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Mountain Born #3
A Place for Peter
Thirteen-year-old Peter gets a chance to earn his doubting father's trust when he successfully handles the important task of tapping the sugar maples to make syrup for their mountain farm.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
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About the author
Elizabeth Yates
97 books77 followersElizabeth Yates, author of over forty books for children, was born in New York State on December 6th, 1905. Determined to be an author, she moved to New York City to launch her career. She worked a variety of jobs including reviewing book, writing short stories, and doing research. She moved to England with her husband and wrote her first book, High Holiday, based on her travels in Switzerland with her three children. The family returned to the U.S. in 1939 and settled in New Hampshire. Yates won the Newbery Award in 1951 for her book, Amos Fortune, Free Man, a biography of an African prince who is enslaved and taken to America.
Yates conducted writer's workshops at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Connecticut, and Indiana University. She also served as the Director of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.
Yates was widowed in 1963. Elizabeth Yates died Sunday at a hospice in Concord, New Hampshire on July 29, 2001 at the age of 95.
Elizabeth Yates' books have been described as "the result of extensive research, a strong underlying belief in God, and a vivid imagination."
Yates conducted writer's workshops at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Connecticut, and Indiana University. She also served as the Director of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.
Yates was widowed in 1963. Elizabeth Yates died Sunday at a hospice in Concord, New Hampshire on July 29, 2001 at the age of 95.
Elizabeth Yates' books have been described as "the result of extensive research, a strong underlying belief in God, and a vivid imagination."
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 13, 2019
One of the wisest writers I've read from any era, Elizabeth Yates—winner of the 1951 Newbery Medal for Amos Fortune, Free Man—fashions yet another compelling novel in A Place for Peter. It continues the story begun in her 1944 Newbery Honor book Mountain Born, the quiet saga of a family maintaining their farm in the rural Rocky Mountains. Peter is now thirteen, and has new lessons to learn as he starts the long journey into adolescence and beyond. Martha, his mother, is unhappy with the recent friction between Peter and his father, Andrew. The boy used to idolize his father, but lately Peter wants more responsibility around the farm and Andrew is hesitant to acquiesce. Peter doesn't reliably complete even the minor tasks his father sets for him, such as fetching the mail every day; why would he assign him more important jobs that could negatively impact the farm if they aren't carried out in a timely manner? Peter's frustration grows at the mundane responsibilities his father continues to give him. Martha understands the reasons they each have for their behavior, but Peter and Andrew can't bring themselves to open a dialogue and address the conflict. Will the peace of Peter's childhood days ever return?
When an urgent letter arrives, it quickly becomes clear that father and son will have to work out their differences. Martha's youngest brother, Leonard, has suffered a devastating injury and might not survive; can Martha be spared to make the long trip and look after him for a while? Getting along without Martha at the farm will be hard, but Peter and Andrew are ready to try for her sake. Martha leaves them each with a personal plea to be good to each other while she's gone. Andrew takes the advice to heart, assigning Peter more substantial duties even if he hasn't earned his trust in smaller matters. Peter goes about the new chores with gusto, eager to prove he's ready for a man's work. Every year before, Martha collected the maple sap in buckets and labored to make syrup for her family, but now Peter volunteers to conduct the whole operation, albeit on a smaller scale. With help from old Benj the farmhand, the sugaring is a success, and Peter feels satisfied at having transformed runny tree sap into a delicious treat for the breakfast table. The chill between Peter and his father is already thawing.
Martha's return is delayed for months after Leonard contracts pneumonia and nearly dies. It's doubtful he would recover without her. She's been gone much longer than expected, but Peter and Andrew don't complain, knowing she needs to be there for her brother. As the seasons pass Peter shoulders an increased workload around the farm, allowing Andrew to focus on his endless other tasks. The farm doesn't earn much money nowadays, and Andrew perpetually worries he might have to sell it. What will he do if he loses the family land? The best chance to turn around the farm's finances is for Andrew to breed his cows with bulls from Green Mead Farm, but the old roadway there is overgrown by trees and shrubbery, impossible to traverse with a heifer in mating season. Encouraged by the maple syrup experiment, Peter suggests he use his own free time to clear the roadway. It's a monumental task for a thirteen-year-old who not long ago balked at retrieving the mail, but Peter promises to keep up with his schoolwork and chores, and Andrew agrees to let him try to clear the road to Green Mead Farm. What a boon it would be if he succeeds.
Spring and summer are packed with adventure. Shep, Peter's loyal and loving dog, gives birth to puppies, and Peter keeps one and names him Dusty. The pup joyously follows his mother's example to be Peter's guardian as he works the farm. Andrew assures Peter that the area he's clearing out to restore the pathway to Green Mead Farm is safe, but Benj urges caution near the rocky hillside. Andrew scoffs at the notion that rattlesnakes still reside there, but Benj's instincts are rarely wrong. A life-or-death encounter with rattlers would be a severe test for a boy's burgeoning manhood. Some evenings, Peter soaks in Benj's timeless wisdom under the twilight dome of sky, tucking away the old man's thoughts to broaden his own view of the world. Benj seems immortal, as though such a lovely man could not depart this world for the loss would be too great, but he won't be around forever. Peter occasionally visits Mary and Gran at their place, neighbors whose sense of humor and sincere affection lighten the mood for a hardworking farm boy. Before Martha's return, Andrew decides to trust his son with one of the farm's most precious assets for a day-long journey that could establish the farm's future for years if the job is done properly. It's Peter's chance to prove he's grown into a dependable young man who loves the farm as much as Andrew does. Come what may on this physical and symbolic journey marking Peter's passage to the other side of maturity, the family's bond and their future will be stronger than ever.
A Place for Peter is awash in the beauty of wisdom. It's a joy to sit with Peter outdoors and observe the little dramas of the animal kingdom going on around him, or to accompany him on crucial tasks he must complete to vindicate his father's trust. This book offers moments of both kinds, enhanced by the author's magnificent insights. Early on, the parameters of Peter's silent feud with his father are delineated in the boy's conversation with Martha. He more easily opens up to his mother, admitting that he shirks his mundane chores because he's aggravated by Andrew's lack of trust in him. Peter thinks his father's opinion will never change. "Never is a long time," Martha says, "and none of us lives to see its length." Peter struggles to feel the truth in that statement; he'd work more eagerly if his father would entrust a major task to him. "He will, when you are worthy", Martha assures her son. "And the only way we can prove ourselves worthy of a big trust is by doing well the tasks that belong to each day." Andrew wants to see Peter be reliable in small matters before trusting him in larger ones, but Peter feels insulted by the meager assignments his father gives. It's essential to keep in mind that no task is meaningless if its purpose is to build a sturdy trust that won't soon be eroded. The patience to slowly grow that trust is a sign you're worthy of it. "Sometimes there aren't any buts, Peter," Martha gently admonishes. "If we accept what is our life, we grow through it and because of it. That's the way we grow up." Peter wants, most of all, to do right by his family. Sooner or later he'll figure out the hard parts of growing up.
Benj's wisdom is a wellspring we could spend a lifetime drinking deeply from. I love his observation of what coaxes a tiny, hard seed to sprout from the soil after planting. "Did you ever think, Peter, that a seed can't start reaching up to the sun until something in it has gone down first into the earth?...I'm not sure that a man can go far if he hasn't first learned to bow before something bigger than he is." Humility—choosing not to be preoccupied with yourself so you can better serve others—brings meaning to life. If Peter learns this now, he'll avoid the fruitless stress of self-centeredness. Peter has great potential, but only now with Martha away does Andrew need to test it and see what his son is capable of. Gran realizes this is a good thing. "We never know how strong a beam a candle has until we try it in the dark." Andrew and Peter would rather have Martha home, but if her absence was necessary for Peter's ability to shine, then these winter, spring, and summer months were a blessing in disguise. Never again will Peter be regarded as less than indispensable to the farm.
I adore Elizabeth Yates. When the subject of my all-time favorite authors comes up, I lead with E.B. White, Jerry Spinelli, Barbara Park, E.L. Konigsburg, Katherine Paterson, Jacqueline Woodson, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Neal Shusterman, but Elizabeth Yates deserves inclusion in that group. Her novels glow with the richness of human experience, the humor and contentment of togetherness and, for the lonely, hope that tomorrow can be better. I wish there were more books in this series beyond Mountain Born, Once in the Year, and this one, just so I could again visit Peter, Benj, and the other characters. I rate A Place for Peter three and a half stars, and would dearly love to reread it many times. This is a wonderful conclusion to Peter's story.
When an urgent letter arrives, it quickly becomes clear that father and son will have to work out their differences. Martha's youngest brother, Leonard, has suffered a devastating injury and might not survive; can Martha be spared to make the long trip and look after him for a while? Getting along without Martha at the farm will be hard, but Peter and Andrew are ready to try for her sake. Martha leaves them each with a personal plea to be good to each other while she's gone. Andrew takes the advice to heart, assigning Peter more substantial duties even if he hasn't earned his trust in smaller matters. Peter goes about the new chores with gusto, eager to prove he's ready for a man's work. Every year before, Martha collected the maple sap in buckets and labored to make syrup for her family, but now Peter volunteers to conduct the whole operation, albeit on a smaller scale. With help from old Benj the farmhand, the sugaring is a success, and Peter feels satisfied at having transformed runny tree sap into a delicious treat for the breakfast table. The chill between Peter and his father is already thawing.
Martha's return is delayed for months after Leonard contracts pneumonia and nearly dies. It's doubtful he would recover without her. She's been gone much longer than expected, but Peter and Andrew don't complain, knowing she needs to be there for her brother. As the seasons pass Peter shoulders an increased workload around the farm, allowing Andrew to focus on his endless other tasks. The farm doesn't earn much money nowadays, and Andrew perpetually worries he might have to sell it. What will he do if he loses the family land? The best chance to turn around the farm's finances is for Andrew to breed his cows with bulls from Green Mead Farm, but the old roadway there is overgrown by trees and shrubbery, impossible to traverse with a heifer in mating season. Encouraged by the maple syrup experiment, Peter suggests he use his own free time to clear the roadway. It's a monumental task for a thirteen-year-old who not long ago balked at retrieving the mail, but Peter promises to keep up with his schoolwork and chores, and Andrew agrees to let him try to clear the road to Green Mead Farm. What a boon it would be if he succeeds.
Spring and summer are packed with adventure. Shep, Peter's loyal and loving dog, gives birth to puppies, and Peter keeps one and names him Dusty. The pup joyously follows his mother's example to be Peter's guardian as he works the farm. Andrew assures Peter that the area he's clearing out to restore the pathway to Green Mead Farm is safe, but Benj urges caution near the rocky hillside. Andrew scoffs at the notion that rattlesnakes still reside there, but Benj's instincts are rarely wrong. A life-or-death encounter with rattlers would be a severe test for a boy's burgeoning manhood. Some evenings, Peter soaks in Benj's timeless wisdom under the twilight dome of sky, tucking away the old man's thoughts to broaden his own view of the world. Benj seems immortal, as though such a lovely man could not depart this world for the loss would be too great, but he won't be around forever. Peter occasionally visits Mary and Gran at their place, neighbors whose sense of humor and sincere affection lighten the mood for a hardworking farm boy. Before Martha's return, Andrew decides to trust his son with one of the farm's most precious assets for a day-long journey that could establish the farm's future for years if the job is done properly. It's Peter's chance to prove he's grown into a dependable young man who loves the farm as much as Andrew does. Come what may on this physical and symbolic journey marking Peter's passage to the other side of maturity, the family's bond and their future will be stronger than ever.
A Place for Peter is awash in the beauty of wisdom. It's a joy to sit with Peter outdoors and observe the little dramas of the animal kingdom going on around him, or to accompany him on crucial tasks he must complete to vindicate his father's trust. This book offers moments of both kinds, enhanced by the author's magnificent insights. Early on, the parameters of Peter's silent feud with his father are delineated in the boy's conversation with Martha. He more easily opens up to his mother, admitting that he shirks his mundane chores because he's aggravated by Andrew's lack of trust in him. Peter thinks his father's opinion will never change. "Never is a long time," Martha says, "and none of us lives to see its length." Peter struggles to feel the truth in that statement; he'd work more eagerly if his father would entrust a major task to him. "He will, when you are worthy", Martha assures her son. "And the only way we can prove ourselves worthy of a big trust is by doing well the tasks that belong to each day." Andrew wants to see Peter be reliable in small matters before trusting him in larger ones, but Peter feels insulted by the meager assignments his father gives. It's essential to keep in mind that no task is meaningless if its purpose is to build a sturdy trust that won't soon be eroded. The patience to slowly grow that trust is a sign you're worthy of it. "Sometimes there aren't any buts, Peter," Martha gently admonishes. "If we accept what is our life, we grow through it and because of it. That's the way we grow up." Peter wants, most of all, to do right by his family. Sooner or later he'll figure out the hard parts of growing up.
Benj's wisdom is a wellspring we could spend a lifetime drinking deeply from. I love his observation of what coaxes a tiny, hard seed to sprout from the soil after planting. "Did you ever think, Peter, that a seed can't start reaching up to the sun until something in it has gone down first into the earth?...I'm not sure that a man can go far if he hasn't first learned to bow before something bigger than he is." Humility—choosing not to be preoccupied with yourself so you can better serve others—brings meaning to life. If Peter learns this now, he'll avoid the fruitless stress of self-centeredness. Peter has great potential, but only now with Martha away does Andrew need to test it and see what his son is capable of. Gran realizes this is a good thing. "We never know how strong a beam a candle has until we try it in the dark." Andrew and Peter would rather have Martha home, but if her absence was necessary for Peter's ability to shine, then these winter, spring, and summer months were a blessing in disguise. Never again will Peter be regarded as less than indispensable to the farm.
I adore Elizabeth Yates. When the subject of my all-time favorite authors comes up, I lead with E.B. White, Jerry Spinelli, Barbara Park, E.L. Konigsburg, Katherine Paterson, Jacqueline Woodson, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Neal Shusterman, but Elizabeth Yates deserves inclusion in that group. Her novels glow with the richness of human experience, the humor and contentment of togetherness and, for the lonely, hope that tomorrow can be better. I wish there were more books in this series beyond Mountain Born, Once in the Year, and this one, just so I could again visit Peter, Benj, and the other characters. I rate A Place for Peter three and a half stars, and would dearly love to reread it many times. This is a wonderful conclusion to Peter's story.
August 29, 2021
Peter becomes a man when he steps up and helps with adult tasks. Before he does that, his relationship with his father is rocky and he is depressed. The transformation happened because Peter wanted to accept more responsibility and gain his father's trust.
This book is set on a farm in about the 1920's because they own a farm truck. The farm is struggling because the price of wool is not high. The father is concerned about the finances. Peter helps out when his mother leaves to nurse her brother back to health. He is assisted by a few friends but mainly he takes on projects solo. I think this book depicts a positive male attitude towards work, achievement and success. There is only one mention of God at the end of the book when the family thanks God for a major blessing.
The author uses well written word descriptions, foreshadowing and artful dialogue.
Fav Quote on the death of a puppy: "When we can do some good, Peter, the knowledge and the strength comes to us to work until we see the good accomplished; when we can't, the only thing for us to do is to tend to our other jobs. Shep knows that. Look at her now! This little thing came into the world unable to respond to life. Shep realized that after a while and put it out of her mind.."
This book is set on a farm in about the 1920's because they own a farm truck. The farm is struggling because the price of wool is not high. The father is concerned about the finances. Peter helps out when his mother leaves to nurse her brother back to health. He is assisted by a few friends but mainly he takes on projects solo. I think this book depicts a positive male attitude towards work, achievement and success. There is only one mention of God at the end of the book when the family thanks God for a major blessing.
The author uses well written word descriptions, foreshadowing and artful dialogue.
Fav Quote on the death of a puppy: "When we can do some good, Peter, the knowledge and the strength comes to us to work until we see the good accomplished; when we can't, the only thing for us to do is to tend to our other jobs. Shep knows that. Look at her now! This little thing came into the world unable to respond to life. Shep realized that after a while and put it out of her mind.."
February 26, 2018
“There’s a time when a boy becomes a man,” spoke Benji quietly, as if he were talking to himself. “Today you will see him as a boy and the next time you see him he’s a man, and no one can say when the change has taken place.”
This passage spoke to me. My son is away for two years and this passage articulated what I was feeling as I read his letters. I can see the man coming and the boy melting away. This makes me joyously happy and incredibly sad all at the same time.
This passage spoke to me. My son is away for two years and this passage articulated what I was feeling as I read his letters. I can see the man coming and the boy melting away. This makes me joyously happy and incredibly sad all at the same time.
January 15, 2024
A great finish to the Mountain Born trilogy. Reading some Elizabeth Yates this year has been a wholesome journey, this book about a boy who grows up into responsibility while his mother is away caring for a relative. I gave it to my 11yo as a gift last year, and just got around to reading it for myself.
June 22, 2017
A lovely sequel to "Mountain born"... yet another wonderful read from Elizabeth Yates.
April 23, 2019
(3.5 stars)
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June 3, 2019yumm! syrup
December 22, 2019
A simple, sweet story of growth, independence, and peace that speaks to its readers.
March 20, 2023
One Thing: For a boy to grow into a man he needs a community of wise men, responsibility at the earliest age possible and the freedom to make mistakes.
February 18, 2025
There were some good learning lessons, but overall I just did not enjoy this story.
August 17, 2014
The story of a boy named Peter, growing up on a farm, learning to be responsible for his chores on the farm, before being given more difficult tasks. Peter is lazy about his chores because he doesn't understand the importance of them to his father daily schedule. Then his mother is called away to tend for her ill brother, Peter must step up and be more responsible. When takes on the maple syrup tapping in the spring and does a good job of making the syrup, he begins to see where he can fit in to the work on the farm. He takes on other projects while his mother is away.
April 8, 2011
This sequel to Mountain Born includes adventures with tapping maple trees, rattlesnakes, and farm life. My boys loved this coming of age story about the summer Peter is 13 and makes the shift from boy to man.
May 18, 2019
Just great, and such a worthy successor to Mountain Born. Again, Yates creates such an appropriate, country rhythm to the dialogue and let's you see the organic coming of age, which this novel centers on.
January 14, 2022
p. 21 How keep a house without a mother in it, he wondered, for it was she who made it a home.
p. 68 The tradition of eating pickles and maple sugar candy together. "If something sour you eat, you'll have more room for sweet."
p. 68 The tradition of eating pickles and maple sugar candy together. "If something sour you eat, you'll have more room for sweet."
November 8, 2012
Such a great coming-of-age story.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews