MY Contract With Henry

by Robin Vaupel

A mission that begins as an eighth-grade project on Henry David Thoreau's experimental living at Walden Pond becomes a life-changing experience for a group of outsider students who become budding philosophers, environmental activists, and loyal friends.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Vaupel brilliantly wrote a story about some 9th graders taking "Walden" to heart and creating a cabin in some nearby woods. This exploration in what Thoreau got out of living simply and calmly in the wilderness brought out the best in these students. It helped them get to know themselves, grow their natural talents and gave them deep friendships. I started this book right before going camping in Big Basin State park. Reading this story while laying in my tent under the redwoods felt so wonderful. In addition I had just attended " An Afternoon with Henry David Thoreau” at the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton's Historical Speakers series. It was acted out by Historian and Chautauqua actor Kevin Radaker. I was drawn to come listen to what Henry David Thoreau had to say in 1860.....I was enthralled by the talk of Walden and fell asleep when he went into his political views in "Civil Disobedience"--much like the main character in the story. It was lovely to be a 9th grader exploring the virtues of the mindset of "Walden's Pond" in the universe of this story.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, if somewhat unbelievable, story of students transformed by their study of Henry David Thoreau. I loved watching them learn to appreciate each other and the woods near their home. I found Stuart’s “take over” of the school unbelievable at best.

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging story about students transformed by an English assignment on Henry David Thoreau. I know a big reason I enjoyed this so much is because I have a thing for the woods. Even so, I don't usually feel a connection with books that have environmental themes. But this was an exception I'm really glad I discovered. It was refreshingly different from any junior fiction about similar topics I'd read before (which admittedly is not a lot). The selections of Thoreau's writing and the main characters' life-changing experiences in the woods, following in his footsteps, was inspiring and made me long for something as precious as a simple place removed from modern distractions. My favorite parts were the beautiful descriptions of the old growth forest where they built the little house for their project, and Rachel's talent for cooking using ingredients from nature.

[Neill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

When their teacher assigns Thoreau's Walden for a class study a group of students on the fringes of high school society try to recreate Thoreau's experiment in living in the woods. Their involvement and increasing obsession with this lifestyle pits them against the management company that wants to turn their woods into a development.

[Brenda Thompson]

A school assignment to live like Henry David Thoreau brings some students together that normally are on the outside of the "in" crowd at school. They become the center of attention when they present their project.

[Edwin Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is so interstinge by how the kid is telling the story and the more i read it the more things i find out about that kids life so thank you for reading this :)