reviewsbyerin

First published in 1909, "A Girl of the Limberlost" bring us the story of Elnora, a sweet and industrious young lady living near the marshy swamps of eastern Indiana. We meet her on her first day of high school, as she makes the trek into a nearby city and discovers just how backwoods she looks and how cruel the other students can be. There's also unexpected expenses with no easy way to meet them. Heartbroken and feeling like her dreams of getting an education will never come true, neighbors rally around Elnora and she finds ways to earn money by collecting moths and nature specimens from the woods surrounding her home.

Our fatherless heroine has an uneasy relationship with her mother through the first part of the story. Katharine blames Elnora for her husband's death and has never been a supportive parent. But Katharine has a wonderful redemptive arc over the course of the novel and becomes a character you can cheer for and love.

Covering more than five years, we see Elnora grow into a woman of assurance and grace, dealing with both triumphs and disappointments. When she meets Philip Ammon, a young lawyer sent out of the city to recover his health, Elnora finds herself falling for him even though he's engaged to a girl back home. Her loyalty to doing the right thing is strong, no matter the personal cost. There's a lot about courage and conviction we can learn from this heroine!

This book and I have a wonderful history together. It was actually one of my grandmother's favorite books and she was my first introduction to it. I've read it many times through the years, and this go-around I took part in a group read where we discussed and dissected the characters and plot. What fun! I loved every minute of it. I'm thankful for classic literature and good friends who share the enjoyment of it.