From: Dr. Ruth I. Gordon <Druthgo>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 09:55:16 -0800

Thanks, K.T. for bringing this well rounded book to the fore. Each character is fully developed, as is the setting. The latter is very important. I could feel the rain. "Older" readers (grades 5-8) will see May Amelia as she takes dares on the river, runs up to the mill race, cries and almost dies when her new little sister dies. The situation of these Finnish immigrants to a Washington State wilderness is very clear: the harshness of their lives and the occasional triumphs but the kids remain kids and have fun---invented by them. And it's at once very active and contemplative.

When May Amelia and her brother go to the grandmother's in the city, still another layer of frontier (and yes, it was frontier) life is revealed in all its prejudice, and the mixed population of rich and hard scrabble poor. I can't recall, but wasn't an aunt ahat would have been called "a woman of easy virtue"? (Then again, some of our contemporary high moralists would be upset with the truth that the good old days weren't so good and not all folk were saints.)

It's a dandy book to read to classes because it carries people, place, and an era to today.

 Grandma

================="You may not be able to change the world, but at least you can embarrass the guilty." Jessica Mitford (191796)
Received on Tue 01 Feb 2000 11:55:16 AM CST