The narrator of the story is an eleven-year-old boy.
There is little food because the rain has rotted crops all summer.
Pa takes the horse when he leaves the family at the cabin.
Mary refuses to let the children have any mushroom until she tests it on herself.
Pa returns at the end of the fifth day.
What reason might Pa have for not wanting Mary to travel with his family?
Why does Pa leave?
How long does Mary wait before concluding that the mushroom is safe to eat?
What is surprising about the story's conclusion?
Mary's hardships force her to grow up quickly, to be "Too Soon a Woman." In what ways do you think she shows adult courage and strength? Give specific examples from the text to support your answer.