The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

This beautiful book was written in 1938 and won a Pulitzer prize in 1939.

It's a story of one family's survival as they try to scratch out a living in difficult surroundings in the Florida backwoods at the beginning of the twentieth century.  It centers around Penny Baxter, a gentle, wise man who loves his family and wants to save them from heartache; Penny's wife, Ory, who has been harden by the loss of six babies; and 12 year old Jody, the only surviving child, who loves animals as much as he loves his family.

The only near neighbors are the Forresters, a family of massive men who are as good hearted as they are evil drunks.  The only exception is their brother, gentle Fodder-wing, who is crippled.  He is petted and loved by his huge brothers and is Jody's best friend.  Fodder-wing cares for hurt animals and is envied by Jody, whose own mother will not let him have a pet because there is hardly enough food to feed themselves.

During a hunt for a bear, Old Slewfoot, Penny is bit by a rattlesnake.  He kills a deer and uses it's heart and liver to draw out the poison.  As he and Jody work desperately to save Penny's life, Jody sees the deer was a doe and had a small fawn.  Once home, Penny overrules Ory and lets Jody go back and rescue the fawn, since its mother's death saved Penny's life.  Jody names the fawn Flag.

Jody grows up along with Flag.  But Flag is an animal, and causes much trouble as he grows, jumping fences and eating the garden and crops that are essential to the Baxter's survival.  Jody must part with his beloved pet.

This is by far my favorite novel.  The beauty of it is unsurpassed, in my opinion.  Maybe it's because I understand Jody's feelings, being an animal lover myself.

This book may be a bit harsh for some children, as it describes the deaths of animals and people.  But it is a part of life, and I read it to my smallest ones, and also encouraged them to read it themselves as they got older.