The Yearling is a novel written by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings that tells the story of a young boy named Jody Baxter living in the Florida backwoods during the late 19th century. Jody is an only child who longs for a pet to call his own. One day, he comes across a young deer, or a yearling, and decides to adopt it as his own.
As Jody raises the yearling, he forms a deep bond with the animal and learns valuable lessons about responsibility and the harsh realities of life in the wilderness. However, as the yearling grows older, it begins to cause problems for the family by eating their crops and attracting predators.
Despite his love for the yearling, Jody is faced with a difficult decision: whether to keep the animal and risk the family's livelihood, or let it go back into the wild where it belongs. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the complexities of growing up in a harsh environment.