White Pine

by Caroline Akervik

White Pine is an historical fiction set in the nineteenth century. After Sevy Anderson's father breaks his leg in a sawmill accident, the fourteen-year-old must take his place with the rough and tumble lumberjacks and river rats who harvest the white pine forests of Wisconsin. The men of the Northwoods live hard and on the edge, and Sevy must prove his courage and his worth in the company of legends.

Will he become the man he so longs to be?

Will the other men ever accept him?

And will he even survive his first winter in the Northwoods?

119 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2014

About the author

Caroline Akervik has always been a voracious reader of most any genre, with the exception of horror, because it's scary. Blessed with a wonderful husband and three amazing grown children, Caroline has worked as a horse trainer and as a school librarian. She remains an animal lover and believes that libraries are among the most magical of places. Her writings reflect the eclectic nature of her life and reading taste, and her books include sweet romances, horse stories and even science fiction. Caroline seeks to write from the heart, to transport her readers and to give wings to their imaginations.

Reviews

[Dana Abel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This definitely isn’t my typical fare, but I still enjoyed reading it. I probably should read more books like this so I can recommend a wider range of books to my students. Caroline wrote in her dedication that this book is intended for boys who don’t care for fantasy but still wish to have action in the books they read. And this is definitely action packed! Each chapter moves from one exciting adventure to the next. Sevy learns so much during his year as a lumberjack and river rat, and readers of this book will too. It especially has great appeal for those interested in Wisconsin history. I can see this fitting right into my dad’s fourth grade classroom. It would be a really fun read aloud. Sevy has a very distinct voice and shines as a character. He is realistically developed and even if kids these days can’t identify with chopping down trees and burling on the river, they’ll relate to his thought process and boyish joys and worries. The supoporting characters here are very fun too, especially the enigma of Fabien Roget. The book comes to a satisfying conclusion that feels believable and fulfilling for the desires of both readers and characters. Boys interested in history or adventure will definitely get a kick out of this book.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

[Linda Stelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It truly captures the spirit and the heart of the lumberjack era in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The action, adventure, and characters will appeal to boys and girls alike. Historical references to lumbering along the Chippewa River, life in a logging camp, and early Eau Claire are authentic. The story and a glossary includes slang terms from the era, such as "union suit" and "graybacks", as well as French terms, "sacre bleu". This title will be a worthy novel study for student book groups and is sure to become a classic!

[D.G. Driver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great middle grade book for boys. It is an historical novel about a young teenage boy whose father is a logger. When his dad gets too injured to work, the boy leaves home and school to be the youngest logger up in the wilderness. He's surrounded by some tough, grisly characters and learns a lot about responsibility and bravery. I highly recommend this for kids 9-14 who like historical fiction and adventure.

[Beth Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Be a man that people can count on,” 14-year-old Sevy Anderson’s father tells him. Because Sevy's father broke his leg in a sawmill accident, the boy must quit school and earn money for the family among rough and tumble lumberjacks and river rats who harvest the white pine forests of Wisconsin.

White Pine begins where every good story starts: On the cusp of an irreversible, life-changing event for the protagonist.

Told in the first person from Sevy’s point of view, readers are privy to the teen’s inner emotions of fear, pride, remorse, affection and homesickness. With a deft, light hand, author Caroline Akervik, through Sevy, describes aspects of lumbering and lumberjacks that give readers confidence that this is a reliable, accurate depiction of life as a Northwoodsman in days gone by…which means readers can settle in and enjoy the story.

Roget, a giant of a lumberjack, objects to Sevy’s presence in the lumber camp. “He’s is a boy. He has no place here.” Problems escalate when Sevy’s forgetfulness causes what becomes known as “the incident.” Sevy vacillates from carrying the heavy burden of paying for his father’s dream to own a farm, to the simple joys of hearing bells jingling on the horses, and eating salt pork and biscuits after a long day of dangerous, hard work in the numbing cold.

The tension, while varying in intensity, never goes slack. The story doesn’t veer from Sevy’s struggles to live up to the command his father gave him and his own desire to be a true Northwoodsman, in this coming-of-age novel.

Readers who love Gary Paulsen’s young adult coming-of-age stories set in the wilderness will treasure White Pine, as will fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books. No warnings about content are needed for this wholesome, credible, engaging story. White Pine is a book that parents and other adults can read to young children and give to pre-teens and teens to read on their own. As with the best of this genre, adults can enjoy the story as well. The book belongs in school libraries and on family bookshelves. And more important, in the hands of middle grade readers.

[Ashley Kohls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical book that takes place in Wisconsin. Filled with rich details from the past this book will be a hit with boys and girls!