Skeeter’s Well by Paul G. Wilson is about a boy who befriends a mysterious stranger in the woods. Josh and his brother Jake enjoy running through the woods around their mountain home, hunting for rabbits, but one day something unexpected happens. Josh encounters a mysterious boy roaming wild in the woods. When he reports the sighting to his Paw, he’s immediately told to keep his distance from the strange boy, but Josh sees something else in him. He sees a new friend. Despite the warnings Josh receives, the two are free to be friends in the woods until the day comes when Josh discovers there is more to the boy than meets the eye.

The setting is an important aspect of how the story is shaped, with the woods and the mountain home as a playground. It’s a story of growing up and friendship, with the woods providing the catalyst for both these things. This also gives the story an old-fashioned tone reminiscent of stories such as Tom Sawyer, which uses the environment as part of this boy’s understanding of relationships and the world. Paul G. Wilson captures the interactions between Josh and the boy with the wholesomeness of two youngsters playing in the woods. While the boy is an interesting, strange character, he’s still a boy, and the story does a good job of reminding readers of this fact as events occur. He’s more than what he’s perceived to be, and it takes Josh seeing that for others around him to see it too. There is also a mystery element that will leave you surprised at the end, and it shifts the tone in an interesting direction. Skeeter’s Well is a charming story written for all ages.

Skeeter's Well by Paul G. Wilson follows Josh, a curious boy who lives a humble life with his family and loves to go hunting with his father and brother, Jake. Lately, he has been fearful of going into the woods because Chee-kan-gett, a local native man, warned him about the Engowei, a dangerous creature that roams the forest. One day, while playing his harmonica, Josh discovers the Engowei. He soon realizes, however, that the creature is nothing but a scruffy boy everyone in the community calls Skeeter, but his name is Tom, and he is very skilled at hunting. Josh's dad tells him to keep his distance from the boy, but he still sneaks away to meet Tom in the forest, and they become really good friends. Josh discovers that Tom is not just an ordinary kid, and the more he sees the amazing powers Tom has, the quicker he understands that his new friend may not be of this world. When trouble comes knocking, Josh and his family finally learn Tom’s full story.

Skeeter's Well is a stirring story that covers themes of friendship, belonging, prejudice, love, and greed. This tale touched me deeply and made me feel for the characters. Josh is an ordinary kid who experiences a friendship that defies all odds, and Tom is a misunderstood child who just wanted a friend. Paul G. Wilson does a great job of transporting readers to a simpler time, where life was all about survival, family, and community. The book stresses the importance of compassion and kindness in breaking down barriers in society. It also reflects on human beings as greedy, how they kill and take from nature without any thought of consequences. The story is intriguing with a plot that gradually unravels, revealing what really happens with Tom and his family. Overall, it was such a good read and should be in one's collection if a reader loves mystery and fantasy stories about friendship and acceptance.