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Although this book received a Newbery Honor when it was published, you probably haven’t heard of it. The cover most likely won’t convince you to pick it up. Even the introduction might persuade you that it’s too slow to finish. But once you’ve gotten into the story, you may have a hard time putting it down until you’ve blown all the way through the last page.

Ben is a boy who doesn’t do well with people. This worries his family, especially his father, who simply cannot understand why his youngest son insists on following animals around, mimicking their noises and movements perfectly. When Ben finds himself lost on the prairie near his house, he must make a deep connection with a dangerous predator if he wants to survive. What happens to both of them and how it affects the other characters is almost unbelievable, even to Ben, and will leave a deep impression on you after you close the book.

This is a good choice for readers who like outdoor adventures (think Gary Paulsen) and stories about fathers and sons. It’s also for readers who can stomach detailed descriptions of some of the more gruesome things that happen in nature. ( )

A shy, lonely 6-year-old wanders into the Canadian prairie and spends a summer under the protection of a badger

Chapter book: Ben is a six year old extremely curious little boy is highly misunderstood by the majority of the people around him. He spends most of his time learning about animals and mimicking their sounds and actions. One day while wandering too far, and then being chased by a thunderstorm finds himself an extremely lost little boy. His family and friends search for him without a trace. Ben seeks survival from a female badger.

First re-read of this since I was a kid. I loved it with my whole heart then, and was relieved to find that I still love it.

This story, allegedly based on a true incident, is about a boy who lives with a badger for a period of time. The natural history details are glorious- everything you ever wanted to know about badgers, their habits, their diets, and their vocalizations! The story itself is good, though a touch on the melodramatic side.

Recommended for natural history people and animal lovers with a high tolerance for exhaustively detailed descriptions of the omnivorous badger's diet (which included lots of cute furry things). ( )