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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Vicarious trauma but important to understanding immigrant experience. Kids can handle it
Somehow, this book covers both more and less than I remembered. (Again, re-reading these for the first time in roughly 20 years.)
Kirsten was always special to me because she shared a first name with my childhood best friend (who, yes, both looked like and owned the Kirsten doll; mine was Samantha). She also fit right into my interest in pioneer stories - Little House on the Prairie, anything with a wagon train, I was there.
Compared with other AG originals, Kirsten has a lot of real challenges: the journey her family makes in this book is huge, and once they do settle in, the family is living in a small cabin in the wilderness, trying to learn English and fit in with their new American neighbors. Felicity, Samantha, and Molly have it much easier.
What's interesting to me about this book as an adult (and as a writer) is how much Shaw packs into this slim little book. Each of these books is just a brief glimpse into the character's life and Shaw makes the most of this one. We see life in steerage on board the ship and establish Kirsten's friendship with Marta. We land in New York and get a peek at the overwhelmingness of it. The family travels by rail and steamship, we find Marta again but then lose her. They finally reach Minnesota, but then have to leave possessions behind and WALK the last part of the way.
And at each stage, Shaw vividly evokes the sensory experience - for me, it's a toss-up between whether the ship or the train sounds more awful. (Yes, it should be the ship based solely on duration, but still.)
Yet, though each one is a strong evocative picture, we quickly flip along to the next episode. For example, I found myself wondering where the family stayed that first night in New York City, but we move right to the following day.
Throughout, we get a strong sense of family bonds and loving parents. "Have heart," they keep telling each other. And through it all, they do.
And that's lovely, ya know? It's the kind of fictional family you'd want to be a part of, even though you don't necessarily want to be in their story.
Kirsten was always special to me because she shared a first name with my childhood best friend (who, yes, both looked like and owned the Kirsten doll; mine was Samantha). She also fit right into my interest in pioneer stories - Little House on the Prairie, anything with a wagon train, I was there.
Compared with other AG originals, Kirsten has a lot of real challenges: the journey her family makes in this book is huge, and once they do settle in, the family is living in a small cabin in the wilderness, trying to learn English and fit in with their new American neighbors. Felicity, Samantha, and Molly have it much easier.
What's interesting to me about this book as an adult (and as a writer) is how much Shaw packs into this slim little book. Each of these books is just a brief glimpse into the character's life and Shaw makes the most of this one. We see life in steerage on board the ship and establish Kirsten's friendship with Marta. We land in New York and get a peek at the overwhelmingness of it. The family travels by rail and steamship, we find Marta again but then lose her. They finally reach Minnesota, but then have to leave possessions behind and WALK the last part of the way.
And at each stage, Shaw vividly evokes the sensory experience - for me, it's a toss-up between whether the ship or the train sounds more awful. (Yes, it should be the ship based solely on duration, but still.)
Yet, though each one is a strong evocative picture, we quickly flip along to the next episode. For example, I found myself wondering where the family stayed that first night in New York City, but we move right to the following day.
Throughout, we get a strong sense of family bonds and loving parents. "Have heart," they keep telling each other. And through it all, they do.
And that's lovely, ya know? It's the kind of fictional family you'd want to be a part of, even though you don't necessarily want to be in their story.
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars. Damn, what a somber way to start off an AG series! Poor Kirsten loses her friend and it was so shocking to me. I honestly didn’t expect it. This was sad but beautiful and full of hope. I like Kirsten and her family already so I’m super intrigued to see what happens next and what adventures Kirsten will get into now that they’ve made it to America.
im cheesing my way to 200 books.
also tbf.. the old American Girl books are SUPERIOR. my WORD. i grew up on these. i think they were very much fundamental to . well. everything about me.. at least they're a ton nicer than the dime novels i used to read. i do know this was the first american girl book i ever read i think it's bringing back memories.. i had these like really short small hardcover companion books to this particular series? and i gave one away to a classmate when i was 8 . thats all i remember. i have a headache right now
also the art is really really nice.
this is putting me in mind of this one series i LOVED reading as a kid with a female Swedish protagonist in the Midwest too i cannot remember the name and it's KILLING me. anyway. unrelated.
also tbf.. the old American Girl books are SUPERIOR. my WORD. i grew up on these. i think they were very much fundamental to . well. everything about me.. at least they're a ton nicer than the dime novels i used to read. i do know this was the first american girl book i ever read i think it's bringing back memories.. i had these like really short small hardcover companion books to this particular series? and i gave one away to a classmate when i was 8 . thats all i remember. i have a headache right now
also the art is really really nice.
this is putting me in mind of this one series i LOVED reading as a kid with a female Swedish protagonist in the Midwest too i cannot remember the name and it's KILLING me. anyway. unrelated.
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Okay, I am really enjoying reading these old American Girl books out loud to the girls. I’m so excited that I found earlier reader books that I actually enjoy (they are chapter books but with beautiful illustrations, perfect for reading out loud to 4 year olds and Rose really enjoys them too!). I do have to say, though, that there are definitely some really… outdated, let’s say…. things in these books (also, a tragic death occurs in this one). So I couldn’t just hand them off to them to read, I have to read them out loud to censor/change and interpret stuff for them. But the little girl in me is loving reading these!
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No