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The Year of Sharing
A level 2 Oxford Bookworms Library graded readers. Written for Learners of English by Harry Gilbert
Richard is bored with the quiet life of his village. He would like to have a motor-car and drive it . . . very fast. But Richard lives in a future world where there are no cars, only bicycles and small villages and green forests.
And now he is twelve years old, and like the other children, he must do his Year of Sharing. He must live alone in the forest with the wild animals. He must learn to share his world; he must learn how animals live and eat and fight . . . and die.
Richard is bored with the quiet life of his village. He would like to have a motor-car and drive it . . . very fast. But Richard lives in a future world where there are no cars, only bicycles and small villages and green forests.
And now he is twelve years old, and like the other children, he must do his Year of Sharing. He must live alone in the forest with the wild animals. He must learn to share his world; he must learn how animals live and eat and fight . . . and die.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 17, 2015
The book " The Year of Sharing" is by Harry Gilbert. The stage of the book is 2 and there are 6,390 word counted. There are some hard words, but I read the sentences to understand the meaning of the words. Then, in the last page, there are interview of main character's father and mother, it very interesting. And, there are also some quiz in the last page of book, so you can challange, it is interesting. The main character was survival in the forest with his family(deer). And book tell me what does main character feel in what happen. The telling feeling make me the main character of the book.
October 21, 2025
21/10/2025
December 31, 2012
*book: Oxford, level 2
*time: 11/27, 120 minutes
*summary: human, deer, wolf, nature, life, rule, kill
*questions:
1. If you have to experience "the year of sharing", what kind of animal do you want to live with?
I do not have any idea. I think carnivores are too dangerous to live with for a year, however, herbivores have to run away from place to place not to be eaten. To live in nature is difficult.
2. Richard who was the main character of this book longed for the exciting ancient living (=our living) such as using many electrical things, traveling around the world, living with various kind of animals. Are you satisfied with your living?
No. We are happy because Japan is rich country, but there are many people whi cannot eat and drink enough every day around the world. Additionally, our living has a great influence on the earth.
This book made me think what "living" and "lives" are. It was good.
*time: 11/27, 120 minutes
*summary: human, deer, wolf, nature, life, rule, kill
*questions:
1. If you have to experience "the year of sharing", what kind of animal do you want to live with?
I do not have any idea. I think carnivores are too dangerous to live with for a year, however, herbivores have to run away from place to place not to be eaten. To live in nature is difficult.
2. Richard who was the main character of this book longed for the exciting ancient living (=our living) such as using many electrical things, traveling around the world, living with various kind of animals. Are you satisfied with your living?
No. We are happy because Japan is rich country, but there are many people whi cannot eat and drink enough every day around the world. Additionally, our living has a great influence on the earth.
This book made me think what "living" and "lives" are. It was good.
April 19, 2015
A very interesting read that I finished in one go. The ending was different than I expected and came as quite a surprise especially since I thought I still had a few pages left to read.
I really enjoyed the idea behind the book. Though 12... that is very young...
I really enjoyed the idea behind the book. Though 12... that is very young...
April 30, 2019
An amazing concept that would save the world. I just think it ended way to fast.
March 8, 2022
The Year of Sharing was most notable for its depiction of living with animals, as an animal. It is a very short book, but in few pages, it depicts Tim's adaptation to living as a fawn with a family of deer. The depiction of the roles and routines of a deer family was evocative and seemed realistic. I was very intrigued by the closing comments by the boy's parents, who had very different reactions to the outcome of his year of living with the deer. I wish to know more about the mother's story, because she seems to reflect a future reality of valuing animal life as much as human life and her attitude suggests that would imply indifference towards one's own children.
I gave it 3 stars because the parts I liked best were underdeveloped.
I gave it 3 stars because the parts I liked best were underdeveloped.
June 12, 2019
Very easy to read.
July 29, 2020
The end is surprising for me.
April 26, 2024
TAT make me cryyyy
December 10, 2015
①Harry Gilbert/level2
②12/6…20min,12/7…20min,12/8…20min,12/9…20min
③Richard,sharing year,animals,recorder,deers,wolves,weapons
④"They're deer.”
The main character was named Richard. There was the rule in his village that the people who became 12 years old had to live in the forest around the village with wild animals. Richard was slept by the doctor, and he was left in the forest during sleeping. When Richard got up, the 4 deers appeared in front of him at the first time of Richard's experience in the forest.
This line appeared then. If I experience same situation, maybe I was suprised so much‼︎
⑤At first, I liked this story because the life that Richard and familly of deers live with was heartwarming, but I felt that the story moved suddenly from appearance of wolves. The violent scene also appeared from that. I wanted to continue the heartwarming story until end.
②12/6…20min,12/7…20min,12/8…20min,12/9…20min
③Richard,sharing year,animals,recorder,deers,wolves,weapons
④"They're deer.”
The main character was named Richard. There was the rule in his village that the people who became 12 years old had to live in the forest around the village with wild animals. Richard was slept by the doctor, and he was left in the forest during sleeping. When Richard got up, the 4 deers appeared in front of him at the first time of Richard's experience in the forest.
This line appeared then. If I experience same situation, maybe I was suprised so much‼︎
⑤At first, I liked this story because the life that Richard and familly of deers live with was heartwarming, but I felt that the story moved suddenly from appearance of wolves. The violent scene also appeared from that. I wanted to continue the heartwarming story until end.
July 10, 2013
1. OXFORD Level2
2. 7/8 25min 7/10 35min
3. village, forests, animal, alone, deer, wolves, family
4. If you can do it, do you want to be any animals?
--- No, I do not. Because lives in the nature must be hard for me.
Animals always walk for foods and they are sometimes followed
by enemy. It is unimaginable for me. I want to be like human.
5. This book is one of the most strange book that I have ever read.
At first, I could not understand the story because it is kind of a
strange one. I saw that a boy has changed through his year as a
deer, \i think it was the most interesting point of this book.
2. 7/8 25min 7/10 35min
3. village, forests, animal, alone, deer, wolves, family
4. If you can do it, do you want to be any animals?
--- No, I do not. Because lives in the nature must be hard for me.
Animals always walk for foods and they are sometimes followed
by enemy. It is unimaginable for me. I want to be like human.
5. This book is one of the most strange book that I have ever read.
At first, I could not understand the story because it is kind of a
strange one. I saw that a boy has changed through his year as a
deer, \i think it was the most interesting point of this book.
November 26, 2014
1.OXFORD,Level2
2.11/25=20minutes,11/26=60minutes
3.life,village,deer,wolf,animal,live,learn
4.Richard said "I didn't need people, but I think I was wrong."
I though Richard learnt that people can't live alone and share the everything is important for everyone.
5.Richard is a main character in this story. He lived in a village and he must do his Year of Sharin when he become twelve years old. This is the village's rule, so he lived with animals in forest for a year. He could learn many things through doing Year of Sharing.
This book is interesting for me and the last scene was surprising. If you want to know about the truth of this story, you should read this book.
2.11/25=20minutes,11/26=60minutes
3.life,village,deer,wolf,animal,live,learn
4.Richard said "I didn't need people, but I think I was wrong."
I though Richard learnt that people can't live alone and share the everything is important for everyone.
5.Richard is a main character in this story. He lived in a village and he must do his Year of Sharin when he become twelve years old. This is the village's rule, so he lived with animals in forest for a year. He could learn many things through doing Year of Sharing.
This book is interesting for me and the last scene was surprising. If you want to know about the truth of this story, you should read this book.
November 6, 2014
1. Oxford level. 2.
2. 10/31,11/4 80minutes
3.Richard, party, animal, deer, wolf, fight, kill
4. Richard was bored with his life, also a special party. he decided to live as an animal, a deer for his year of sharing. he lived with deer like their family. His mother (deer) was like his real mother. however, living with deer was often made him in danger. it was difficult for him to live as a deer but his life was better than before.
5. At first, I didn't understand this story and I read it again and again but through doing it,I found this story is interesting!
2. 10/31,11/4 80minutes
3.Richard, party, animal, deer, wolf, fight, kill
4. Richard was bored with his life, also a special party. he decided to live as an animal, a deer for his year of sharing. he lived with deer like their family. His mother (deer) was like his real mother. however, living with deer was often made him in danger. it was difficult for him to live as a deer but his life was better than before.
5. At first, I didn't understand this story and I read it again and again but through doing it,I found this story is interesting!
July 16, 2014
7/9=85min.
He didn't want to stay his village any more. Then he went to the doctor to see him. I don't know why he went there but the doctor gave him a medicine to take him. And the medicine made him an animal.
This scene was really weird. Therefore I could not understand why he went to the doctor and became an animal.
However I could enjoyed reading except the scene. Actually he became a deer and belonged to the deer's family so I felt the lace of family.
He didn't want to stay his village any more. Then he went to the doctor to see him. I don't know why he went there but the doctor gave him a medicine to take him. And the medicine made him an animal.
This scene was really weird. Therefore I could not understand why he went to the doctor and became an animal.
However I could enjoyed reading except the scene. Actually he became a deer and belonged to the deer's family so I felt the lace of family.
June 12, 2013
Oxford Readers, level2
Time 6/12=105minutes
Seven word summary=deer-record-water-wolf-animals-family-nuhgry
Can you live with animals separating from your famiy?
No I want to live with my family and I can't live like animals.
I don't like the end of this story, because the boy was eaten by wolves. I was very shocked ahout this. I wanted him to come back to his family.
Time 6/12=105minutes
Seven word summary=deer-record-water-wolf-animals-family-nuhgry
Can you live with animals separating from your famiy?
No I want to live with my family and I can't live like animals.
I don't like the end of this story, because the boy was eaten by wolves. I was very shocked ahout this. I wanted him to come back to his family.
June 17, 2013
Oxford Readers, level2
Time 6/16=100minutes
Seven word summary=deer-wolf-animals-family-boy-human-farewell
If you have to live with animals, what kind of animals dou you choose?
= I think I will choose dogs, but I don't want to live with animals.
This story is a little difficult to understand for me. I was sad because the main character was eaten by wolf.
Time 6/16=100minutes
Seven word summary=deer-wolf-animals-family-boy-human-farewell
If you have to live with animals, what kind of animals dou you choose?
= I think I will choose dogs, but I don't want to live with animals.
This story is a little difficult to understand for me. I was sad because the main character was eaten by wolf.
June 19, 2013
OXFORD level2
6/18/2013 100minutes
3 boring future sharing fast drive die live animal
Have you ever thought about your future?
I cannot imagine what I want to do in the future.
This is difficult to understand this book at first, but after understanding about this book's world, This book become really really interesting.
6/18/2013 100minutes
3 boring future sharing fast drive die live animal
Have you ever thought about your future?
I cannot imagine what I want to do in the future.
This is difficult to understand this book at first, but after understanding about this book's world, This book become really really interesting.
October 22, 2012
total-62min
party-deer-appeared-wolves-killing-coming-farewell
Do you have any people whom you wanna protect? -Yes, I have. I like my family so much, so I wanna protect them.
Have you climed up to the top of the mountain? -Yes, I have. When I was elementary school student, I climed with my father.
party-deer-appeared-wolves-killing-coming-farewell
Do you have any people whom you wanna protect? -Yes, I have. I like my family so much, so I wanna protect them.
Have you climed up to the top of the mountain? -Yes, I have. When I was elementary school student, I climed with my father.
February 3, 2015
It's kind of sad when I knew that boy was dead just to protect the deer family. I had no idea why they put the kids into the dangerous & wilderness animals families
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 10, 20171. oxford, 2
2. May 7=80min
3. party, alone, village, animal, deer, family, cold, dark
4. This story is a boy who is 12 years old has to do rite of passage. That experience is he become a deer and live with its family. I thought this story was amazing because people lived with animal and experienced a lot of difficulties. That is different from people. For instance, deers don't talk and eat fruits or leaves.
5. I like this story because the thing like this usually don't happen in the real world. This is not truth. I like fiction story.
2. May 7=80min
3. party, alone, village, animal, deer, family, cold, dark
4. This story is a boy who is 12 years old has to do rite of passage. That experience is he become a deer and live with its family. I thought this story was amazing because people lived with animal and experienced a lot of difficulties. That is different from people. For instance, deers don't talk and eat fruits or leaves.
5. I like this story because the thing like this usually don't happen in the real world. This is not truth. I like fiction story.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews