Lumberjack

by Stephen W. Meader, Henry C. Pitz (Illustrator)

This is the story of Dan Garland’s winter working with a lumber crew in New Hampshire. He developed into a real lumberjack and had plenty of adventures, fighting a forest fire and tracking down the man who started it.

“A stirring tale, full of the atmosphere of the great northern forests.”----Hartford Courant.

“This is the sort of book, rare today, which is equally enthralling to adults and children. Dan Garland is a very real and very human boy, and his adventures and experiences are completely absorbing. This really is a grand book and one it would not be possible to recommend too highly.”----New York Herald Tribune.

277 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Stephen W. Meader (May 2, 1892 – July 18, 1977) was the author of over forty novels for young readers. His optimistic stories generally tended to either concern young men developing independent businesses in the face of adversity, or else young men caught up in adventures during different periods in American history.

Meader graduated from Haverford College in Philadelphia in 1913, and initially worked in Newark, New Jersey as a cruelty officer with the Essex County Children's Aid Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and by 1915 was working for the Big Brother Movement. After working for a Chicago publishing house in 1916, he took a position with the Circulation Department of the Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia, eventually reaching the position of Editor of the Sales Division publications. His first novel, The Black Buccaneer, was the first juvenile publication of the newly founded Harcourt, Brace and Howe.

Reviews

[Eyes of the Owl BQQKS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young-man's grandfather decides it is time to harvest the timber on the family homestead, so hires a crew to harvest it. The crew in turn hires the boy to work in the forest. This vignette of a lumber camp incorporates several stories of what it was like to be an old-school lumberman working in the northern woods.

Another terrific historic novel by Stephen W. Meader, a New Hampshire author known for his ability to connect with boy readers. This is the first Meader book I ever found, an ex-library book that is now in my collection. Haven't read it in a while, but I am about due.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for the first time in fifth grade after my father read it to me. I recently re-read it and Meader's intimate narrative lovingly conveys the archaic crusty charm that was so typical of New England lumberjacks. This is one that I will continue to re-read to the end of my days.

[Leia-Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the kids have really LOVED Meader's many books, this one was a bit harder to enjoy. They are still glad Daddy read it to them. (Mom)

[Rodney Haydon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! A great story of New England of old, with honest hard work, yankee tales, and even a horse race or two. Highly recommended.

[Raymond Bial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novel by Stephen Meader. His books are American classics and Lumberjack is an especially enlightening historical novel for young people—very uplifting and suspenseful.