This book is about the coming of age of a boy with nature. Mack is like many young adolescents that grows up with the help of mentoring through environmental circumstances that isn't always apparent to us at first. However having the curiosity that many children between 5 and 9 have it is of no surprise that nature and a child such as Mack eventually come together. In this story we have other characters such as Grandma Lizzie and Uncle Bill who also nurtured and mentored Mack.. Their purpose is to give him understanding of the things around him; direct his energy and sometimes his thinking and to be there as an adult who knows some of the answers to the mysteries of a maturing youth. Much of what happens to Mack comes at a time when he decides to grow up a little and make an important change in his life Changes that surrounds a little about what goes on in this book. Beans soon become a part of this growing up. The maturity process starts with Mack's decision and his new adventure with Beans. Part of maturity is accepting responsibility, caring for others, following rules and finding new love and happiness. Those adults that read this book to their children will probably say," this sounds like me when I was growing up." You will remember the days of your youth and ..smile !