"The Haymeadow", by Gary Paulsen, takes place on the 960,000 acre Three Bar S ranch in Wyoming. The ranch was started by John Barron's great grandfather, John Barron. The story starts with the 14 year old John and one of the ranch hands, Cawley, at the ranch house getting ready to move the sheep up to the valley in the mountains, the haymeadow, so the sheep can graze for the summer. John's father and the other ranch hand, "Tink", have gone to town. John doesn't know it yet, but Tink is sick and won't be able to tend the sheep this summer and John is about to be assigned to stay up with the sheep this summer.
Staying with the sheep frightens John because he doesn't know how to do it and he doesn't want to be alone for three months. It takes John and Cawley a few days to drive the sheep to the haymeadow, and Cawley tells John about the things he needs to know to take care of the sheep. Almost as soon as Cawley leaves the meadow to get back to the ranch, all kinds of huge problems start to happen in the haymeadow that John has to deal with.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Change
"The Haymeadow" by Gary Paulsen starts with 14 year old John Barron stepping out of the ranch house, looked around, and felt like things were about to change. He didn't know what the change was and he thought it might be that is was going to rain.
The ranch was getting ready to take the sheep up to the haymeadow. The haymeadow was in a valley up in the mountains. It was four square miles of grass that was between two ridges at or above the timber line. They used to let the cattle graze up there, but now all they had was sheep. So the sheep would graze in the haymeadow all summer and one of the hands, Tink, would stay alone with the sheep and four dogs for three months. The dogs were trained at rounding up and moving the sheep from place to place.
John doesn't know it, but the change that was coming had to do with him. He's old enough now to pull his own weight on the ranch and to learn the truth about his great grandfather.
The ranch was getting ready to take the sheep up to the haymeadow. The haymeadow was in a valley up in the mountains. It was four square miles of grass that was between two ridges at or above the timber line. They used to let the cattle graze up there, but now all they had was sheep. So the sheep would graze in the haymeadow all summer and one of the hands, Tink, would stay alone with the sheep and four dogs for three months. The dogs were trained at rounding up and moving the sheep from place to place.
John doesn't know it, but the change that was coming had to do with him. He's old enough now to pull his own weight on the ranch and to learn the truth about his great grandfather.
Characters
In the book "The Haymeadow", by Gary Paulsen, the main character is a 14 year old boy named John Barron. John lives and works with his father and two hired hands on a sheep ranch in Wyoming. John's father barely speaks to him and John resents him because of it. John's mother died when he was three in an accident when a horse rolled over on her, and John's father visits her grave every month.
John's great grandfather started the ranch several years earlier and is admired by John. In fact, John has enlarged some old photos of his great grandfather and put them up on his bedroom wall. His great grandfather was known as tough and mean and was able to start the ranch by taking the 960, 000 acres with only a gun and two horses. John looks just like his great grandfather.
Horace Cawley is one of the permanent ranch hands. He's a skinny man with sloping shoulders and a perfect half circle bitten out of his right ear. Cawley doesn't talk much but gives John help when he thinks he needs it.
Tinckner is the other hired hand, known as "Tink", and has been with the ranch ever since his great grandfather was running it. He's the one that usually goes up into the mountains to the haymeadow and tends the sheep for three months in the summer. John was always amazed that Tink could stand staying alone with the sheep for such a long time.
John's great grandfather started the ranch several years earlier and is admired by John. In fact, John has enlarged some old photos of his great grandfather and put them up on his bedroom wall. His great grandfather was known as tough and mean and was able to start the ranch by taking the 960, 000 acres with only a gun and two horses. John looks just like his great grandfather.
Horace Cawley is one of the permanent ranch hands. He's a skinny man with sloping shoulders and a perfect half circle bitten out of his right ear. Cawley doesn't talk much but gives John help when he thinks he needs it.
Tinckner is the other hired hand, known as "Tink", and has been with the ranch ever since his great grandfather was running it. He's the one that usually goes up into the mountains to the haymeadow and tends the sheep for three months in the summer. John was always amazed that Tink could stand staying alone with the sheep for such a long time.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
His Great Grandfather
In the book, The Haymeadow by Gary Paulsen, John Barron had a great grandfather that came to his land many years ago and took over it with only a gun and two horses. John always wanted to be like his great grandfather. He was already extremely similar in physical appearance.
When he was sent to the mountains alone with the sheep, dogs, and his horses he imagined it a way to be more like his great grandfather. Later in the book His father come to the mountains to join him. He tells him all about his great grandfather. His great grandfather was a cruel man. He slauterd his assistant for rights to own the mountains. His father never wanted him to be like his great grandfather. Everything that he was and was known for was horrible and terrible.
When he was sent to the mountains alone with the sheep, dogs, and his horses he imagined it a way to be more like his great grandfather. Later in the book His father come to the mountains to join him. He tells him all about his great grandfather. His great grandfather was a cruel man. He slauterd his assistant for rights to own the mountains. His father never wanted him to be like his great grandfather. Everything that he was and was known for was horrible and terrible.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Summary of The Haymeadow
I'm currently reading The Haymeadow by Gary Paulsen. Every summer John Barron goes up with his dad and their handy man to the mountains to let their sheep graze. This year for John his father leaves him alone to take care of the sheep, dogs, and the horses. He faces many challenges dealing with the forces of nature.
After many encounters with coyotes, rattle snakes, and one fierce black bear, John finds a more independent and beautiful side to nature. He has to deal with inconveniences he had never thought could happen. He looses sheep, dogs and almost hope in being his great grandfather who came to the mountains with only a gun and two horses. John soon finds out that what he thought would be easy to do is not as easy as he thought. This book is ideal for readers with a good taste for survival and adventure.
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