The Great Turkey Walk

Kathleen Karr’s The Great Turkey Walk challenges conventional definitions of intelligence by prioritizing practical wisdom and emotional insight over academic achievement. The novel argues that true intelligence is measured not by formal schooling but by resourcefulness, integrity, and the courage to act on an unconventional vision. This idea is developed through its protagonist, Simon Green, whose journey demonstrates that ingenuity and character are more valuable than the “book smarts” prized by his peers.

Simon’s academic struggles stand in stark contrast to his remarkable business acumen and practical skills. After four years in the third grade, he is “graduated” from school, not for his intellect but because he is too old to remain. Yet this supposed failure is immediately undercut by his clever enterprise. He recognizes the market opportunity in Denver, calculates his potential profits, secures a loan from his teacher, and negotiates a shrewd deal for 1,000 turkeys. While his more traditionally clever cousins mock his scholastic record, they lack the foresight and ambition that drive Simon’s venture. His intelligence is not theoretical but applied.

Simon’s intelligence is not limited to coming up with grand schemes—he is also able to see his plans through by devising solutions to obstacles quickly and effectively.