The Yearling

Set in rural Florida in the 1870s, this classic coming-of-age story follows 12-year-old Jody Baxter who adopts an orphaned fawn he names Flag. As Jody raises the deer, he learns difficult lessons about responsibility, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of frontier life when Flag begins destroying the family's crops. The novel explores themes of growing up, the bond between humans and animals, family loyalty, and the sometimes painful transition from childhood innocence to adult understanding.