Pure realism is the core of this book. A small family surviving in the wild of old America. The characters are diverse and never just black or white. Penny might be a bit too much of a good guy, but the way he is gives great comfort. A young boy is a fickle thing and compared to some adolescents he is not too bad but he is just not living up to his expectations. To what is needed. Yearlings are frustratingly selfish, but we have to remember we where once just so.