by Gary Paulsen
First published 1991
Eldon and his brother Wayne spend their winter evenings in the family's cozy gathering room. The boys join Uncle David, their elderly relative, and other family members around the warm stove when the cold nights arrive. Uncle David captivates the brothers with his exciting stories about superheroes. The boys wait eagerly for each new tale. But when Uncle David shares "The Woodcutter," everything changes. What follows brings terror first, then something wonderful. This particular story transforms their winter routine into something neither boy expected. The family's quiet evenings become the backdrop for an experience that moves from frightening to magical.
Genres: fiction, family, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate
Tropes: found-family
Period: Winter
103 pages · Paperback · Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.