A towering figure of American literature, Henry David Thoreau is credited with creating a uniquely American literary style, giving birth to the naturalist movement, and inspiring the social action of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Thoreau is seen by many as the very embodiment of the American spirit. However, Thoreau's own writings, such as Walden, are written in a style that is tremendously difficult for young readers. A Mind with Wings will help young people to gain access to Thoreau's influential ideas by bringing them inside the key relationships and events that shaped his thought.

Drawing on Thoreau's writings, letters, and journals, the Hausmans have created a narrative that is at once simple, folksy, engaging, and profound. The book spans Thoreau's life, including his time spent at Walden Pond, his imprisonment for refusing to pay taxes, his close relationship with Emerson, and his work freeing slaves on the Underground Railroad. Key scenes from Thoreau's life are rendered with detail and emotion that make them unforgettable. A Mind with Wings also emphasizes themes and issues that are relevant to adolescents. For much of the narrative, Thoreau is a young man in the process of inventing himself, and he does so in opposition to much of what society expects of him. Thoreau's nonconformity, questioning of the status quo, and self-reliance make him the kind of protagonist that many adolescents can relate to.

A Mind with Wings also includes a complete chronology of Thoreau's life and a helpful glossary of terms.

 
WINNER 2007 - New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age