The Winter Room Author:Gary Paulsen Following the turn of the seasons, eleven year old Eldon traces the daily routines of his life on a farm and his relationship with his older brother Wayne. During the winter, with little work to be done on the farm, Eldon and Wayne spend the quiet hours with their family, listening to their Uncle David's stories. But Eldon soon learns that, ... more »although he has lived on the same farm, in the same house with his uncle for eleven springs, summers, and winters, he hardly knows him.
When Uncle David tells the story of "The Woodcutter," Eldon immediately understands that this story is different from any other. It is a powerful and terrible story that changes everything for the brothers.« less
If you grew up on a farm/ranch or know someone who did then you will get this book. The work is hard and the days long. There is always a story teller among the workers, some of the stories are true, some not and some a mixture of truth and fiction. The kids are kids, the adults are adults and I like that Gary Paulsen kept it real with the interactions of the kids and adults and with life on a working farm.
This is a very real book about life in rural America in the early part of the 20th century. It does not shy away from the realities of farming animals for food, not pets, the hardships of depending on Mother Nature's whims, the physical labor, and all the sights, sounds, smells, and at times, harshness of early farm life. To me, it is more "living history", than a cozy story. The sections added at the end about farming in America, story telling and traditions, children's interests at that time, all help today's child, so far removed from rural life back then, understand how different our lives are now. Very sensitive children may find it "too real."