The Winter Room

by Gary Paulsen

A young boy growing up on a northern Minnesota farm describes the scenes around him and recounts his old Norwegian uncle's tales of an almost mythological logging past

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Historical

103 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1989

About the author

Gary James Paulsen was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not have the chance to read any of Gary Paulsen's Young Adult books when I was a kid. I would've loved them! But they weren't yet written when I was a kid. I discovered Paulsen's classic "Hatchet," published in 1987, while I was a substitute teacher for elementary school students in the 90s. I saw that book was a popular one with the kids so I read it. It was a case of better late than never! Since reading "Hatchet," I've read several more of Paulsen's books and I recently picked up "The Winter Room," published in 1989, at a library book sale. Like other books by Paulsen, this is a beautifully-told story showing a love of and closeness to nature. In this one, we have a story about a farm family--father, mother, their two sons, and the boys' two uncles, set in northern Minnesota in the 40s. We follow their lives through the turn of the seasons. It's a good life but it demands hard work and requires the development of skills in order just to help the family survive. The "winter room" of the title refers to what townspeople would call their living room. It's where the family gathers on winter evenings before the stove and where one uncle tells his stories. Until one story changes everything for the brothers...
Like other books by Paulsen, it's for young adults but old adults can enjoy it as well, as I did.
Gary Paulsen was born on May 17, 1939, in Minneapolis, MN, and died on October 13, 2021, in Tularosa, NM. In the edition of this book that I read, there's an interview with the author. All I'll say about it is that he had a most interesting life. He wrote more than 200 books during his lifetime so there are many more of his books that I can look forward to reading!

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book a lot. The lesson I learned from the book was that just because you think someone is lying doesn't mean they are. I thought this was what I learned from the book and I thought the book was really good.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have an 11 year old neighbor who likes to recommend books for me to read. These are books that he has read and thinks I also would enjoy...so if he recommends a book, I will read that book. The Winter Room is a Newberry Medal Honor Book from 1989. It is the story of a family living on a farm in rural Minnesota and is told by the youngest member of that family, an 11 year old boy named Eldon. Eldon lives with his older brother, his parents and two elderly uncles. One full year living and working on the farm is told by each season in descriptive detail. The life cycle is depicted in many ways through their crops and their animals and even their home life. There is rejuvenation as the seasons change both on the farm and within the family. Gary Paulsen must have lived on a farm at some point in his life, for the details and descriptions are extraordinary.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminds me of the washcloth that my dad used to clean himself when we ran out of toilet paper, but that's a good thing.

I re-read this from time to time just to remind myself of simpler times. The good old days when I used to run the wood splitter with my dad, or clean out septic tanks with him in the mid summer heat. Dad was invincible back then. Anyone who can wade knee deep in a pile of human excrement has earned my respect for life.

Now I'm older, and, like everyone, I realize my parents aren't perfect. I think back to when my mother waved a brown washcloth in my face and demanded I tell her who gave me chocolate without her permission . . . and my father listened from the other room for a solid ten minutes before piping in, "that's mine. I couldn't find the $#!t paper."

Yeah, parents aren't perfect. Grandparents aren't perfect either. But acknowledging their faults isn't chopping them off at the knees. And there are moments when their greatness still shines through. That's what Paulsen's The Winter Room is all about for me.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud contender, 12/13 school year. A maybe, but probably not.

I'm deciding I'm not a huge Paulsen fan. He reminds me too much of Jack London and his view of the world, which I don't love. I don't hate, either, it's just not my style.

This book is actually really good, and I would recommend it for a lot of reasons. I'm reading all these "read-aloud" contenders with mixed kids 8-11 and the 8 yo little girlies in mind, I don't want to scare them or distress them in any way. That sort of short-changes the older kids, but I'm also sure I can find great books that will appeal to all of them.

Anyway, the "Fall" chapter is the one that places this book way down on the list for me. The narrator is terribly upset by what happens in the fall on a farm: the killing. There are a lot of "blood" words and "killing" and it's all very imaginable and quite distressing, as is the purpose, because the child narrator is distressed by it. Of course, it is a part of life and must be done, and the author didn't put any kind of bias on the situation other than "it happens." All this is totally okay for anyone to read, but I think I'll pass on reading it to other people's children!

One thing, the "leader" on the back of this edition I found to be quite misleading, as if some big, cataclysmic thing happened--wasn't the case at all (sorry if that was a spoiler).

Otherwise, there's some humor, some nice things about life, some farm realities that might be particularly interesting to city kids, some fun Norse fireside stories, some good family relationship type things.

Probably the greatest thing I am taking away with me came not from the text of the novel, but from the author Q & A at the back.

Q: What led you to writing fiction for young adults?
A: I think and have always said that it is artistically fruitless to write for adults. They're already set in their ways, but young people are so much more open to new ideas, new experiences.

Isn't that so true? Food for thought. Why then, do so many adults spend so much of their time in YAF? And what then, is ideal reading material for our so very impressionable young people?

[Grapcie14 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The character Eldon is in the character group of people who hate killing season on the farm and don't like it when people jump to hurtful conclusions about other people. I say this because when Eldon's brother Wayne called Uncle David a liar for telling them fake stories and putting himself in the stories, he stepped on his brother's leg when he was swinging from the rope that hung over the hayloft, and started to fight his brother and to make his brother say he was sorry for what he said. He ended up with a bloody nose and a few other things.

[Nicholas Papavero · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mother and father are my characters to talk about. The father listen to some of uncle Davids story's. The mother was not really involved in the book.also the father work in the barn a lot by dissecting farm animals for food to survive.The mother Verlie went in the barn and was basically doing the cooking, keeping the house nice also known as cleaning.that is info about the mother and father of the book called the winter room.five star ratingGary Paulsen is a very detailed Author.some parts the book made me gag some other parts made me hungry and some parts were pretty shocking and rough.

[kyle giacobello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncle David was a old hunched man that over reacted to little words. He told fairy tales and was addicted to bad things . He overreacted when Wayne called him a liar and he never told a story then eldon got raged and let it all out on Wayne and saw something through the crack...It was uncle david and he picked up two axes and eldon was saying to himself don't do it... But uncle David did it but he seemed younger and he proved he wasn't a liar.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem is that Wayne is starting to believe the stories Uncle David say are real. Wayne told Eldon how he felt and called Uncle David a liar and a bragger. Although, some of the stories Uncle David say are true. Uncle David heard the whole conversation of Wayne talking to Eldon about how he felt. Uncle David was broken. he did not tell any stories for another few days.

[Isobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion I liked Fourth grade rats better

[Brian Pineda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was ok. The only parts I like was when they would go out in the cold for food and it was interesting what weapons they used. Also how they would build in the cold.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have basically given up on my Newbery Quest for the past five months. I've been indulging in mysteries and haven't wanted to read anything else. I wasn't even getting on GR which is why I've been trying to catch-up on all my reviews.

Anyway, I wasn't planning on reading any Newbery books but the library bought this audiobook and since it was one I'd recommended, it came through on hold for me. Since it was only two hours long, I thought "why not?"

I listened to it pretty quickly, as it's so short. It was easy to listen to but I didn't really understand the point. It's basically just about a family on a farm and that's it. At the end the uncle tells some fun stories, but the older brother is mad they aren't real and that hurts the uncle's feelings and I guess that's the end. I finished it and gave a shrug. At least it was an easy book to check off my Newbery list.

[Jersy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book feels to me like it has two very detached parts: one is just a description of a boys's life on a farm with vivid descriptions and a strong atmosphere, the other is what one might call the actual plot: the uncle telling stories and the effect of it. I really enjoyed how life on the farm was shown throughout the seasons and the protagonist felt real, but for me, the two parts didn't really come together and the conflict in the second half didn't effect me as I expected or needed it to. Also, it's really a very minor conflict and I expected this part of the book to be emotional or plot twisty. It's nice for what it is, though.

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In spring everything is soft...

I flew through this book. Not only was it easy reading, but it was only a hundred pages, won the Newbery Award, and the print was rather big. So quick reading.

I don't know how to review this book. I'll have to ponder on it a while but this is one of those books that you read and it lingers...

I'll come back to review this properly later. It'll also be reviewed on my blog as well at some point.

5 ✨

[Allison Brenner · Rating 2 out of 5]

My section was special language.
The author talked like they did back then. When he published the book it was how they talked but know it seen a little different. A few similes I found were as straight as a die. That was compared to how they had to plant seeds in a nice row,like the number 6 on a die. Another simile was I was so tired my brain was filled with rags. That was the main character Eldon talking about how he spent a hard day working.throughout the summer and he was very tires.
In this book it had quite a lot of personification.One that stood out was there was music coming out of the saws. That one stood out because it was what the problem was. Not believing that the uncle could actually do it and he did.He did it so well he became your again and the saws were playing music in awe.
This book had special language all over the place by showing not telling. I now have my own view of what everything looked like in my opinion.

[Tayden White · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem is that when Wayne went all crazy to Eldon about how Uncle David was trying to make himself look good in the stories that were obviously about him. He kept saying "LIAR, LIAR, LIAR", and didn't even realize that Uncle David heard the whole thing. When Uncle David heard Wayne say that he was trying to make himself look good, to brag, it broke his heart. From then on Uncle David didn't tell any stories. I think that Wayne's actions were wrong in saying such hurtful things about Uncle David, especially if he meant to say it behind Uncle Davids back. First of all, you shouldn't think something is a lie just because it is a little odd. Life would be hard if you didn't believe every little thing that seem even a bit unnatural or hard to do. Still, I'm happy Uncle David proved him wrong, to actually clarify the fact that he could actually do what he claimed the man in he story ( or him ) could do.

[Ry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book! I didn't like it as much as Gary's other books (hatchet, etc.). It was just kinda slow going and not as adventurous.
Now, I'm going to try to list the content... XD
Language: N/A
Romance: A mother and father dance, etc. but nothing more than that... Just marriage. Mentioned. Not in detail.
Blood/Gore: Hunting season. They kill animals, cut them up, etc. May not be suitable for young readers. At least this part. Also, one kid jumps from the hayloft thing onto a horse. Let's just say, not the best landing.
Violence: I don't think there is any... Oh wait. Fighting between brothers.. There is some blood... Just a little.
Other: One person thinks someone else lied. So he calls him a Liar, etc.
So... Yeah! I guess that's my review! XD I should try to list content with every book... Anyway, good book! I think it is more of a book for younger kids. (hatchet is for teens, etc.)

[Cesar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young boy named Eldon, who lives on a rural farm. Eldon lives with his older brother Wayne, his parents and two men named Uncle David and Nels. The story takes place during a year where the author describes the seasons,the weather and and life on the farm. The story talks about the problems Eldon has with his brother, Wayne. The boys disagree on how things should be done, but in the end they work it out. The book also talks about different problems on the farm. There are many important themes in this book. Some include family, friendship, love for animals, and work ethic.


This is good story, but sometimes it is very slow. There is not a lot of action. I would like recommend this book to middle school students. Especially boys who may be having problems with their families.

[Ethan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of special language in the winter room such as "he seemed to stare a hole though him". The immense amount of special language it the story realy shose that it was along time ago. Also, it made the book a lot better such as when he said " she cuts though the ground like butter", but the author could of said they cut though the ground. To add on the first one in the last sentence has more detail making the book better and more interesting.to concluded the special language in the Winter Room made it more interesting to read.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, short read! I read this for my children's literature class, and although parts of it were morbid and unsettling (such as the story about Crazy Alen) I think the mix of raw, harsh reality combined with the 'through the kid's eye' viewpoint allows children a totally relatable way to be exposed to the harsh realities of life. I'm having a hard time identifying a theme, which may take some Googling around a bit, but I rather enjoy books where the theme isn't slapping you in the face by the ending of the book....

[Linda Lipko · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there is nothing exceptional about this 1990 Newbery honor book, I enjoyed it for the slow, easy pace. I liked the clear, crisp images of a time in rural Minnesota when life consisted of a family bound together by the joint efforts of farming.

It was delightful and calming to read.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a sensuous novel, built by an author who clearly loves the ambience of life on a farm. As Gary Paulsen says in the foreword, the sights, smells, and sounds of rural life play an integral part in the story. These must be provided by the reader's own mind in order for the narrative to achieve peak value.

The Winter Room might not have been my pick for the 1990 Newbery Honor it received—Paulsen's third in six years—but it is well written. Anyone who loves a good farm tale will likely enjoy themselves.

A note on the cover: I generally like Neil Waldman's covers for Gary Paulsen novels, but in this case I prefer the cover for the edition of The Winter Room I read years ago. It feels more relevant to the story.

[Astrid Lim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book about a family who lived in a farm during the early days of United States. The descriptions are very detailed and you can almost smell the animals and the hays in the story. I also love the first chapter, Tuning, that more or less prepared me to tune all my senses when reading the book and made the experience even more meaningful :)

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure how many kids would want to read this book, although it is relatively short. It belongs on the shelf with Wendell Berry’s Port William books — Berry and Paulson are a couple of Luddites, able to reconstruct a lifestyle that doesn’t really exist in the US any more, doing so in a way both poetic and realistic. The final chapter is worth the price of admission alone.

[Ellen Spes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of a boy and his brother raised on a farm in northern Minnesota by parents and 2 old Norwegian bachelor uncles. Turn of the century life described over a year by the youngest son. Can't help but think of my grandparents lives.

[Karin Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐s

[#28 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not worth buying and was really lacking

[Heidi Biggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

a nice easy read and the writing creates very vivid images in your mind

[Silvestre Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** SPOILER ALERT*** Have you ever read a book that left you shocked or surprised because of how the book ended up being? If not this is the book for you. The genre of this novel is fiction.



This book is about a young boy named Eldon, who lives on a rural farm in Minnesota. Eldon the narrator of the story and also the main character lives with his older brother Wayne, his parents and two men named Uncle David and Nels. The story takes place during a year, where the author describes the seasons,the weather and and life on the farm. The story talks about the problems Eldon has with his brother, Wayne. The boys disagree on how things should be done, but in the end they work it out. The book also talks about different problems on the farm. The conflict of this story is person vs. nature because they have to deal with a lot of things that are happening in the farm and every season they face different challenges because of the weather change.



I can relate to the characters Wayne, and Eldon, because me and my sister argue all the time when where trying to get something done because we always look at stuff with different views, but at the end we always get the assignment done. Iike in the text it says " Wayne you milk her"! " No we can get this done faster if you just do it"! He told me. " That's it let's just do it together"! I exclaimed. I wish that the author would have done a little bit more to at least move us readers but for the most part it was pretty calm all book long.



The point of view of this book is Eldon's because he is the only one who tell us and talks to the readers about all the seasons on the farm. For example in the text it says " Wayne is MY older brother". That right there says that the book is him talking. There for this book is 1st person point of view. Also if I was the author I would put a second part in the book almost like a chapter in Wayne's point of view just so I can see the differences both boys have.



All in all I rate this book a 3 out of 5. The reason being is because it got pretty slow or boring some parts and I just can't take that in books, also because I do not like the idea of the uncle telling the story's I would have liked to seen Wayne telling them just because he was also a big character in this book. I would recommend this book for readers that take there time and not just fly by through the book because you might miss some really interesting things. I'm not going to lie I also missed some things also, so I went back and reread. So In conclusion if you like books that leave you with that thought In the back of your head " wait what he did not"! Then this is the book for you!

[Lisa Horsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author writes for young adults from a male’s perspective, but I absolutely love his stories and read everything he publishes. This tale is from a northern MN farm a century ago, and it is so fun to read how life was then. My family would have been farmers in northwest MO at that time, and perhaps did some of the same things. I know from past readings that he researches events he wants his characters to do to make sure it works (like trying to eat turtle eggs for Brian in Hatchet during his plane crash survival). It makes his stories so relatable and believable.