Living in a small Vermont town in 1899, ten-year-old Robbie considers himself a free-thinker. A mischievious boy, Robbie rarely behaves in a manner expected of the son of the town’s Congregational minister; in fact, he seems hellbent on breaking the rules whenever he can. But Robbie grows emotionally and morally when he begins to see the consequences of his actions, and can come to grips with the relationship he has with his father. Robbie, who is a great admirer of Mark Twain, seems to have more than a little Huck Finn as he recounts his humorous, yet thought-provoking, story. Paterson’s distinctive use of idiomatic language helps to add comedic flavor, as well as to anchor the novel in a specific time and place. (Ages 10-14)

It's 1899 in a small town in Vermont, and the turn of the century is coming fast. According to certain members of the church where Robbie's father is the preacher, the end of the century might even mean the end of the world. But Robbie has more pressing worries. He's sure his father loves his simple-minded brother, Elliot, better than him, and he can no longer endure the tiresome restrictions of Christianity. He decides to leave the fold and become an "apeist" and, just in case the church whisperers are right, resolves to live life to the fullest. His high-spirited and often hot-headed behavior does nothing to improve his father's opinion of him, nor does it improve the congregation's flagging opinion of his father. Not until the consequences of his actions hurt others does Robbie put a stop to the snowballing chain of events he has set off and begin to realize his father might love him despite his wayward tendencies.

Katherine Paterson is the recipient of the 2013 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award.