Subject
Homesickness -- Juvenile fiction Books
Best books
Albert Bigelow Paine
"Peanut": The Story of a Boy
"Peanut": The Story of a Boy by Albert Bigelow Paine is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book tells the poignant tale of a young boy named Peanut, or Philip Nutt, who comes to terms with loss and longing, as he navigates life following the death of his guardian, Blazer Sam, an outlaw of some renown. The story explores themes of innocence, memory, and the deep connections formed in the wilderness. The narrative unfolds in a remote mountainous setting, where Peanut lives a simple life with the "Rose of Texas," who had been Sam's companion. Peanut's world is disrupted when he meets Miss Cynthia Schofield, a teacher who aims to provide him with a formal education far removed from his wild upbringing. As he transitions to city life, Peanut struggles with homesickness and the stark differences between his two worlds. Despite being distanced from his beloved hills and bears, Peanut's journey ultimately leads him back home, where he is reunited with the Rose and, symbolically, with the memories of Sam. Through this heartfelt story, Paine captures the essence of childhood and the quest for belonging.
Annie F. (Annie Fellows) Johnston
The Gate of the Giant Scissors
"The Gate of the Giant Scissors" by Annie F. Johnston is a children's novel likely written during the early 20th century. The story revolves around a young girl named Joyce, who is living in France with her wealthy cousin, Kate. Struggling with homesickness and feeling out of place among the unfamiliar surroundings and language, Joyce's journey unfolds as she discovers the mysterious gate with giant scissors that has never been opened, as well as befriends a boy named Jules who endures hardship under a cruel caretaker. At the start of the book, Joyce is introduced sitting in a pear tree, overcome with homesickness for her family back in America. Engulfed in her longing, she reflects on cherished memories and experiences that make her feel closer to home. The narrative then shifts to her curiosity about the enigmatic gate, which seems to symbolize the boundaries between her new life and her old. Additionally, we learn about Jules, the little goatherd isolated by his caretaker's harshness, establishing a parallel to Joyce's own feelings of entrapment. This connection ignites her resolve to champion for him, suggesting that the themes of friendship, bravery, and social justice play a central role as the story progresses.
Mary Hartwell Catherwood
Rocky Fork
"Rocky Fork" by Mary Hartwell Catherwood is a novel written in the late 19th century. Set among the hills and hollows of central Ohio, it follows spirited Melissa “Bluebell” Garde as she navigates schooldays, community customs, and the dangers and delights of a rural settlement with her little sister Rocco, their physician father, and visiting Aunt Melissa. Expect tender domestic moments, lively classroom scenes, industrial backdrops, and occasional frontier hazards, all filtered through a child’s keen eye. The opening of the novel follows Bluebell on her path to the log schoolhouse under kindly Mr. Pitzer, where a polished outsider, Mr. Runnels, sweeps in to launch a “geography school” with map-chanting that captivates the district. After a noon of trading treats and games, Bluebell rides with her father to the chapel meeting; the night turns urgent when a furnace worker is injured, and the pair brave the perilous Narrows on their sure-footed mare, Ballie. Next day a refined relative, Miss Melissa Calder, arrives with gifts (including a wax doll that briefly stirs Rocco’s jealousy), then visits the school, offers remarks, and joins the girls’ swing at noon. The section closes on a simmering quarrel over a prized thumb-paper and a heated spelling match as a storm gathers, sketching the community’s rhythms, childhood rivalries, and the mix of learning and danger that shape Bluebell’s world.
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