The Fourteenth Summer

Title: The Fourteenth Summer
Author: Gary Paulsen
Major Themes: Survival, Ranching, Wyoming, Sheep, Dogs, Horses
Synopsis: When John unexpectedly got assigned the task of guarding the ranch’s 6,000 sheep for the summer, he had to learn how to handle the hard things of life.

I went to town last week, and had extra time while waiting for work to be done on a vehicle. Since I had a loaner vehicle to get around in, I went to all four of the second-hand shops. I always have a look at the books, and one of the ones I found this time was The Fourteenth Summer by Gary Paulsen. Some of his books are very good; others I have not appreciated. I decided to take a chance on this one, and read it before letting any of the children have a chance to pick it up.

John was 14. He had spent his entire life on the family’s ranch. Now, suddenly, Tink, who always took the sheep to the hay meadow for the summer, was sick and the only one who could do the job was John. But could he do it? Could he manage to survive, alone with 6,000 sheep in a valley in the mountains miles from any other human, for the entire summer?

On the first day alone with the sheep and four dogs, John had to face a rattlesnake. The next day, he faced a flash flood that washed away the wagon he lived in. Before that mess was cleaned up, coyotes attacked the flock. John found ways to deal with all these dangers—and then a much worse enemy appeared. Could he survive that attack?

By the time I finished reading The Fourteenth Summer, I knew I would allow my sons to read this book. There are several things I didn’t care for, which I have mentioned below in the warnings (and marked out the offensive language in our copy). I loved the picture of a boy coming of age, becoming a man, able to care for himself and the livestock in his care. John became resourceful; he learned how to do hard things without giving up. And, the ending was perfect. I won’t give it away, but it was heartwarming and beautiful.

WARNING: Chapter 1: Meaner than nine hells, damn. Chapter 2: Damn, lambs dying at birth. Chapter 3: Damn twice, a man dying of cancer, hell, Playboy. Chapter 4: Memories of someone who killed another man (nasty details). Chapter 9: hell. Chapter 10: Lamb bitten by snake. Chapter 11: Hell, lamb dies. Chapter 12: Dog injured. Chapters 16-17: Sheep killed by coyotes. Chapter 19: Coyote, lamb killed. Chapter 21, 22: Bear killed sheep, injured boy and dog. Chapter 24: By god, story of a murder. 

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