Author: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings / Year: 1896-1953 / Genre: 12 yr. and up At one point when a doe is killed during an emergency, Jody discovers she had a fawn. When he pleads with Penny to take it home
since they were responsible for its mother’s death, Penny relents. Jody and the fawn, named Flag by a friend, become fast friends.
But of course, as Flag gets older, he becomes harder to handle and a menace to the family’s crops. The title would suggest the story
is about the fawn, as it starts becoming a problem when it becomes a yearling. But several times in the book Jody is called a yearling,
and the book is something of a coming of age story. Though the main storyline is about his transformation from a boy to a responsible
youth, there are so many facets to the book: Penny’s understanding of and relationship with Jody, his wisdom and decency, how
different people respond to the trials of life, how people existed in such a place and time.
