Description:

Howard Gardner is starving to death. All spring and summer, Howard and his older, stronger, more charming brother, Jack, worked as hoggees, driving the mules that pulled boats along the Erie Canal. But Jack has gone home for the winter, and Howard has gotten himself into serious trouble. In a misguided attempt to outshine his brother, Howard chose to stay behind in Birchport to save his traveling money and send it home to his family. After his winter job falls through. Howard must burrow next to the mules in the barn for warmth and must fight off the wild dogs for scraps of leftover food from the inn. Howard fears, with reason, that he might not survive the winter. As desperate as Howard is, he is haunted by the sadness he sees in the eyes of Sarah, the granddaughter of the man who keeps the mules. Even though she's older than her two sisters, she never speaks, and she seems completely disconnected from the world. Sarah does have a serious problem, but it's one that her family won't discuss with outsiders. Howard longs to help her in any way he can, and his quest to do so eventually reveals to him how he truly compares to his brother. Once again, Anna Myers has crafted a moving, nuanced coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of an intriguing historical era. Read More