In ‘Opening Day,’ boy’s first deer hunt a tale of growing up

OPENING DAY, Susan Bartlett, illustrated by Luanne Wrenn, Tilbury House, Gardiner, 2007, 32 pages, hardcover, $16.95.

“Opening Day” is a children’s book about a boy named Sam who goes hunting with his friend Eric Cundy and Eric’s father, Mr. Cundy.

It’s Sam’s first time hunting, and after everything he has done to prove to his parents how much he wants to go, he’s excited and nervous. Before they go out, they stop at the Moosehead Diner for breakfast. Sam and Eric both try coffee for the first time. Mr. Cundy calls it their “initiation.”

Eventually, they make it to the woods and begin the hike to the spot Mr. Cundy and Eric had scouted the week before. Along the way, they see deer tracks, a red-tailed hawk and even a doe. But since they have licenses to hunt only for bucks, they don’t shoot it.

When they reach the spot, they wait. Sam begins to wonder whether they’ll ever see any more deer, let alone a buck. A buck eventually crosses their path. When they’re about to shoot, Sam looks at Eric. The buck sees the movement and runs. Eric gets angry, and Sam thinks it was his fault.

Later they stake out an apple orchard. When two deer venture through, Mr. Cundy sneezes, and once again the deer run. This makes Sam feel better because an experienced hunter made a mistake. Soon the sun begins to sink. Eric asks Sam if he would hunt with them again, but he turns them down. He doesn’t think he wants to be a hunter.

“Opening Day” has a good, simple plot with few detours. In the very beginning it seemed difficult to distinguish who was who, but once I got used to the names, it became clear enough. This book is quite straightforward and seems OK for kids 7 years old or older.

Jack Wilde is a junior at Mount View High School. He can be contacted on AOL instant messenger at PntBallAddict09.