Autumn Journey

By Priscilla Cummings

Book Overview

When Will Newcomb's father loses his job at the Port of Baltimore things at home start falling apart. The family moves to Grampa's farm in Pennsylvania for a new beginning, but his father's depression is taking a toll on the family--especially Will. When Grampa suggests a hunting trip early one morning, Will is eager to go along, especially since he believes it might help him win back his father's attention. Only later, while hiding beneath the bushes and waiting for the birds to see the decoys, does Will realize how torn inside he is about actually killing a beautiful Canada goose. This is one hunting trip that does not end the way anyone hopes or expects. Autumn Journey is the story of several journeys, not just that of a Canada goose or a young boy. It is the tale of love keeping a struggling family together in the face of hard times. Middle grades-ages 10-13.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0870336061
• ISBN13: 9780870336065
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Schiffer Kids
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A story about learning to adapt in hard times

First published in 1997, Autumn Journey is a novel for young adults about Will Newcomb, a boy whose family is forced to move to his grandfather's farm after Will's father loses his job. Tough times make even the slightest difficulty between family members hard to reconcile, but Will's grandfather is a supportive man, and an unlikely encounter with a Canada goose brings an invaluable lesson for the family to learn. A story about learning to adapt in hard times, Autumn Journey is highly recommended and particularly relevant in today's climate of economic uncertainty.

Very Realistic Fiction

I first read this book as I read it to my fifth grade class, because Priscilla Cummings was visiting our school. I had no idea how touching this book would be. When I would stop reading for the day, my fifth graders would beg me to give them just 5 more minutes. At the end of the book, several of my students and I got teary-eyed during the reading. There was no end to the great discussion topics we had over Will, the sixth grader who is unexpectedly landed in the middle of a family struggle, and a struggle with a Canada Goose named Gray Feather. This a great book for independent reading, or for sharing! We all loved it.