The Yearling

Review by Michael Nerbun

The Yearling is a story about a twelve-year-old boy named Jody and a yearling, or baby deer. It takes place in inland Florida during the pioneer days. Jody is a playful but lonely little boy who loves his father, Penny. Penny and his wife have lost two of their children, and they don’t want to let anything happen to their last son, Jody. Penny’s wife is sad and grumpy because of this, and she doesn’t seem to be understanding towards Jody. Jody loves to spend his free time watching the woodland creatures and wants to have a little pet, like a raccoon, but his mother won’t hear of it.

One day when Jody and his father are going into town, a rattlesnake bites his father. Penny shoots a doe nearby and tells Jody to cut out its liver. Penny then puts the liver on the bite to slow the swelling and to release the poison. Meanwhile, Jody runs home to get help. After the doctor does everything he can to help Penny, the family waits anxiously.

Penny lives and Jody asks him if he could keep the yearling of the doe he had to shoot, since the baby deer now has no mother. His father says yes, but tells Jody that one day the yearling must be let go. Jody and the yearling become great friends, and Jody grows so close to the yearling that he feels he could never let the yearling go.

I really liked this movie. You will need to watch it to find out what happens to the yearling. The movie is based on a book written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. So if you really like the movie, you can also read the book.

Questions

(Before the movie)

1. Have you ever seen a yearling? When? Would you like to have one as a pet?

2. Sometimes we can become really attached to things that we really need to let go of. Can you think of some examples?

(After the movie)

1. Did you like the movie? Why or why not?

2. When your parents are strict does it mean they don’t really love you? What are some reasons parents may be strict with their children? Have their been times you were happy your parents had been strict with you?