The Game of Jackstraws
This novel is a coming-of-age story about a young girl who lives with her family on a rural farm. The story revolves around the girl's experiences and relationships with her family members, particularly her mother, who struggles to maintain a sense of dignity and independence in the face of poverty and hardship.
By Kate Douglas Wiggin · First published 1877 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming-of-Age · 3,281 words
First lines
There was a roar of laughter at the old man's boast, but in a moment all was activity. The men ran hither and thither like ants, gathering their tools. There were some old-fashioned pick-poles, straight, heavy levers without any "dog," and there were modern pick-poles and peaveys, for every river has its favorite equipment in these things. There was no dynamite in those days to make the stubborn jams yield, and the dog-warp was in general use. Horses or oxen, sometimes a line of men, stood on the river-bank. A long rope was attached by means of a steel spike to one log after another, and it was dragged from the tangled mass. Sometimes, after unloading the top logs, those at the bottom would rise and make the task easier; sometimes the work would go on for hours with no perceptible progress, and Mr. Wiley would have opportunity to tell the bystanders of a "turrible jam" on the Kennebec that had cost the Lumber Company ten thousand dollars to break.
What this Textopian page supports
The Game of Jackstraws is listed on Textopian as a short story by Kate Douglas Wiggin, dated 1877 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Kate Douglas Wiggin
- Date: 1877 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Comedy, Adventure
- Length: 3,281 words
- Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Game of Jackstraws by Kate Douglas Wiggin
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Game of Jackstraws?
- How does this short story by Kate Douglas Wiggin fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, social interactions, and the intricacies of human relationships within a specific community.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and events reflect a historical context, particularly related to river driving and logging practices of the past.
- Coming-of-Age — The story involves young characters navigating social dynamics and personal growth, particularly through their interactions and experiences.
- Comedy — The text contains humorous elements and character quirks that provide comedic relief and satire of social norms.
Tags
Children's Literature · Classic Novel · Coming-of-Age Story · Domestic Fiction · Family Drama · Female Protagonist · Friendship · Growing Up · Historical Fiction · Innocence Lost · Literary Classic · Moral Education