DOWN TO 'DERRY: Coming of Age in Vermont

When the Heffron family moved to Vermont in the 1940’s, Jeanne had already spent eight summers there. But now she was living a very different life, on a real farm, with chores and the care of horses and other animals, trying to ignore the fate of most of them. Having ridden for years, her love continued to be horses. At the end of that first summer, she won a significant award, but it would not be a sweet victory for long; she had made a serious mistake.

Entering the local elementary school...