Tracker

John Borne is the protagonist and point-of-view character of Tracker, as well as the titular tracker of the doe. John is a quiet, introspective 13-year-old, and he enjoys doing chores on his family’s farm because “it was work but it touched something else in his mind” (12). Chores allow John to keep a part of his mind busy so the rest can contemplate, and during the events of the story, he contemplates his grandfather’s death, as well as the relationship between death caused by hunting and disease. John’s last name is a metaphor for the transformation he undergoes during the book. He is born again through his experience tracking the doe and the understanding he comes to have from following her. By the end of the novel, John has insight about life and death he didn’t have before, and he becomes more sensitive to a creature’s right to life. It’s unclear if John will continue with deer-hunting season, even though meat is a primary source of food. Ultimately, John’s journey through the woods reflects his journey through his grief over his grandfather and the naturalness of death.