The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

ISBN: 978-0-06-17806-4
HarperCollins, NY
2008
562 pages


Plot Summary

Edgar Sawtelle is a hearing but mute boy who communicates with his parents through sign language. They raise a special breed of large dogs on their farm in a rural area of northern Wisconsin and lead a quiet but satisfying life. When Edgar's dad dies suddenly, his world is turned upside down. No one thinks that Edgar and his mother Trudy can run the farm by themselves so Claude (Edgar's uncle - his father's ne'er-do-well brother) decides to move in and help with everything, including romancing Edgar's mother. Edgar runs away with three of the family's puppies and must fend for himself in the harsh landscape.

Critical Evaluation

This book is written from many points of view; Edgar, his mom, his friend Henry, the sheriff, but most importantly, the dog Almondine, everyone's wise and trusted confidante. Dog-lovers will fall in love with the calm voice of Almondine. This is an original story of a breed of fabulous dogs. The harshness of the weather and landscape of northern Wisconsin is vividly depicted but the sad and tragic ending was ultimately too depressing.

Reader's Annotation

Edgar Sawtelle, a hearing but mute boy, lives on his family's farm where they breed and raise very special dogs, especially Edgar's constant companion (and trusted confidante) Almondine. But when Edgar's father suddenly dies and his disliked uncle moves in, Edgar and three puppies run away and must learn to fend for themselves in the harsh northern Wisconsin landscape.

Author Info

David Wroblewski grew up in rural Wisconsin (the setting for Edgar Sawtelle). He earned his Master's from the Warren Wilson MFA program for Writers and now lives in Colorado with his partner, the writer Kimberly McClintock and their dog, Lola. It took him 10 years to write The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, his first book.

Genre

Crossover adult novel, would appeal to teens because of the dogs and Edgar's young age

Curriculum Ties

Discussion in English classes in high school or college due to its Hamlet comparisons

Booktalking Ideas

1. Talk about how Edgar closes himself off from his feelings after the death of his father. Why? Does he blame himself? Who else does he blame?

2. After Edgar runs away, meets and is befriended by Henry. Why does Henry so readily accept Edgar and the dogs?

Reading/Interest Level

High school to adult - high school age kids have probably heard of this book because of its bestselling status and would be interested because of the dogs and Edgar's young age.

Challenge Issues and Defense

violence

violence is similar to that portrayed in Shakespeare's Hamlet; this is an adult book that is on the NY Times Bestseller list and was an Oprah's Book Club 2008 selection.

Again, the library's collection development policy

Why I Included This Book

My son's (teenage) girlfriend wanted to read it; highly original; great for dog-lovers; bestseller lists