White Heron, A
by Sarah Orne Jewett | Grades 9-12
"A White Heron" by Sarah Orne Jewett is a charming short story that beautifully captures the delicate balance between nature and human ambition. The narrative follows Sylvia, a young girl living in rural New England, who encounters a hunter seeking the elusive white heron. Faced with a moral dilemma, Sylvia must choose between revealing the bird's location to please the hunter and preserving the heron's freedom. Through rich descriptions of the natural world and the protagonist's inner conflict, Jewett explores themes of innocence, conservation, and the intrinsic value of wildlife.