And you can go Home again |
Michael Fusco Grade 6, King Philip Middle School, West Hartford Dear Novelist Paulsen, In the dead of winter, for several years, my family and two others stayed in a farmhouse for a few weeks in a remote part of Maine. It was surrounded by acres of land. On snowy, starry nights, the only sounds heard were of night animals or the weeping wind bustling through cracks in the barn house. For suburban children, this was an unusual sort of experience. It was like Hatchet (in some ways). These vacations were working ones. We had to make do with what we had, as neighbors and stores were a distance away and sometimes not easily accessible due to inclement weather. We had to continually haul in wood for the fire. Your book taught me that it is possible to survive with almost nothing. People can learn lessons of life from its primary teacher, Nature. I learned that life in an uninhibited area has benefits. At night, out in the wilderness, one can see the beauty of the endless stars in the blank skies. In the city, noise and pollution most often prohibit this experience; mostly buildings and streets can be seen. As you live close to nature, you appreciate that silence is a valuable means of survival. Mr. Paulsen, your book made me sit down and think about the ways I was looking at life. For this I thank you. I am certain other readers will also be affected by your excellent book. Sincerely, Michael Fusco
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