Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen

Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen, ISBN # 0-440-40454-1

Like another Paulsen novel, Tracker, the setting for Winter Room is the north woods of Minnesota. Unlike Tracker, Winter Room does not have a plot. Instead the book consists of the protagonist and narrator Eldon, speaking of the four seasons in prose that borders on poetry. Each season is described in terms that give the reader the feeling that she/he is standing in the woods. Eldon speaks of his teacher describing a season in terms he does not agree with. He is sure he is right because he knows that he is of the land.

True, the end of the book is a more conventional narrative with Eldon’s two old uncles telling stories of the old country (Norway) to the whole family in the winter room, which is kept warm after dinner with a stove. Difficulties develop about the telling of the stories, and this adds nicely to the novel.

This is not a book of heroes and strong men, but a book of wise boys, men, and women who develop a wisdom and enjoyment about living on the land. Like Tracker, I feel that this book can be equally appealing to tween boys and girls.