for adult readerships. But to me in fifth grade, perhaps because of my thirst for another time and place from my poverty and fear, and of course my love of animals, this was the perfect fit, if a bit haunting.
I'll never forget Jodie's bittersweet affection for Flag. Knowing to keep his family alive from starvation meant to kill his beloved pet, he chooses what a man would do, though...more

like 2 likes · see review

Jun 22, 2009 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was a delight for me to read. The descriptions of the Florida swamps and the storms reminded me so much of Texas. I loved the vernacular of the characters. There are still people in Texas who talk just like them, act just like them, and live just like them. It is a coming of age tale about a young boy named Jody. It was as true to life as coming of age gets. I don't think growing up always happens slowly over time, but in an instant. Death, illness, and hardship often cause people to h...more

like 2 likes · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Shelter Somerset rated it 5 of 5 stars

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's 1939 Pulitzer Prize winner accomplished what no other book has before or since—reduced me to uncontrollable sobs. The heartbreaking story revolves around ten year old Jody Baxter, the sole surviving child of turn of the century Florida homesteaders. Several grave markings indicate that none of the couple's previous children made it past infancy. As a result, Jody’s father dotes on him while Mrs. Baxter holds an austere distance. The mother's obesity forces skinny Dad t...more

like · see review

Dec 15, 2011 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, literature, books-read-in-2011, teen-reads, pulitzers

I grew up in a farm community and while I didn't live on a farm, most of those that I grew up with raised livestock that was then slaughtered for food. I've always wondered how they stood it.

In this book Jody loves hunting, loves the various foods that his family gleens from the Florida backwoods but hates the actual killing. When he adopts a fawn it's clear and inevitable what's coming but Jody, with the innocence of a child lives in the now and can't forsee the outcome. This story won a Pulit...more

like 1 like · see review

Jun 11, 2011 Gaye rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Gaye by: Classic Chick Book Group

What language. It was dense and thick and like poetry. The story, The Yearling, is of a young boy named Jody and his life in the hardscrabble backwoods of northern Florida in the late 1800's. Jody and his parents live a solitary life and one where frivolous things don't belong. Yet all Jody wants is something that belongs just to him; a pet. When his father is struck by a rattlesnake in the deep woods, a doe is shot and killed for her healing organs, leaving behind a tiny fawn. This fawn now bec...more What language. It was dense and thick and like poetry. The story, The Yearling, is of a young boy named Jody and his life in the hardscrabble backwoods of northern Florida in the late 1800's. Jody and his parents live a solitary life and one where frivolous things don't belong. Yet all Jody wants is something that belongs just to him; a pet. When his father is struck by a rattlesnake in the deep woods, a doe is shot and killed for her healing organs, leaving behind a tiny fawn. This fawn now becomes Jody's pet.

Oh I loved this story. It was the recipient of the 1939 Pulitzer Prize and was written for children or young adults. I would be hard pressed to put this into the hands of a child today, though middle school patient kids who love long and carefully crafted deep stories might be candidates. The pacing is slower than most of today's novels and the author infuses so many details about hunting and farming that one would think she lived the same lifestyle herself (she did not!)The dialect was also thick and I found myself having to read some phrases over and over to 'figger' them out in my mind!! I loved the phrase, "don't go gittin' faintified on me!" The descriptions of the woods were full of words like loblolly pine, saw grass, red bay, sweet gum, and palmetto. I still don't know what a ti-ti or a blackjack pine looks like but they sure are fun to say. I looked up words like milch, sorties, feist, crony, brogans, boles, and cooter and they meant nothing like what they mean now! I remember - I was supposed to be speaking "southern"!

Lots of homeschool kids read this book and there are lots of study guides on the internet, yet I also saw reviews by many teenagers who just didn't like this book because they were forced to read it. Once again it supports my thoughts (what I tried to tell so many parents at Barnes and Noble) just because your child CAN read at that level doesn't mean that they SHOULD. Having some life experience behind us gives us a frame of reference, more meaning. This book requires some patience to uncover the gem that it is.

This book had me reading and enjoying it for a day or too after book group and I keep looking for a chance to say, "He's sure got a low eye for a high fence."(less)

like 1 like · see review

Jul 14, 2012 Hendry Kurniawan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bangsa Amerika dikenal sangat bangga dengan leluhur mereka (setidaknya begitulah kesan yang saya dapat setelah menonton beberapa film dokumenter sejarah). Ya, jika Anda bertanya pada mereka tentang hal ini, sedikit banyak Anda akan memperoleh jawaban bahwa leluhur mereka yang berasal dari Eropa telah membentuk karakter masayarakat modern Amerika sekarang yang bersifat kerja keras, pantang menyerah, pemberani, berbeda, rajin, dan sedikit pemberontak. Bagi saya pribadi, bangsa Amerika memang patut...more Bangsa Amerika dikenal sangat bangga dengan leluhur mereka (setidaknya begitulah kesan yang saya dapat setelah menonton beberapa film dokumenter sejarah). Ya, jika Anda bertanya pada mereka tentang hal ini, sedikit banyak Anda akan memperoleh jawaban bahwa leluhur mereka yang berasal dari Eropa telah membentuk karakter masayarakat modern Amerika sekarang yang bersifat kerja keras, pantang menyerah, pemberani, berbeda, rajin, dan sedikit pemberontak. Bagi saya pribadi, bangsa Amerika memang patut berbangga dengan karakter dan latar belakang sejarah mereka. Bayangkan, setelah sekian lama merasa terbuang di negeri-negeri feodal Eropa, segelintir orang berani mengarungi luasnya samudera dan datang ke daratan antah berantah yang sama sekali asing bagi masyarakat Eropa yang beradab. Tanah Amerika yang masih penuh dengan belantara, hewan liar, dan sekelompok penduduk pribumi Indian tidak lantas membuat mereka gentar untuk membangun sebuah peradaban dari awal, dari titik nol. Hasilnya tidak sia-sia, lihatlah negara adidaya yang sudah sangat kita kenal sekarang, Amerika Serikat (meski belakangan, negara ini terseok-seok menghadapi badai krisis ekonomi). Kehidupan penduduk awal dan pra-adidaya Amerika telah sering diangkat menjadi tema musik, drama, film, termasuk novel. Salah satu novel yang menggugah pengetahuan akan kehidupan tersebut adalah The Yearling.

The Yearling merupakan salah satu karya paling terkenal dari Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings yang terbit pada tahun 1938 dan dianugerahi Pulitzer Prize 1939. Rawlings memang dikenal sebagai penulis yang banyak mengangkat tema kehidupan desa dalam kerya-karyanya. Jujur saja, sebelum saya memulai membaca isi novel The Yearling dan melihat sinopsis di belakang bukunya, saya langsung menebak bahwa Rawlings pastilah penduduk asli (native) pedesaan Amerika, tetapi saya salah besar. Rawlings sendiri merupakan wanita yang lahir dan dibesarkan di kota. Hanya melalui pengalaman dan pendekatannya dengan penduduk desa selama tinggal di kebun jeruk keluarganya, ia dapat menggambarkan kebiasaan masyarakat desa Amerika dengan luar biasa detail, untuk ukuran orang kota, dan terlebih lagi untuk ukuran seorang wanita.

The Yearling bercerita tentang seorang bocah laki-laki (dalam bayangan saya tidak lebih dari 13 tahun) bernama Jody yang merupakan anak satu-satunya dan sangat disayangi oleh sepasang petani berpendidikan rendah bernama Ezra Forrester dan Ory (biasa dipanggil Pa dan Ma Forrester). Keluarga ini tinggal di daerah pedesaan Florida pada akhir tahun 1800-an. Sebelumnya, keluarga Forrester tinggal di kota, namun Ezra memutuskan untuk pindah dari kota dan memilih untuk membeli tanah luas tetapi gersang (tidak terlalu subur) demi mencari ketenangan hidup. Maka mulailah mereka hidup di lahan luas mereka itu dan mencukupi kebutuhan hidup dengan bertani dan beternak. Mereka bekerja keras setiap hari mengurus pertanian dan peternakan, hidup sangat sederhana, menghemat segala sesuatu, dan berprinsip untuk tidak membuang apapun selama masih bisa dimanfaatkan. Hewan liar dan cuaca tidak ramah ibarat bagian tak terpisahkan dalam hidup mereka.

Ada satu rahasia kunci keluarga Forrester. Sebenarnya, Jody bukanlah anak pertama dari pasangan ini, sebab jauh sebelum Jody lahir, Ezra dan Ory sering mengalami kenyataan pahit anak mereka meninggal sebelum tumbuh besar. Pengalaman ini ternyata berpengaruh pada cara Ezra dan Ory membesarkan Jody. Salah satu hal yang paling menarik di sini adalahdi sepanjang cerita, pembaca akan diperlihatkan bagaimana cara Ezra dan Ory menyayangi anak semata wayangnya dengan cara yang sangat berbeda. Terkadang, pembaca mungkin akan tertawa dengan lucunya perlakuan Ezra atau Ory terhadap Jody, tapi di lain kesempatan pembaca mungkin akan merasa marah, kesal, atau bahkan menangis.

Sebagai anak tunggal yang tinggal di pedesaan, Jody merasa sangat kesepian. Tidak ada saudara kandung, ibunya tidak memperbolehkannya memelihara binatang, dan hanya memiliki satu teman sebaya yang cacat, sungguh mengenaskan, dan akhirnya meninggal dunia. Dalam kondisi ini, satu-satunya teman (selain teman cacatnya itu) yang paling dekat dengannya adalah ayahnya sendiri, Ezra. Jody selalu ingin mengikuti ke mana saja ayahnya pergi dan apa saja yang ayahnya lakukan, singkatnya Ezra menjadi sosok panutan bagi Jody. Mereka kerap melalui hari bersama, bahu-membahu menyelesaikan pekerjaan bertani, maupun berburu. Kesepian Jody berakhir ketika ia akhirnya memiliki hewan peliharaan berupa anak rusa jantan yang ia beri nama Flag. Jody dan Flag sama-sama tumbuh menjadi sepasang sahabat yang tak terpisahkan hingga suatu saat Jody dihadapkan pada sebuah peristiwa (yang melibatkan Flag) yang membuatnya untuk hidup dan bersikap dewasa.

Rawlings bagi saya adalah salah satu penulis yang memiliki kemampuan menyajikan pengideraan yang sangat lengkap dan detail dalam tulisannya. Pembaca seakan terbawa secara geografis maupun emosi ke dalam lokasi (setting) dan diri tokoh dalam cerita. Rawlings dapat dengan sempurna mendeskripsikan pemandangan alam, penampilan orang, cara kerja suatu benda, perilaku bianatang, dan lain-lainnya seakan kita melihatnya sendiri. Begitu juga dengan aroma makanan, kotoran hewan, harumnya bunga yang mengundang indera penciuman pembaca, rasa makanan yang mungkin akan membuat pembaca menyecap lidah, bunyi-bunyian yang sangat terasa dekat dengan telinga, serta lembutnya mantel sutera seperti benar-benar disentuh oleh pembaca. Jadi, ketika membaca novel ini kelima indera pembaca saya jamin akan sibuk menyerap informasi dan gambaran yang dipaparkan Rawlings.

Satu hal lagi yang saya salutkan dari Rawlings adalah sudut pandangnya ternyata luas sekali. Ia menceritakan kehidupan bocah desa laki-laki (saya ulangi laki-laki, bukan perempuan seperti jenis kelamin yang dimilikinya) dan hubungannya dengan kedua orangtua dan orang-orang di sekitarnya. Pasti tidak mudah membuat atau bahkan sekadar membayangkan kebiasaan lawan jenis kita secara menyeluruh dan detail bukan? Tetapi yang menakjubkan, Rawling berhasil melakukan hal tersebut.

Membaca The Yearling bagi saya merupakan pengalam yang tak bisa dilupakan. Ketika sampai pada kalimat terakhir novel ini dan menutupnya, saya merasa seperti baru saja diajak keliling dalam sebuah tur, ya tur kehidupan seorang bocah yang pada akhirnya memetik banyak pelajaran dari kehidupan desanya. Ada yang punya komentar?(less)

like 1 like · see review

May 15, 2011 Marchel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, based-on-fact, dewasa, fiksi, terjemahan

hiyaaah, bahasanya bikin pala cenut-cenut. Nda biasa mungkin...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baca buku ini buat gw menyesal. Menyesal, kenapa nda dari dulu baca buku sebagus ini ..

Pemenang Pulitzer Prize for Novel tahun 1939. Apa itu Pulitzer Prize?

Dari Wikipedia:
The Pulitzer Prize (play /ˈpʊlɪtsər/) is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pu...more

like · see review

Jun 04, 2011 Cee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Looking at the book cover, I thought I was going to read about a child and his pet deer. Well, there is a child and there is a deer but their relationship is only secondary to that of the boy and his father. I think that this is foremost a story about a father and his son and the valuable life lessons that he gives his child through one memorable year. Taking care of a deer is just one of those life lessons.

The boy Jody lives with his parents in the Florida brush in a time when children were ex...more Looking at the book cover, I thought I was going to read about a child and his pet deer. Well, there is a child and there is a deer but their relationship is only secondary to that of the boy and his father. I think that this is foremost a story about a father and his son and the valuable life lessons that he gives his child through one memorable year. Taking care of a deer is just one of those life lessons.

The boy Jody lives with his parents in the Florida brush in a time when children were expected to hoe and weed the fields, fetch water and chuck wood as soon as they can walk and talk. But Penny Baxter, Jody's father, wants his son to enjoy his childhood as long as he can. He says, "Leave him kick up his heels and run away. Leave him build his flutter-mills. The day'll come, he'll not even care to."

And so, Jody has a magical year. It is a year that includes a bear hunt, a rattlesnake bite, a flood, and yes, a pet deer. A lot of times Penny's leniency with Jody frustrates Ma Baxter, a stern yet responsible woman who takes care of her men while living in the rough. After this singular year they are all changed and Jody has shed childhood without being forced to.

I love the wisdom of Penny Baxter, Jody's father. In fact, I love everything about him. In short, he is an ideal dad. Perhaps it is even too good to be true but it works out in this book. I love the thought of a beautiful father and son relationship and where the son learns what is right and wrong from his own dad.

There are a lot of descriptives in this book, scenery and food among others, that plant me firmly in the time period. I don't mind reading what flowers are blooming or what animals are doing at the spring. I love the imagery. There is an abundance food mentioned in the book, the made from scratch type of food that left me hungry and wanting to cook.

This kind of book is generally categorized as YA or children's literature. Nevertheless, adults can enjoy reading it while remembering their own coming of age stories and reflecting on the nuggets of wisdom written throughout the story. A Pulitzer prize winner, The Yearling is most deserving of this accolade.
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Nov 17, 2012 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I read The Yearling, it was the first time in my life I intentionally picked up a long book (500+ pages) and decided to read it. And when I started it, I couldn't put it down. Jody made the story come alive for me. I could definitely identify with his character. I don't know how old I was, but I do remember it being the first time I actually cried about a book. I read the story and weeped...I sobbed. I felt so terrible, and yet, having a book make me feel that way was such a wonderful thing...more

like · see review

Aug 10, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I avoided this one for years because I always thought it would be just like reading another painful version of Old Yeller. It may be a good story, but I’m a softy when it comes to animals and I didn’t want it to break my heart.

I’m so glad I finally picked it up. It’s not that it doesn’t have its sad parts, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the ultimate coming-of-age story. Jody, sweet young boy, grows up with his mother and father on isolated farm in Florida shortly after the Civil War. The...more I avoided this one for years because I always thought it would be just like reading another painful version of Old Yeller. It may be a good story, but I’m a softy when it comes to animals and I didn’t want it to break my heart.

I’m so glad I finally picked it up. It’s not that it doesn’t have its sad parts, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the ultimate coming-of-age story. Jody, sweet young boy, grows up with his mother and father on isolated farm in Florida shortly after the Civil War. They struggle to survive harsh weather, the attacks of an old bear named Slewfoot and their wild neighbors who are both helpful and a bit dangerous.

Jody’s father, Penny Baxter, is the essence of a good man. He is kind and loving, but he also works hard to care for his family. Ma (Ory) is a cold woman and at first this is jarring. She seems so bitter and harsh and it’s hard to reconcile that with Penny’s tender nature. But you quickly realize that Ory has been through innumerable hardship and we learn that she has lost many children. We don’t know exactly how many or how they died, but we know Jody is the only child that survived. She’s given up on her dreams and realized that her life will never be made easier. This is her lot in life and she had to become hard to survive. It’s not easy to love a character like that, but I can understand how she has become that way.

It’s interesting that the yearling doesn’t actually show up until almost halfway through the book. This gives the reader a chance to connect with all of the other characters, which is crucial for the story to work.

The Yearling is really Jody’s story. He is such an innocent child at the beginning, but they live in a ruthless world and there’s very little room for playfulness in the adult life of a pioneer. People were completely dependant on the land. If there was a drastic change in the weather there was nothing they could do. Their food source came from what they could farm or shoot. We take so much for granted now. The sheer fact that we can go to a grocery store any time or pick up dinner at a restaurant makes it hard to even comprehend that kind of lifestyle. It’s a powerful story and an interesting glimpse into the life of a pioneer.

“Death was a silence that gave back no answer.”(less)

like · see review

Jul 13, 2011 Judy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: female-author, pulitzer-winner, saw-the-movie-too

This is required reading for kids growing up in Florida, as I did. I loved this story of the young boy in old Florida and his pet deer. It is not a cute book about a pet deer for little kids; it is a deep and realistic story about family life for poor farmers in Florida in the late 1800's (post-Civil War). The story is set up near what eventually became Volusia and Alachua counties, which is where I went to college, so I know the environment well. It's beautiful country -- Florida pines and sand...more

like · see review

title link	preview: The Yearling
avg rating	preview: The Yearling Goodreads rating: 3.91 (10360 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/159582.The_Yearling?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348480795l/159582.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/159582.The_Yearling?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings[/url]

The Yearling

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (54)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Books by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Yearling

Quotes from The Yearling