It's Spring! Let's read The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

An Independent Reading Package is available for The Yearling

The Yearling is a beautiful coming-of-age story that follows Jody Baxter from one April to the next April as he loses his innocence and learns about the painful necessities of life. This 1938 Pulitzer Award-winning novel is a winner of a read no matter the season, but as it begins in April, it seems like a nice time to visit the novel. For those of you not familiar with the novel, or the Academy Award-winning movie of the same title, a summation of the novel, without giving away the good stuff, follows.

Our story begins in Spring! The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings starts with the new growth in April and follows a year in the life of Jody, a twelve-year-old boy full of fantasy and imagination. He lives with his Pa, Penny Baxter, and his Ma, Ora Baxter, on a pine island in the northern Florida scrub forests. Penny is a Civil War veteran. Jody was born shortly before the war broke out. That places the story in the 1870s. It is important for teens to understand this timeframe, as there were no modern conveniences in Florida during the 1870s. Jody is an only child living in an isolated world. However, he does have a best friend named Fodderwing Forrester. It is a strange name and a nickname given to Fodderwing by his large and boisterous family comprised of a mother, father, and several full-grown brothers. Jody enjoys visiting the Forresters, first because his Ma does not approve of their drinking, singing, and dancing, but also because Fodderwing is allowed to have pets in cages behind his house. Jody loves to play with Fodderwing's critters. But, if Jody suggests to his Ma that he bring home an animal that wasn't to be eaten, Ma would disapprove. She grumbles enough about feeding the dogs, and they are necessary for hunting. Ma doesn't think a pet is a necessity of life. So, Jody lives a lonely but interesting life as he learns about the seasons, animals, and planting needed to stay alive in this hostile environment.

On one momentous day, Penny and Jody are returning from the woods when disaster strikes! Out of necessity, Penny kills a doe. As it isn't hunting season for deer, but birthing season, it must be some kind of emergency for Penny to do this. As it turns out, this doe Penny kills has a fawn—a little male fawn. Jody is enraptured with the critter and begs his Ma and Pa to allow him to keep the fawn as a pet, offering to feed the animal his milk. Although Ma doesn't approve, Pa gives his approval and Jody, for the first time in his life, has something that will love only him. This is his heart's desire: to have something all to his own.

One of the main antagonists of the story is Ol' Slewfoot, a black bear that occasionally comes to the Baxters' property looking for a sow, piglet, or any other easy meal it can find. Ol' Slewfoot has a distinctive track that makes him easy to recognize and track--a skill Penny teaches his son as they follow the bear's trail through the Florida woods. Some of the most exciting passages of the novel involve Slewfoot hunts. In fact, hunting is a major theme of this book. It was written in the 1930s, at a time when money was scarce and hunting was still a necessity. Rawlings does a good job of describing the action, the danger, and the thrill of the hunt.

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is, by all accounts, about as wholesome of a read as there is. It has everything—love, laughter, death of loved ones, jealousy, and neighborly kindness. The Yearling also paints a vivid picture of the trials of life in a hostile environment where man isn't the highest species on the food chain.

There is no inappropriate behavior in the book. Some editions do have a little inappropriate language, but not enough to eliminate this quality novel from any preteen or teenage bookshelf. The most difficult part of this book is reading the authentic dialect Rawlings uses in her dialogue. It took me a couple of chapters to figure out that "hit" is "it" when spoken.

For teachers: I suggest a pre-reading activity that helps the students understand the dialogue. I also suggest an introduction to Florida pine islands (which are cleared, sandy parts of the scrub where farming can be done. The scrub is very dense with flora—this is Florida, after all). Some of my students didn't understand that the Baxters do NOT live on an island surrounded by water. This is also a long novel. Most editions exceed 400 pages. I would suggest a six-week reading schedule. See my Independent Reading Package with reading calendar, student reading log, and six weekly quizzes to ease your workload. Although the novel is recommended for grades 9-12, I have taught it in the 8th grade successfully.

For homeschoolers and parents: If you are introducing this fine novel to your preteen child, I suggest reading the book with your child and stopping to clarify actions and dialogue. If you are introducing the novel to a strong reader in middle school or high school, be prepared to discuss the story with your child by actively reading the novel at the same time as your young reader. Bring up topics of discussion that may create interest or confusion. Always remember to engage with your reader to enhance their reading experience. Also, for accountability and comprehension checks, see my Independent Reading Package with Quizzes to ensure your homeschooler gets the most from the novel.

For teen readers: I suggest you enjoy the book. If you have questions, ask someone familiar with the story. If you find the dialogue is challenging, try paraphrasing the dialogue in your head to find the meaning.

Have you read The Yearling? If you have, I would love to hear your thoughts on the novel. Thanks for sharing!