The twin focuses of this disturbing story by Gina Berriault are a farm boy’s unusual reaction to his accidental shooting of his older brother, and his family and community’s interpretation of that reaction. Rather than run home in tears, the boy continues with their assigned task (picking peas), and calmly reports the death when this is completed. When the boy appears emotionless during the sheriff’s questioning, he is branded a psychopath and cruelly ostracized by family and friends. This becomes self-fulfilling, as the once normal nine-year-old transforms into a “stone boy”. Themes: loss, fear/guilt, grief, parental failure, alienation, isolation, identity.
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