Laddie by Gene Stratton Porter

By Al R. Young

Gene Stratton Porter's Laddie is a beautifully written and heart-warming tale of rural America. With characteristic skill, Porter puts the reader into the setting and feelings of the characters. Suspense is more than sufficient, and there is ample humor.

However, more than any of the books by Porter that we've listed, Laddie's plot toward the end takes what seems a perilous turn from which the recovery of the characters seems doubtful. We list the book because there may be enough enjoyment "along the way" to enable a reader to overlook the far-fetched ending.