Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood

"Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood" by George MacDonald is a story of a Scottish boy named Ranald Bannerman coming of age in the Victorian era filled with childhood adventures and family lessons. Ranald thinks about how his childhood is changing and remembers his family and his father, who is a clergyman. Ranald's mother has been ill for most of his life throughout the novel, so he spends his time reflecting on love and loss. As the story unfolds, Ranald meets characters like Mrs. Mitchell and Kirsty, who greatly influence his world. Together they display the tough parts of being a kid in a small Scottish village, and how these times of difficulty made him into the person he is today.