Alida's Song [Kindle Edition]

Gary Paulsen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Paulsen revisits the terrain of various autobiographical writings (Father Water, Mother Woods; Eastern Sun, Winter Moon; and sections of My Life in Dog Years) for this affecting story of a pivotal summer. The 14-year-old protagonist, who is named only as "the boy," has been sliding slowly toward troubleAnearly flunking school, working odd jobs early in the morning and late at night, and sleeping near the furnace to avoid his perpetually drunk parents. So when the boy receives a letter from his grandmother Alida, asking that he come work on the farm, owned by two Norwegian brothers where she is employed as a cook, he is quick to accept. Paulsen brings his great skills as a naturalist and his enthusiasm for the outdoor life to descriptions of the boy's adjustment to the orderly farm, from vivid descriptions of an encounter with hostile geese to the work of milking cows and tending fields. The characterizations are deeply affectionate if a little Waltons-ish: Alida and the two farmers are strong, self-contained and yet keenly attuned to the boy's unstated needs. Several narrative frames neatly set off the effect of the farm interlude: the book begins as the protagonist, grown and in the Army, pays a visit to Alida, and it ends when he, "old enough to have grandchildren of his own," discovers that there was more behind that special summer than he had known. It's Paulsen's classic blend of emotion and ruggedness, as satisfying as ever. Ages 10-up. (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A sequel to The Cookcamp (Orchard, 1991), in which a little boy is sent to Minnesota to stay with his grandmother who cooks for a crew of road builders. Grandma Alida once again steps in at a troubled time in her grandson's life. Now the boy is 14; living with violent, drunken parents; and surviving on a variety of odd jobs and the kindness of neighborhood shopkeepers. A strategically timed letter arrives from his grandmother offering him a summer job as a hired hand on a farm owned by two Norwegian brothers for whom she cooks. He accepts the offer and experiences a season of hard work, music, dancing, and hearty meals served up with warmth, love, and understanding. The rhythms and rituals of farm life are described with alluring detail-enough to make any city kid yearn for a summer away. The book begins with the boy (readers never do learn his name), now a man on leave from the army, visiting his grandmother and remembering that wonderful time in his life. It ends with the man, now married with a family, learning of Alida's unspoken sacrifices for him from a cigar box full of old letters. This beautifully written novella is a quiet tribute to a loving relative.
Barbara Auerbach, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 132 KB
• Publisher: Yearling (December 24, 2008)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001ODEQ7U
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Gary Paulsen is one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young readers. He has written more than one hundred book for adults and young readers, and is the author of three Newberry Honor titles: Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. He divides his time among Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, and the Pacific.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Anyone Who Loves Their Grandmother, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Alida's Song (Hardcover)

Alida's Song was a quick read. I thought it was helpful to have read Gary Paulsen's biography and know his background/upbringing. The story was very moving. Alida didn't make judgements on her grandsons homelife she just created a safe and caring homelife for him. This story is truely a treasure.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will have appeal for readers of all ages., July 7, 2004

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alida's Song (Paperback)

"This fourteenth summer started the same way and would have continued the same way except that in the first week after school was out he received a letter from his grandmother."

So begins the "boy's" summer with his grandmother on a small farm in Minnesota. This summer really would be something special and a far cry from the hard life with his drinking parents. "The boy," as Gary Paulsen calls himself in this semi-autobiographical story, finds himself absorbed in farm life. He learns to love the two bachelor brothers, Gunnar and Olaf, who employ his grandmother as their cook and regard her in the highest esteem. He learns to appreciate his grandmother's gentle but firm love.

In the rigorous day-to-day life he learns the danger of a flock of geese, how to milk cows, clean barns, groom horses, gather eggs, and on and on. It is a full life, with laughing and hard work. This is one of the summers he remembers fondly and knows, as an older man, that it was his grandmother's special gift of life to him.

The summer ends, but not before he shares a dance with his Grandmother Alida. They dance to a song written and played by Gunnar and Olaf in memory of "Alida and Clarence." It is a special moment to always be replayed in "the boy's" bank of memories.

This little gem of a book is termed a "companion" to THE COOKCAMP. While these two books can be read by themselves, together they are even more powerful. Paulsen's portrayal of the adult world through the eyes of a boy is both moving and poignant. This is an easy, quick read that will have appeal for readers of all ages.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alida's Song review by: Luke K/Mrs. Cox's Class, March 8, 2004

By 

Luke K (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alida's Song (Paperback)

"Alida's Song" is written by Gary Paulsen and I believe it is a great book. The book is about a boy whose parents were alcoholics and his grandmother was the only one who cared about him. After his grandmother sent him a letter to come work with her at a farm, he learned a new meaning for his life. The story's setting transforms from the trashy city life to a little happy farm. Many things happen at this great farm and it changes this boys life. This story shows many different relationships that are emotional and fun to follow. The author's realistic descriptions in the story make me be able to image the scenes in my head. He describes the boy's surroundings very well to give the reader a good idea of how it affects the boy's social life. The author shows the character's funny and emotional sides to help the reader get a better understanding of the characters. The author also keeps the ending very hidden and gives almost no clues of how the book is really going to end, which makes the story more interesting. Along with the story the author gives some information about how life was in the early 1920's to give the reader a clear picture. My favorite part of this is at the end when it all comes together. I would recommend this book to other readers because this story was very interesting and adventurous.