This little boy was stranded all alone out on the prairie, and the only other helpful being there was a badger. Ben, a 6 year old boy can act like animals as if he was their brother. He picks an animal, then can follow it for hours acting like it, and making noises like it. But one day, when he was mocking a chicken he wandered too far. When he noticed it was about lunch time he turned back to go home, but there wasn't a house in sight. Clouds rolled over and a thunderstorm broke out. Ben raced around for cover. He tripped in a large tunnelish hole in his scurry. Without further ado he wrenched himself in. The next morning, he dug himself through the rest of the tunnel, to find himself in a huge chamber, and to his surprise there was a badger there. Throughout the next two months Ben lived with this badger, acting like it and becoming more like it everyday. When his brother finally found him though, he was reluctant to go home. Later after he realized where he was, (home) his badger came back, who he saved by throwing himself over her before she was shot by his father. The next day while the badger was chilling in the sun by the house, the mean neighbor arrived, thinking that the badger was trespassing, he shot her. When he was about to burry her, he realized that she was still breathing, taking her back in the house, Ben could only hope that she would live. This book was filled with action, fun times, and sad events.
There was for sure a ton of action. Ben was here, Ben was there, where wasn't he? His badger would be trapped, she would escape, and then Ben would get lost. Later Ben would be found, but his badger pops in, what doesn't happen to Ben anyway?
This book had many, many fun times in it. Ben would dance around after discovering that she's breathing (the badger). And then Ben would jump for joy that he lived, because of the wonderful badger.
Even though this book was good, it was very sad. The badger's pups died. Ben almost died from starvation before the badger helped him. The badger's mate dies, and then the badger almost dies herself.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I think anyone could too, for it was sad, yet happy, and filled with action!
Anne.L.

I too was required to read this book in the 6th grade. I couldn't understand how this book could be an award then or now. I'm a huge Eckert fan, but this story just doesn't cut the mustard. For a better Eckert book, check out Johnny Logan