Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid
Grade 5-8–Fletcher reminisces about growing up in Marshfield, VT, recalling boyhood friendships, sibling attachments, and romps through the woods. We found all kinds of mushrooms. Some were edible, others were poisonous toadstools. Mom said to think of them as strangers–some are good, some are bad, and since you couldn't tell the difference it was best to leave them alone. Fletcher grew up in a Catholic family that grew larger each year, and when another baby was on the way, he'd learn the news from a girl in his class. Family and friendships were fulfilling, enriching, and perplexing. The author thinks about the loss of Dad's goodnight kisses as he grew up, and the adolescent predicament of being pressed between a girl's body and a wall that housed a giant beehive. Fletcher's connection to nature and the environment infuse every aspect of his life. Written with sagacious eloquence and gentle humor, this work stands strong in the ranks of authors' memoirs and autobiographies.–Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.