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The Windy Hill
Newbery Medal Honor Title (1922)
A brother and sister visit their older cousin in New England. Their cousin was once jovial,, but is now mysteriously irritable and preoccupied. A chance meeting with the beeman leads to their hearing stories about their own family’s history. As they listen, the two children start to understand the cause of their cousins anxiety.
A brother and sister visit their older cousin in New England. Their cousin was once jovial,, but is now mysteriously irritable and preoccupied. A chance meeting with the beeman leads to their hearing stories about their own family’s history. As they listen, the two children start to understand the cause of their cousins anxiety.
210 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1921
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 13, 2019
One of five Newbery Honor Books for 1922, the year the award was first established, The Windy Hill is the story of fifteen-year-old Oliver Peyton, who, together with his younger sister Janet, comes to stay with his Cousin Jasper at his home in Medford Valley. Resentful at Cousin Jasper's unprecedented inattention, Oliver is at first inclined to rebel, even setting in motion a short-lived runaway scheme. But a fortuitous meeting with the amiable "Beeman" and his daughter Polly, on the eponymous Windy Hill overlooking Medford Valley, gives Oliver's thoughts a new turn, and he decides to stay. As events unfold, the Peyton children become more and more puzzled by the behavior of the hostile Anthony Crawford, another cousin of whom they had never heard. Who is this unpleasant man, and what strange hold does he have over Cousin Jasper? Could the answer lie in the Beeman's stories about the history of the valley, and their family?
Read online, through Project Gutenberg, The Windy Hill is a fairly pleasant story, although I would hesitate to describe it as a "mystery." I was able to guess the true identity of the "Beeman" and Polly from Oliver's first encounter with them, and although the specific nature of Anthony Crawford's dispute with his cousins had yet to be revealed, it wasn't difficult to intuit the general nature of the argument. Although I am not sorry to have read it, I found nothing remarkable in it, and am at something of a loss to understand it being awarded an honorable mention for the first Newbery Medal. I can't help contrasting it with another Honor Book from 1922, the intensely involving Cedric the Forester , and it suffers from the comparison. All in all, I would recommend The Windy Hill only to those who, like me, are attempting to read the entire Newbery oeuvre.
Read online, through Project Gutenberg, The Windy Hill is a fairly pleasant story, although I would hesitate to describe it as a "mystery." I was able to guess the true identity of the "Beeman" and Polly from Oliver's first encounter with them, and although the specific nature of Anthony Crawford's dispute with his cousins had yet to be revealed, it wasn't difficult to intuit the general nature of the argument. Although I am not sorry to have read it, I found nothing remarkable in it, and am at something of a loss to understand it being awarded an honorable mention for the first Newbery Medal. I can't help contrasting it with another Honor Book from 1922, the intensely involving Cedric the Forester , and it suffers from the comparison. All in all, I would recommend The Windy Hill only to those who, like me, are attempting to read the entire Newbery oeuvre.
October 23, 2013
The title ‘The Windy Hill’ caught my eye as I was looking through a list of books published in 1921, because none of the books I had lined up to fill that slot in my Century of Books were really calling me. I liked the title, I liked the cover, and a little basic research revealed the ‘The Windy Hill’ was a runner-up for the inaugural Newbery Medal, and that it was available on Project Gutenberg. And so I began to read …
Oliver and his sister, Janet, were spending the summer with their mother’s favourite cousin, Jasper. They had always liked him, and when he visited their family home he had always been cheerful and interested in whatever they were doing, but in his own home he was distracted, and clearly something was troubling him.
When things got too much for Oliver, he decided to take a walk:
“He had not meant to when he came out through the pillared gateway of his cousin’s place, he had only thought that he would walk down the road toward the station – and see the train come in. Yet the resolve had grown within him as he thought of all that had passes in the last few days, and as he looked forward to what was still to come. As he walked down the road, rattling the money in his pocket, turning over his wrongs in his mind, the thought had come swiftly to him that he need no longer endure things as they were. It was three miles to the railroad station but, once there, he could be whisked away from all the troubles that had begun to seen unendurable. The inviting whistle of the train seemed to settle the matter finally …”
But, on the way to the station Oliver met a neighbour- he introduced himself as ‘The Beeman’ – and when they talked Oliver realised that he should stay, and that he and Janet should try to find out what was troubling their cousin. And do something about it!
They found that there was a dispute between Jasper and another neighbour – a very unpleasant man – and that, quite inexplicably, Jasper was doing nothing at all to protect his interests.
The children continued to visit The Beeman, to hear his wonderful tales of local history, and to ask his advice. They found out what was going on, and then they found out why, but they had no idea what they could do. But then fate gave a helping hand, and everything fell into place.
‘The Windy Hill’ is an odd patchwork of a book.
The Beeman’s stories were wonderful, and I can understand why the children were entranced. They were stories of American history, as it was lived in his valley, full of engaging characters and rich descriptions that brought their stories to life. And of course those stories had a bearing on the story of cousin Jasper and his troublesome neighbour.
That story was not so well told. It was likeable, but it didn’t live and breathe like the Beeman’s stories. The villain was a little too villainous, Jasper was a little too feeble, and though the logic worked it all seemed just a little unnatural. The ending was nicely dramatic, but lessons were learned and new courses were set much too quickly and easily.
A pity because, although the prose is not elegant it is always readable, and there are moments that capture the importance of family, history, home, and the beauty of the world quite beautifully:
“His halting words carried the real earnestness of conviction. They seemed to give cousin Jasper some sort of comfort, for his face relaxed, he moved form his tense attitude, and turned to walk up and down the terrace through the patches of light and shadow that lay between the windows. Janet thrust a friendly, affectionate hand under his arm as she walked beside him, It was a hot might, at Jane’s very highest tide, with the garden at the summit of its beauty. The Madonna lilies were in bloom, showing ghostly white through the dark rows and ranks and armies of them all up and down the walks and borders, sending sudden ripples of sweetness upward to the terrace whenever the faint breeze stirred. There was no moon yet, but the stars were thick overhead, and the moving lanterns of the fireflies glimmered among the trees, low down still as they always are in the first hour of the dark. Janet was thinking that the world was so beautiful, it was difficult to believe things should go so entirely wrong in it, but she did not find it quite possible to put her idea into words…”
So on balance I’d be inclined to say that this is a likeable, readable book, but not a great book.
Oliver and his sister, Janet, were spending the summer with their mother’s favourite cousin, Jasper. They had always liked him, and when he visited their family home he had always been cheerful and interested in whatever they were doing, but in his own home he was distracted, and clearly something was troubling him.
When things got too much for Oliver, he decided to take a walk:
“He had not meant to when he came out through the pillared gateway of his cousin’s place, he had only thought that he would walk down the road toward the station – and see the train come in. Yet the resolve had grown within him as he thought of all that had passes in the last few days, and as he looked forward to what was still to come. As he walked down the road, rattling the money in his pocket, turning over his wrongs in his mind, the thought had come swiftly to him that he need no longer endure things as they were. It was three miles to the railroad station but, once there, he could be whisked away from all the troubles that had begun to seen unendurable. The inviting whistle of the train seemed to settle the matter finally …”
But, on the way to the station Oliver met a neighbour- he introduced himself as ‘The Beeman’ – and when they talked Oliver realised that he should stay, and that he and Janet should try to find out what was troubling their cousin. And do something about it!
They found that there was a dispute between Jasper and another neighbour – a very unpleasant man – and that, quite inexplicably, Jasper was doing nothing at all to protect his interests.
The children continued to visit The Beeman, to hear his wonderful tales of local history, and to ask his advice. They found out what was going on, and then they found out why, but they had no idea what they could do. But then fate gave a helping hand, and everything fell into place.
‘The Windy Hill’ is an odd patchwork of a book.
The Beeman’s stories were wonderful, and I can understand why the children were entranced. They were stories of American history, as it was lived in his valley, full of engaging characters and rich descriptions that brought their stories to life. And of course those stories had a bearing on the story of cousin Jasper and his troublesome neighbour.
That story was not so well told. It was likeable, but it didn’t live and breathe like the Beeman’s stories. The villain was a little too villainous, Jasper was a little too feeble, and though the logic worked it all seemed just a little unnatural. The ending was nicely dramatic, but lessons were learned and new courses were set much too quickly and easily.
A pity because, although the prose is not elegant it is always readable, and there are moments that capture the importance of family, history, home, and the beauty of the world quite beautifully:
“His halting words carried the real earnestness of conviction. They seemed to give cousin Jasper some sort of comfort, for his face relaxed, he moved form his tense attitude, and turned to walk up and down the terrace through the patches of light and shadow that lay between the windows. Janet thrust a friendly, affectionate hand under his arm as she walked beside him, It was a hot might, at Jane’s very highest tide, with the garden at the summit of its beauty. The Madonna lilies were in bloom, showing ghostly white through the dark rows and ranks and armies of them all up and down the walks and borders, sending sudden ripples of sweetness upward to the terrace whenever the faint breeze stirred. There was no moon yet, but the stars were thick overhead, and the moving lanterns of the fireflies glimmered among the trees, low down still as they always are in the first hour of the dark. Janet was thinking that the world was so beautiful, it was difficult to believe things should go so entirely wrong in it, but she did not find it quite possible to put her idea into words…”
So on balance I’d be inclined to say that this is a likeable, readable book, but not a great book.
April 29, 2022
This story tells about a brother and sister who go live with a cousin and soon realize he is in some kind of trouble, but he won't speak about it. They befriend a neighbour who is a beekeeper and also also a great storyteller, but little by little they realize that his stories are not just legends, but they have a relation with the family mystery.
May 27, 2017
Amy from Hope is the Word is once again hosting her wonderful Newbery Through the Decades challenge. Each month, from January to October, participants read Newbery medal and honor books from each decade in which the award has been given. January's focus is on the 1920s. This is a tough decade because some of the books are hard to find and others seem dreary and difficult to read. Still, last year, I read Downright Dencey, which wound up being excellent once I got into the language, and prior to participating in the challenge, I also read The Trumpeter of Krakow, which is one of the best children's books I have ever read from any decade. This year, after some deliberation, I chose to read The Windy Hill by Cornelia Meigs, which received a Newbery Honor in 1922. (This book will also count toward the Newbery Reading Challenge at Smiling Shelves and my own Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge.)
In the story, Oliver and his sister Janet are spending the summer with Cousin Jasper, who seems aloof and troubled for reasons the kids can't quite figure out. One day, in the midst of attempting to run away after a disagreement with Jasper, Oliver meets the Beeman, who begins telling him stories. As Oliver and Janet try to puzzle out what might be causing Jasper to be so standoffish and unhappy, they also begin to see that the Beeman's stories are not just tales of long ago and far away, but that they are perfectly relevant to all that is happening here and now.
This is an odd book. The opening chapter is very engaging, but the story loses momentum every time the Beeman tells a story. Though the connections between the present-day action and the stories does eventually become clear, they are so tenuous at first that by the time the reader realizes it was actually important to pay attention to the stories, the opportunity to do so has passed. The chief problem of the story, which winds up focusing mainly on law and real estate documents, also is not really the kind of thing that engages kids' imaginations. The concerns of the story all seem very grown up, and when the great mystery of what is bothering Cousin Jasper is revealed, it is nothing nearly as exciting as kids are likely to have imagined for themselves.
I can see from the writing in this book that Meigs has an engaging style and a knack for developing interesting characters, so I'm not done with her work just yet, but the plot was muddled, and in many places, just boring. The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope (1958) is actually similar in a lot of ways to this book, but more engaging, and decidedly more straightforward and accessible. Meigs could write; I'm just not convinced yet that her books were really written for children.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
In the story, Oliver and his sister Janet are spending the summer with Cousin Jasper, who seems aloof and troubled for reasons the kids can't quite figure out. One day, in the midst of attempting to run away after a disagreement with Jasper, Oliver meets the Beeman, who begins telling him stories. As Oliver and Janet try to puzzle out what might be causing Jasper to be so standoffish and unhappy, they also begin to see that the Beeman's stories are not just tales of long ago and far away, but that they are perfectly relevant to all that is happening here and now.
This is an odd book. The opening chapter is very engaging, but the story loses momentum every time the Beeman tells a story. Though the connections between the present-day action and the stories does eventually become clear, they are so tenuous at first that by the time the reader realizes it was actually important to pay attention to the stories, the opportunity to do so has passed. The chief problem of the story, which winds up focusing mainly on law and real estate documents, also is not really the kind of thing that engages kids' imaginations. The concerns of the story all seem very grown up, and when the great mystery of what is bothering Cousin Jasper is revealed, it is nothing nearly as exciting as kids are likely to have imagined for themselves.
I can see from the writing in this book that Meigs has an engaging style and a knack for developing interesting characters, so I'm not done with her work just yet, but the plot was muddled, and in many places, just boring. The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope (1958) is actually similar in a lot of ways to this book, but more engaging, and decidedly more straightforward and accessible. Meigs could write; I'm just not convinced yet that her books were really written for children.
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
August 20, 2020
Newbery Honors 1922
This is a lovely story, beautifully written. A boy and a girl are visiting their cousin's for a summer, and from the start they sense something isn't right. As the story unfolds we go deeper into the past and how it influences the present. There is a mystery to unravel, and ultimately repentance, forgiveness, and lessons learned - yet in no part is it preachy. My only quibble is that to the adult reader it may seem not nuanced enough at times, but then, adults are not the target audience.
This is a lovely story, beautifully written. A boy and a girl are visiting their cousin's for a summer, and from the start they sense something isn't right. As the story unfolds we go deeper into the past and how it influences the present. There is a mystery to unravel, and ultimately repentance, forgiveness, and lessons learned - yet in no part is it preachy. My only quibble is that to the adult reader it may seem not nuanced enough at times, but then, adults are not the target audience.
May 7, 2019
A whole lot of fun. A little mystery, creativity, family history, some adventure... and bees. I sure had fun with this one. As I'm reading through, now, all of the Newbery Honors, I wonder how The Story of Mankind could have possibly won outside of the probable uniqueness of the book at the time. The Story of Mankind, now years later, is an arrogant take on the world with some narcissistic leanings. The Windy Hill was both engaging, well written, and full of place and character. Something I'm looking for in a book... not one man's version of history.
July 26, 2022
Oliver attempts to escape from Cousin Jasper's house to the train station because he does not want to meet cousin Eleanor. Instead, he meets Polly and the Beeman, who proceeds to tell a story about a Native American boy, Nashola, around the time Europeans started coming to America. Oliver misses the train and returns to Jasper's house.
Jasper has been receiving unpleasant visits from another cousin, Anthony Crawford, who threatens to take Jasper's home and land. Oliver and his sister, Janet, go to the Beeman for help, but before they can ask, he tells them the story of Cicely Hollowell. The Beeman then instructs Oliver to borrow a sailboat from the kindly John Massey in order to inspect the damaged dykes along the stream which threaten the entire community. Meanwhile, Janet meets the rest of the Crawford family and learns the true nature of the Beeman's stories.
After accidentally taking an object from the Crawfords' house, Janet and Oliver must return it, but not before hearing the Beeman's story of Felix Brighton and the goldrush of 1849. When Anthony Crawford threatens Jasper with a final ultimatum, Oliver finally learns the true identity of the Beeman and Polly. And everyone must band together if they are to save their community from a flood.
Beautifully interwoven between past and present, The Windy Hill is a story about standing up for the truth even in the face of adversity, about a willingness to change when you are wrong, and about redemption.
"It is not only bees that are destroyed by hating... it is every good thing in life that dries up and blows away under the force of dislike and bitterness." - Tom Brighton
Jasper has been receiving unpleasant visits from another cousin, Anthony Crawford, who threatens to take Jasper's home and land. Oliver and his sister, Janet, go to the Beeman for help, but before they can ask, he tells them the story of Cicely Hollowell. The Beeman then instructs Oliver to borrow a sailboat from the kindly John Massey in order to inspect the damaged dykes along the stream which threaten the entire community. Meanwhile, Janet meets the rest of the Crawford family and learns the true nature of the Beeman's stories.
After accidentally taking an object from the Crawfords' house, Janet and Oliver must return it, but not before hearing the Beeman's story of Felix Brighton and the goldrush of 1849. When Anthony Crawford threatens Jasper with a final ultimatum, Oliver finally learns the true identity of the Beeman and Polly. And everyone must band together if they are to save their community from a flood.
Beautifully interwoven between past and present, The Windy Hill is a story about standing up for the truth even in the face of adversity, about a willingness to change when you are wrong, and about redemption.
"It is not only bees that are destroyed by hating... it is every good thing in life that dries up and blows away under the force of dislike and bitterness." - Tom Brighton
January 21, 2013
While not quite as brilliant as the other two Meigs books I've read so far, this is a pleasant story. The character development (particularly of the antagonist, I thought) isn't quite as good as in her later books, but it has the same beautiful descriptive writing. One of the most interesting elements is the series of flashback stories, each taking place around the Windy Hill at a different period in American history, which have apparently no other connection at first, but have the link between them revealed late in the book. The rest of the story seems to be set in the present day (the book was published in 1922), and I almost felt that Meigs was more skilled and perhaps more at home in dealing with historical periods. In these flashbacks, especially, are found what seem to have been some of her favorite themes, the pioneer spirit of vision and hard work that built the new nation of America, which she would develop more fully in later novels.
December 26, 2023
This didn’t have the most complex plot, and it was relatively predictable. However, its charm was pretty compelling. I liked the gentle moral guidelines, and the ending suited me well. The story flowed smoothly without getting boring, and I felt like all of the characters grabbed me in appropriate ways. I appreciate when authors give a very casual push in how to treat people ethically. If people are cruel to you, you get to be cruel to them back, right?! ... Well... hmm.
The book laid this out with the naivety of two children trying to help their uncle and figure out the family history. It worked for me.
The book laid this out with the naivety of two children trying to help their uncle and figure out the family history. It worked for me.
March 8, 2021
I really, really enjoyed this book. Set in a more innocent time period, it evokes a sweet, nostalgic feel in me. I remember when children's books managed to impart moral and ethical values without BEATING them into the child. This book does that and also contains enough tension between characters to maintain interest. There was enough action and intrigue, without violence, to make me keep reading until the end. Very good book!
December 29, 2017
I enjoyed the stories of formative family history that are interwoven with Meigs's front story line, and the charming nature of the whole book overcomes what to me is a highly unrealistic character change.
July 12, 2016
A history of a family. Story develops is a interesting fashion through supplemental stories and a bit of intrigue.
May 14, 2014
Newbery Honor Book. It's probably unsuited for the internet generation, but I enjoyed the slower pace.
June 30, 2022
I have read 10 of the 24 1920's Newbery winner/honor books. This is by far the best title of the 10 that I have read. The Windy Hill should have been the first Newbery Winner. The Story of Mankind, the 1922 first Newbery winner, was so horrible, not really a kid's book at all. The Windy Hill was one of five honor books for that year. It is a cute mystery with other stories sprinkled in that come back to tie the story together. It has strong themes and overall just a classical charming children's book. It has the older style of prose that modern readers may or may not enjoy. Any level of reader will notice the amazing work choices. If you are assigned to read a Newbery book from this decade- this is the title. I could only find it on an e-book format with no pictures (Hoopla). I wish I could find a hard copy. After I finished this title, I found an audio version on LibiVox. I may try that in the future, as I think it would be an excellent audio book.
March 7, 2019
This is a pleasant, short story that describes how the ill-effects of long ago poor choices, disagreements and misunderstandings can emotionally and physically damage family relationships. I liked how the Beeman was able to little by little, relate the troubles between cousins Anthony and Jasper, by telling stories of his family's history. The crux of the story (the true reasons behind the cousins' feud) was a bit difficult to grasp before the conclusion, which fortunately tied everything together.
September 7, 2017
The main story about Oliver and his sister helping their cousin Jasper is ok. The real treasures are the intermittent flashback stories told be the Beeman. It is worth the read for those three short stories. If those could be pulled out and published separately, they would be well received. My rating is actually more of a 3.5 and I might have leaned towards 3, but it deserves more than the 3.39 that it currently has, so I had to go to 4.
January 14, 2025
Slow Start but Spectacular
This reminds me of an allegory of Christ’s love for us. No matter what we deserve we get his best. His forgiveness and with that acceptance.
It is also a testament for how we should love others.
Wonderful story. Those kids were smart beyond their years and mature enough to deal with difficult situations.
Pay attention to the storytelling throughout. They all have a deeper meaning.
This reminds me of an allegory of Christ’s love for us. No matter what we deserve we get his best. His forgiveness and with that acceptance.
It is also a testament for how we should love others.
Wonderful story. Those kids were smart beyond their years and mature enough to deal with difficult situations.
Pay attention to the storytelling throughout. They all have a deeper meaning.
January 21, 2018
Pretty good story. I like the format of telling stories to explain the family history that the children did not know about. Some of the characters are fairly distinct, like Oliver and the Beeman, while others seemed little more than placeholders. However, for a children's book written in 1921, it's not too bad.
November 10, 2017
This book can be a good choice for a child who loves to read and will enjoy a wholesome mystery. The story does move a little slowly at points, so it's not a good choice for reluctant reader. Most readers who make it to the end will enjoy how it comes together and be glad they read it.
May 3, 2019
This is a predictable book with one character whose about face is not believable. The descriptions and attempts by the teens to understand the adults’ problems make for a decent story. I recommend it to third through about seventh graders.
July 27, 2022
I'm on a mission to read all of the Newberry medal and honor books so naturally this one came across my desk. It was a sweet story about misconceptions and the kind of bitterness that can ruin people and their families.
October 16, 2024
This was interesting but really slow and I honestly didn't find the ending very satisfying. The stories are a useful way of giving information but they also create this odd sense of distance that made the main story seem a lot less interesting.
March 3, 2025
A short read about childhood, family, forgiveness, reconciliation, and consequences/accountability. The characters were well-developed, though probably could have been more so, and the story was good. It wasn't particularly great and was fairly predictable, but it was sweet.
September 19, 2023
I was getting as frustrated as the main characters trying to figure out what the mystery was. Well written though.
April 10, 2025
beautiful story
Excellent story of life long ago that still works for today. The award for this book is well deserved. Captivating!
Excellent story of life long ago that still works for today. The award for this book is well deserved. Captivating!
November 20, 2025
I'm reading all the Newbery books, including the honor ones. This one was not one of my favorites.
March 19, 2017
A charming, children's book set in the early 20th century. There were interesting historical flashbacks set within the story, a bit of mystery/a puzzle that needed piecing together, and satisfying character development - for a kid's book that is.
July 21, 2020
A little slow for me as the main plot kept getting interrupted by stories told by the bee man throughout. Otherwise well written. I think I would enjoy reading again now that I know how it is laid out and ends.
Want to Read
June 12, 20251922 Newbery honor book
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