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Jul 06, 2011

Rrshively rated it:

This is my favorite by Gene Stratton Porter that I've read so far. I like it even better than Girl of the Limberlost. Sometimes it's good to turn back the clock to the turn of the 20th Century and the type of writing common at that time. Of course it can be very sentimental, but can render such a good story! Most of the characters would be good role models. Freckles is such a brave loyal soul! As a side story, one can understand how the beautiful natural habitats were destroyed for the lum More...

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Jul 04, 2011

Ricky rated it:

My wife's 4th grade teacher awarded this book to my wife for her perfect attendance, with a note that the author lived around Fort Wayne. For whatever reason, the book sat on our shelf for all these years, unread. Because we recently visited Gene Stratton Porter's home, I decided to read the book.

What a straight-forward, sweet story, set within a simpler time around the late nineteenth century or the early twentieh century. It is a story about a young man, Freckles, orphaned as a More...

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Jun 13, 2009

Hilarie rated it:

This is truly a forgotten classic. I first read it many years ago, and recently had the desire to pick it up again. I found that it was not as readily available as many other classics, which is certainly a shame as it is a wonderful book.

The story concerns a young orphan, named Freckles, who has personally experienced many of the worst aspects of humanity in his short life. Sadly, these experiences have left Freckles with only one hand, no material possessions, little education, a More...

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Apr 21, 2010

Joseph rated it:

I really enjoyed reading Freckles. It starts out with a young man who calls himself Freckles because he doesn't know his real name as he grew up in a "Home for the Unfortunates" and it was never revealed to him. He is looking for a job and befriends a lumber mine Boss named Mr. McLean who gives him the occupation of guarding the valuable trees from limber thieves in the Limberlost. He has to basically walk back and forth seven miles every so often to check.

With no one aroun More...

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Apr 12, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

We read this for book club in July; I liked a lot of the moral lessons it had in it. Just simple truths, like the fact that there's more to a person that looks and that we often discount our own talents and compare our worst traits with other people's best traits. It also just shows the value of honesty, loyalty, and love.

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Mar 15, 2009

Tracy rated it:

This is an older book, one that a teacher read aloud to the class in elementary school. I've had a bit of nostalgia in the last few years for books that I read many years before. And this book isn't exactly the one I remember reading from Gene Stratton-Porter, although I know I read it as well as listened to it in class.

This is a rather old-fashioned book, set in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century. It follows the life of an orphaned teen struggling to find work and a sens More...

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Jul 18, 2008

Rachel rated it:

I read a lot with my pre-teen boys and we just finished this one. It is a short, likeable tale of an orphan boy, and sweetly describes his first feelings of love for a girl known only as "Angel." We liked it very much and recommend it to all.

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Aug 10, 2009

Shirley rated it:

I really enjoy the tales of Gene Stratton Porter. I enjoyed A Girl of the Limberlost more than Freckles and would recommend it to a first-time Porter reader.
The book is located in the classic section of our library. Location and the cover cause this to be a book that is rarely checked out by junior high students. It deserves to be placed in a more visible location and should be recommended by the librarian.
I love the descriptions of nature. Porter makes you feel like y More...

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Feb 08, 2010

Camille rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Mar 06, 2011

Carri rated it:

I am totally in love with this series. I love the fact that there is so much goodness in an individual. So much ambition, dedication and honesty. The passion to continue fighting against all odds draws me even nearer to Freckles. I read this book about Freckles, an orphan boy, after reading A Girl of the Limberlost. I sought it out because I love how Stratton-Porter was a woman before her time. She has a gift of writing things of the heart. I loved Freckles and found myself rooting for him throu More...

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Jan 14, 2011

Julai rated it:

Okay, so I haven't exactly "read" this book. Jason and I have been downloading recordings of public-domain books from librivox.org to listen to on road trips. This is Gene Stratton Porter's story of Freckles, a scrappy, one-armed orphan who makes his living patrolling the Limberlost, keeping it safe from timber thieves. It's a preamble to her more popular "Girl of the Limberlost," which we've also listened to (the story of a scrappy near-orphan who makes her living collecting More...

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Apr 09, 2009

Beth A. rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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May 31, 2011

Sharon rated it:

I remember reading my mother's old books as a child, among them one by Gene Stratton-Porter, so, when I got my Kindle and looked for free books to download, I got a number by the author. I enjoyed the old style of writing, the detailed descriptions, the glimpse into how life was. I was interested in the idea of such a likable main character being a racist. When I started on book two, Moths of the Limberlost and Girl of the Limberlost, it became obvious to me that racism was a thread through al More...

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Feb 17, 2011

Danae rated it:

This book is Old School. Like, seriously Old School. It is pretty much a Melodrama (complete with a List of Characters at the beginning), the characters being more like walking, talking Ideals than actual people you might run into. Our Hero is so Heroic that even the Villian can't help respecting him! I'm sure some people would find this book trite, but I actually really enjoyed it. Not that I think life, or any real people, were ever really like this, but it was so fun to imagine! The sto More...

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Sep 13, 2008

Kim rated it:

Just as good as Girl of the Limberlost. Again, they are simple, easy reads.

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Jul 11, 2011

Lindy rated it:

Spectacular! It is amazing how resilient the human spirit can be.

While Freckles is a fictional character he was so real. Stratton-Porter has a knack for bringing fiction to life. I learned a lot about myself as I cried and laughed through this book. Isn't it amazing that we can be so quick to pity ourselves and look down upon our selves when in reality we are glorious beings struggling to find our true selves. Once we find our heritage and our calling, I am sure we will all find the s More...

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Mar 28, 2009

Laura rated it:

This book was a trip back in time to America's Golden Age. It was written in 1903, and you get such a feeling of high morals, values, and courage. One of the words I'd use to describe this book is Innocent. It's an aura not usually found in books today!

Part of me thinks that if this book was written today, it would never get published. It feels very Victorian, and the action moves at a slower pace than we are used to in modern literature.

This book is wholesome and More...

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Apr 18, 2011

Suzanne rated it:

This story starts off with the misfortunes of Freckles and miraculously ends with a complete change in circumstances. Freckles is a homeless orphan with only one hand. He became maimed as an infant in an accident, and has grown up with the handicap. Over the years he has learned to compensate for his physical loss, but emotionally he suffers with an inferiority complex. He does have a very strong character and as the story unfolds gains the love and trust of his boss. His job is to guard Th More...

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Jan 16, 2011

Ruby rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Jun 19, 2010

Trudi rated it:

Gene Stratton-Porter has a talent for description that is breath taking. The way she describes the Limberlost is enchanting and just plain beautiful! Freckles, an orphan boy with only one hand, is a runaway who comes to McLean, who owns a lumber company, for work and is entrusted to guard the treasures of the Limberlost.
Freckles love for the Limberlost and all it contains is sweet, especially considering the life Freckles led and the pain and sorrow he deals with. Freckles would gladly g More...

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Jul 21, 2010

Cindy rated it:

Themes: belonging, nature, overcoming challenges, love, family
Setting: the Limberlost swamp in Indiana, 19th century

I loved this quiet little classic. Freckles was raised in an orphanage. He has only one hand, no friends, no family, and no prospects for a job. He doesn't even have a name, just Freckles. But he arrives at Mclean's lumber camp and is willing to do anything at all, if he is given a chance. Mclean feels sorry for the boy and decides to take him on, giving him the n More...

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Sep 13, 2007

Ascexis rated it:

Oh, Victorian morality stories about the nobility of suffering, and the redemptive power of hard work, how I love you.

Gene Stratton Porter (and not Jean as they have above, good grief) wrote a lot of books in this vein -- the healing power of the natural world and the nobility of suffering, and the purity and rewards from mixing the two. Rewards such as marriage, of course, or a good death, or other similarly unmodern offerings, but she's *is* product of a particular time and set More...

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Jan 30, 2010

Greymalkin rated it:

Didn't know there was more to the series, this is the story of Freckles, the benefactor of Elnora (from "Girl of the Limberlost"). It was also a little stiff but still delightful. The lovestory was sweet and the action kept things moving along. I think if I hadn't just finished "Girl of the Limberlost" the language would have bothered me more but I like to think that it was more assured than in GotL. The use of "Yis" instead of "Yes" to show Freckles' More...

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Mar 10, 2009

Jennifer rated it:

I love this story. It is sweet and old fashioned. It falls in the genre of "orphan boy is honest and hard-working and makes good". Safe for any age, boy or girl. Adventure, romance, a little history, what could be better. The author was an amateur naturalist and wildlife photographer, and that can be felt in her beautiful descriptions of the location where the story is set, and her knowledge of the plant and animal life common to the area.

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Oct 22, 2011

Diana rated it:

Her writing is very rose colored, but I enjoy it. Sometimes it is just nice to read about characters that overcome obstacles and stay true to their values and good conquers all. I love it :-). I read her biography as well which was very well written. I enjoyed reading about the life of Gene Stratton-Porter and how her own life corresponded so closely to the 'bird woman' in her books and the advocate she was for nature.

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Oct 05, 2009

Jane rated it:

Gene STratton-Porter is a wonderful writer. Her stories have lasted through the years. This along with Girl of the Limberlost is another story of the "heroe's journey" and Freckles wins the fight. I think the "swamp angel" is much a Christ figure, carrying many of her pure qualities. I also love the gratitude for God's creations. I wouldn't say it's such a "tree hugger" book, because it teaches that man needs the trees, but it teaches a great respect for the pu More...

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May 26, 2009

Christine rated it:

Freckles is the story of a young Irish boy who clings to his values through various hardships. He grows to love the outdoors and the wonders of nature. In the end, his values enable him to have the life he dreamed of but never thought he could have. I love the courage and faithfulness woven into this story- it makes me want to be better. I can't wait to read it again!

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Mar 04, 2010

Jennifer rated it:

Another story that wobbles on the edge of corniness by the author of "The Girl of the Limberlost." Again, the great Limberlost Swamp is the real star and virtue seems to line in whether the good guys or the villians manage to cut rare virgin timber first. If this novel helped raise environmental consciousness a century ago, it's a funny way of going about it.

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Aug 21, 2011

Shauna rated it:

I think I have a new favorite book! I really loved everything about this story. I had just read Girl of the Limberlost and was looking for more information on Gene Stratton-Porter. I saw that there was a book about Freckles, who is mentioned in Limberlost but only in a very roundabout way. If you're looking for an uplifting book full of great, decent people you should read this.

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Aug 06, 2010

Laurie rated it:

Read this myself as a child and loved it, and then read it to my daughter when she was a tween. She loved it and it created a way for us to spend time together. This book was the beginning of several years and many books being read aloud that created a wonderful bond between us. I will always have a fond place in my heart for this book.

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