The Hermit

Eleven-year-old Danny Marsden’s life changes when he stumbles upon a dishevelled man living all alone, deep in the woods behind Barnaby’s Brook. His curiosity gets the better of him as he slowly befriends the hermit and discovers a hidden connection between himself and the old man, a connection that might help him save his community’s soccer field that is in danger of being turned into condos by a local developer.

The premise of the story automatically draws the reader in, such is the intrigue and fascination that surrounds the mystery of the “hermit in the woods” in popular culture. The characters in the novel are likeable, and the setting provides a place of innocence where boys are able to wander the countryside on bikes and explore nature with free abandon, within a life that revolves around sports and friendship.

The innocent white middle-class world painted in the novel lacks diversity, diversity of people, gender, and experience. The simple storytelling voice is not able to keep the reader’s imagination engaged. The plot's main mystery, which involves such a fascinating story of family secrets and betrayal, is often overshadowed by Danny's focus on saving his community’s soccer field, a far less interesting conflict for the book to focus on.

So many questions remain about the hermit. While the reader learns about his background story and the basics of how he survives, deeper conversations of why he would reject society and choose such a life of isolation, and how is he able to survive given the physical and existential challenges of living alone in the wild remain unexplored. This is a shame given the subject matter that lends itself to exploration of the human condition, the role of technology in society, and human beings relationships to nature.

Overall, The Hermit is a good book that offers a starting to point for a number of interesting and engaging discussions.