Southcrop Forest

Lorne Rothman
iUniverse, Inc. (2008)
ISBN 9780595495887
Reviewed By Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (11/08)

 

Lorne Rothman has created imaginary characters from our environment to capture the attention of the reader and to alert them of man’s threat on our ecology today.  “Southcrop Forest” is an intriguing fictional account of Auja, a young red oak and Fur, a legendary tent caterpillar.

Pollution, the lumber industry, and highway construction have all left an impact on Southcrop Forest. In this fanciful story the trees are able to converse and have other unique gifts including Southcrop vision. Isolated from other forests and concerned for their fate, they are desperate to contact the trees at Riverside Farm with their secret before it is destroyed.

The story takes place in an actual forest setting in southern Ontario and is a mix of myth and fantasy. Fur is recruited to take the secret of the South crop vision to Riverside Farm. After a Gathering of the trees in Southcrop Forest, Fur’s route was determined and the plan began to take form.

Fur was to follow the Rapid Trail, going north through the forest to Riverside Farm. Then he would cross Oak River. As Fur crawled along toward his goal, he was attacked by a Rogue wasp and driving rain. He was crushed by rollers and preyed upon by swift flies, and birds. He was distracted by a Mosquito hawk and got lost and was terrified by the dark green forest. In time he too received the secret of the Southcrop Forest vision and the unique insights it afforded.

Rothman used dialog between Auja and Fur to introduce lessons in history, stories of explorers, traders, and the logging industry. Fur learned of the greed of hew-mans as destroyed the forests without thought or concern for the future.

The story is intriguing, inspiring, and enlightening. The author’s notes at the end of the book are a very valuable source of informative. Rothman introduces background material on various trees, birds, earth sciences, and nature studies. 

The book gives a fresh understanding and appreciation for the importance of ecology and motivation for taking steps to save the environment. “Southcrop Forest” by Lorne Rothman is an ideal book to incorporate in a family night time of reading aloud. There is something for every age. It is also an ideal resource for the elementary school reference library and for supplementary reading in the home school classroom.

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