Coming-of-age stories have always held an attraction for adolescents. As youngsters mature from childhood to adolescence, their physical bodies change and emotional lives develop. It is a confusing time in most people’s lives. The security of childhood with its comfortable boundaries begins to vanish and a large world full of choices and opportunities emerges.
Carol Ryrie Brink has written a touching story of a young girl trying to make sense of this journey. The name of this award-winning book is "Caddie Woodlawn."
The Woodlawn family is living on the Wisconsin frontier in the late 1850s. Indian tribes mingle with the settlers in an uneasy truce. John and Harriet Woodlawn have a large frontier family. Mrs. Woodlawn was raised in Boston and came west with some trepidation. Mr. Woodlawn was born in England but orphaned as a young boy. He immigrated to the United States and has built up his small farm through hard work and tenacity.
Harriet has tried to raise her daughters in a "civilized" manner. Unfortunately, Caddie is something of a tomboy and is little interested in the "finer things." Mr. Woodlawn has encouraged Caddie to explore the woods with her rambunctious brothers, which does little to tame her.
Caddie has made friends with an Indian named John and has visited their camp. This visit shocks the white settlers as there are recent memories of Indian attacks on white communities. A wild rumor begins to spread that John’s tribe is about to go on the warpath. Immediately settlers flee their farms seeking the safety in numbers at the Woodlawn farm.
There, some militant farmers decide that the whites should save themselves by attacking John’s village. Caddie listens to all of this talk and secretly takes a horse and rides to John’s camp. This has to be stopped.
Several years later, Caddie is now trying to understand why men and women have different roles in the wilderness. Her refined cousin Annabelle visits from Boston. Caddie feels totally outclassed by Annabelle, so she and her two ornery brothers play three cruel practical jokes on Annabelle. They succeed in making the young girl cry. At this point Mrs. Woodlawn begins looking for a switch. Caddie in particular is told that women do not mistreat guests. She is sent to bed without supper. While crying in bed, she plans to run away.
Soon her father puts his soothing hand on her head and gently tells Caddie all the beautiful things women bring to family life. Caddie takes her father’s kind words to heart. Maybe she should give this woman thing a chance. She takes action.
What does Caddie do? Was she able to stop the attack on John’s village? Is she able to bring peace between the settlers and the Indians? When she finally begins to understand that the feminine aspects of life are beautiful, can she begin to enjoy them? How have you settled confused things in your heart? How does Caddie? To find out, read this 1935 Newbery Award winner by Carol Ryrie Brink.
This book has been a favorite coming-of-age story for girls since its publication in 1935. The father-daughter relationship is sensitively and poignantly described. Caddie is a real person facing issues similar to all early teenagers. Her courage and honesty are refreshing. I hope you get a chance to encourage your younger family members to read this fine novel. I enjoyed the story and think you will as well.
