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egbella's review against another edition
4.0
Although this is the second book of the trilogy, I've never read any of the other books in the series, and this stands on its own just fine. I read it several times when I was younger, and it held up to what I remembered on this most recent reread.
It's by no means the happiest of stories, but it is well-researched, nuanced, and does a great job showing what life during that time and in that area was like. I appreciate how she showed that the parents of the story were both flawed and that life was hard for them as well. And even though, at times, I felt like Mem was being portrayed as too strong and perfect of a protagonist, I admired her strength, perseverance, and ability to love and respect her parents, despite the issues that arose.
The ending was sad, and not my favorite way to resolve some of the story problems, but overall, it's a memorable, quick, and gripping read.
It's by no means the happiest of stories, but it is well-researched, nuanced, and does a great job showing what life during that time and in that area was like. I appreciate how she showed that the parents of the story were both flawed and that life was hard for them as well. And even though, at times, I felt like Mem was being portrayed as too strong and perfect of a protagonist, I admired her strength, perseverance, and ability to love and respect her parents, despite the issues that arose.
The ending was sad, and not my favorite way to resolve some of the story problems, but overall, it's a memorable, quick, and gripping read.
aklibrarychick's review against another edition
3.0
This is second in a series about an early pioneer family in the region of the Erie Canal.
In this book we really come to see how ill-equipped and unprepared Mem's parents really were for the pioneer life. Her mother suffers serious post-partum depression, while her father becomes more and more disconnected from the family. Meanwhile Mem is left to cope on her own with her little brother and infant sister.
This book takes place during a famous summer for bad weather. There were blizzards and freezes during July, and crops failed. Altogether a bad year for the family to have come west.
In this book we really come to see how ill-equipped and unprepared Mem's parents really were for the pioneer life. Her mother suffers serious post-partum depression, while her father becomes more and more disconnected from the family. Meanwhile Mem is left to cope on her own with her little brother and infant sister.
This book takes place during a famous summer for bad weather. There were blizzards and freezes during July, and crops failed. Altogether a bad year for the family to have come west.
marissamarguerite's review
3.0
I thought this book was sad but very good. Now I am going to read The Road to Home.
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