ReviewsByErin

 


If you love classic youth literature, you are not going to want to miss this book by debut author Anna Rose Johnson! With a style that hearkens to favorites like Lucy Maud Montgomery or Maud Hart Lovelace, I was caught up in the characters and the time period and the sweetly woven plotline.

Norvia Nelson is starting a new life. Her parents are divorced and her mother has remarried, which is scandalous in pre-WWI Michigan. On top of navigating her already delicate social standing due to the divorce, Norvia is urged keep her Indian heritage a secret. Though Norvia treasures the stories of their Ojibwe ancestors and her memories with her grandparents and great-grandparents, she knows she would face even more prejudice if their connection was uncovered.

Above all, Norvia desires to be a heroine in her own life. Can she be the heroine in her family, at her school, and among her friends? Will a dashing hero come along to play his part in her story? She wrestles with being who she wants to be while never quite knowing what to say and being uncertain about a great many things. This is so relatable!

I appreciated the faith message that shines through, offering hope that Jesus Christ is the one who remains the same when everything around us changes. That's a wonderful truth that we can always hold close.

Overall, I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves classic children's literature. The characters are delightful, and you'll be swept away with the author's style and voice.

I received my copy of this book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.

 


Pollyanna, a precocious orphaned girl, comes to live with her strict aunt in this 1913 classic novel. Aunt Polly and the town of Beldingsville has no idea what is in store! Pollyanna makes friends with great alacrity, even with some of the most taciturn people in town. She teaches people to play the Glad Game, which is finding something to be glad about even in the most dire circumstances. The literal nature of Pollyanna allows for plenty of humorous misunderstandings, and some assumptions on the part of others keep a bit of mystery going through the plot. Even Pollyanna's eternal cheerfulness is challenged when an accident leaves her future in jeopardy.

It's always fun to look back at my favorite books on the year! It was hard to select only one for each genre, as there were so many good reads from 2017. You can click on any of the titles below to read my full review.

Historical Fiction




The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett

This story set in 1927 in Mt. Rainier National Park has all the charm of classic literature, including a heroine who is a true lady while also standing up for what she believes. 


Young Adult Fiction




The Lewis & Clark Squad Series by Stephen Bly

I revisited these childhood favorites and thoroughly enjoyed them! This is a six-book series about a group of teens participating in a summer basketball league. It's all about fun, faith, and friendship!


Contemporary Fiction




"Life After" by Katie Ganshert

The sole survivor of a terrorist bombing tries to come to terms with her new lease on life while being wracked with guilt that she lived when others did not. Very thought-provoking and well-written.


Non-Fiction




"Women Who Move Mountains" by Sue Detweiler

While this is supposed to be a book on prayer, I found it more to be a book on walking confidently and securely as God's child. So much good encouragement!


Classic Literature




"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

This tale may be short, but it is packed full of wonderful lines and thoughtful reminiscing. Ebeneezer Scrooge's gratefulness to be alive and able to change his ways gets me every time!


Novella





"One Enchanted Noel" by Melissa Tagg

Delightful characters with emotional depth set in a charming fictional small town. The whole Enchanted Christmas Collection is a real gem!

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.

"Little Women" was one of the most frequently read books of my childhood. I loved reading about the March sisters and their trials and triumphs. It was a real treat to read this beloved story with adult eyes, enjoying both what was familiar, as well as coming to see some things in totally new ways. I believe it had been at least ten years since my last reading, and what a difference a decade has made in this reader and her views on many things!

This well-known tale centers around four sisters. Meg, the eldest, is gentle and pretty and longs for the luxuries which she sees other young ladies and their more affluent families possess. Second-born Jo has quite an independent streak, and her quick temper and tongue often get her into trouble. Beth is the picture of a servant's heart, always looking for ways to help others and make their lives better, often at the expense of herself. Amy, the youngest, is artistic and ambitious, determined to make her mark on the world and marry her way into material happiness. The girls may occasionally fuss and fight with each other, but their deep bond of sisterly love sees them through many tough times.

Guiding the young ladies is their wise mother, whom they call Marmee, and their father, who opens the story away from home, serving as a chaplain in the Civil War. Their kind neighbor Mr. Laurence keeps a generous eye out for them, while his grandson Laurie provides a rambunctious companion for many of their adventures.

The book follows the girls from the foibles of youth, through the struggles of making their own way, through courtships and falling in love, through heartbreak and loss, and on into the realm of marriage, with homes and children of their own. Along the way they draw inspiration from "Pilgrim's Progress," wear out their New Testaments from frequent use, and learn timeless lessons which we can still relate to almost 150 years later.

What I enjoyed most on this reread was a greater appreciation for the second half of the story. As a youngster I didn't understand the choices of life partner some of the girls made, but more maturity on my part made me value Alcott's direction and the nuances of her storytelling. Having moved beyond girlhood myself, of course it would be those struggles and joys which tugged at my heart this time, more than the youthful squabbles of the first half. This really is a literary treasure, and a classic which will never grow old. If it's not one you've read yet, make some time and welcome the March sisters into your life. You'll be glad you did!