Bert Breen's Barn Theme of Contrasting Regions

This is a story that's locked in a specific time and place, so there's a bunch of attention to things that distinguish the booming town of Boonville (population about 3,000) from the rural countryside that surrounds it. The novel takes place in a relatively small radius, but it feels way more expansive because we get so much description as we go along with Tom as he experiences parts of the region for the first time. The result: there's a surprisingly diverse cultural presence in the region.

Town is presented as a predominantly masculine space—with the exception of the women's clothing store. It's a place for business and economic exchange, so country-boy Tom doesn't spend much time there before he starts working at the mill. But once he starts taking on more adult responsibilities, he also gains access to new places: the pharmacy, a clothing store, a swanky hotel, and the bank. That's a big deal to a little boy from outside of town.

Tom does okay navigating town, especially when grownups he knows help him, but he really seems to be a country dude at heart. Sure, that doesn't mean that the country doesn't have obstacles of its own, like scary snowstorms, barren farmland, and the threat of life-crushing poverty. Still, Tom seems more eager to take on those challenges than to establish a life for himself in town. Hence the barn dream. You don't get much more country than that.

1. How is the vibe in town different from the vibe in the country? Do we get any clues that one area is better than another, or does the book resist passing judgement?
2. Why do you think the novel works so hard to present so many different kinds of people and places, even within a small area?
3. How do the obstacles Tom faces in the country compare to the obstacles he faces in town?
4. Do you find it weird that there are several places in town that Tom has never been? Are there places near your home you've never been to?

Diversity is a natural feature of any human population; no matter how small the area, you can always find a wide range of people living there.

Economic status is the most influential factor in determining how a person experiences the world.