Product Description

It's July 4, 1845. A soft-spoken young man named Henry David Thoreau has carefully constructed a small, simple cabin in the woods overlooking Walden Pond. For the next two years, his closest companions will be the chickadees, the woodchucks, and the quiet pines of the Walden Woods. Henry is twenty-eight years old, and his life has not been easy. His brother John—his closest friend and companion—has died. The only woman he ever loved has rejected him. On this day he has come to Walden in search of truth—not the truth taught in schools or in church, but the truth he can feel dwelling deep within him. Henry opens his journal and begins to write:     I went to the woods because I wished to     live deliberately, to front only the essential     facts of life, and see if I could not     learn what it had to teach, and not,     when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. Follow Henry into the woods and out again—through a courageous American life that has changed our world for the better.

For ages 12 and up.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #905477 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-11
• Released on: 2006-04-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–This well-researched novel expertly captures Thoreaus character and life in mid-19th-century Massachusetts. Despite frequent bouts with tuberculosis, the man who lived for two years in Walden woods introduced innovations to his familys pencil business, ran a school with his brother, and went on hiking and boating expeditions. His integrity was remarkable, as evidenced when he helped fugitive slaves or spent a night in jail over a point of principle. For much of his life, Thoreau wandered seemingly without direction, but, when viewed as a whole, his life was spent developing a personal philosophy. This book makes clear that Thoreau was the product of both a loving, supportive family and New Englands Transcendentalist movement. Though at times the dialogue seems stilted and overly philosophical, careful readers will have much to mull over, and they will savor the adventures of this great American thinker. Its a quick inspirational read for budding naturalists or for those who feel as though they dont fit into their own time and place.–Christina Stenson-Carey, Albany Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 6-9. The Hausmans introduce the life of Henry David Thoreau in a series of short, anecdotal chapters, each centered on one, often small event in the writer's life. The authors frequently use dialogue in their accounts; however, as they explain in their introduction, the "dialogue is crafted out of Henry's own statements." Overall, their approach helps to paint a vivid portrait of Thoreau and his quirky, highly original mind, although in the midst of all the anecdotes, Thoreau the writer and his contributions to American letters get somewhat lost. More direct quotes from his writing and more information on the tremendous influence that Walden had after his death would have helped fill out the picture. Young readers, however, will appreciate the attempt to make Thoreau a compelling figure and not a dusty name from the past. Jim Murphy's Into the Deep Forest with Henry David Thoreau (1995) would make a handsome companion title. Todd Morning
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Thoreau is a man best understood by the young whose minds are still free. The Hausmans have written A Mind with Wings especially for them. It soars!"—D. B. Johnson, author of Henry Builds a House and Henry Hikes to Fitchburg "Along with Lincoln and Washington, Thoreau is one of the most important characters in our national history—the very model for a kind of stubborn and lovely American rebelliousness. This book captures him at his most human: equal parts difficult and deeply alive."—Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature "I've often wondered what it might have been like to walk with Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau's great mind, social conscience, and open heart are on display in this beautifully written and frequently moving story of one of the greatest of all American writers."—Joseph Bruchac, author of Thirteen Moons on a Turtle's Back"A marvelous blending of the many-sided life of Henry David Thoreau—known from his childhood as Old Stick. He would over his lifetime polish his old stick namesake of knotty, slender twists and bends into a character that exemplified right living and civil disobedience, both of which we are in great need of at just this moment."—David Kherdian, author of The Road from Home: A True Story of Courage, Survival, and Hope

Customer Reviews

Reintroducing a Great Man
I read some of A Mind with Wings every night for a week to stretch it out. I enjoyed every minute of it. Thoreau has so much life to him in this book. The Hausmans chose just the right places to meet him and just the right tone for him to speak to us, grown ups and kids alike. And I learned a heck of a lot. I never knew so many of the things that were in the book; things it gave me pleasure to learn. I always loved HDT, but he seemed kind of old and dead in my mind. In this story he was young and lively and friendly. I hope this book introduces this man, who started nonviolent revolution and was a fearless abolitionist, to today's younger students. As a middle school teacher, I will bring this book into my class so my children can meet HDT in a way that they will think of him as a friend.

Lively fiction and thorough research reveals Thoreau's life and personality
The portrait of Henry David Thoreau written in "A Mind With Wings" is so good that I wanted to read Walden Pond again. The authors have done a great job of researching each detail and made this reclusive author turn into a real, warm-bodied human being whose writing is ever more accessible to me. I hope a great many others will also enjoy this new perspective of a great author.

A reminder to slow down
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (08/06)

"A Mind With Wings" is a book for young readers about the life of Henry David Thoreau. It takes us from birth to death and includes all of the major events in between. We learn how Henry grew up in a family of free thinkers. We meet influential people in his life such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Brown. We learn of his setbacks and achievements such as getting thrown in jail, but turning it around into a lecture series. Using information from biographies on Henry David Thoreau as well as notes from his journal, the book gives readers an intimate peak into the life of this great American thinker. Henry David Thoreau was a son, a brother, a pencil-maker, a thinker, a writer, a naturalist, and so much more.

Any young reader asked to do a report or research paper on Thoreau should pick up this book. The authors know their audience. A timeline and glossary are included in the back for reference and the book is just long enough for the intended age group.

I was excited to read this book, because I have never been able to dive into "Walden", yet I wanted to get a sense of this man. After reading "A Mind With Wings", I have a better understanding of where he was coming from and feel better prepared to try reading "Walden". However, it goes beyond that. This book teaches lessons that all of us should practice. It reminds me that I need to slow down, take more walks in the woods, and get to know nature better. Henry also teaches us to follow our hearts and personal morals. If something seems wrong to you, don't do it. Stand up for what you believe in. Henry did all of these things, lived a full life, and died a peaceful man.