"The Yearling" is the 1938 novel written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. The story is about a young boy, Jody Baxter, who lives with his parents, Ora and Ezra "Penny" Baxter, in the animal-filled central Florida backwoods in the 1870s. Other children in the family have died leaving Jody as the only child. Jody convinces his parents to allow him to adopt a fawn--which, Jody learns his friend, Fodder-Wing had named "Flag"--and it becomes his constant companion. The book focuses on Jody's life as he matures along with the fawn. The plot also centers on the conflicts of the young boy as he struggles with strained relationships, hunger, death of beloved friends, and the capriciousness of nature. A climaxing scene where Jody must "put Flag down" after his mother shoots the fawn is acutely memorable.

The novel was adapted into a film in 1946, starring Gregory Peck as Penny Baxter and Jane Wyman as Ora Baxter. Both were nominated for Oscars for their performances. Jody was played by Claude Jarman Jr.

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