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pkadams's review against another edition
4.0
What if Laura Ingalls Wilder had 7 brothers and a stationary pa who liked the wilderness? Here is another homesteading story and it is the best Jennifer Holm book I've read. It is a great pioneer story much like Hattie Big Sky in that it is set late in the 19th century. I thought it was a nice, quick read that touched on so much. The themes included: homesteading, the different treatment of the sexes, the hardships of frontier living, immigrant assimilation, and the primitive nature of living even in 1899. I completely understand why this won a Newbery Honor. The sequel just came out and I can't wait to read it!
brookebookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book... historical fiction, based in the Pacific Northwest, an outdoorsy tomboy main character - these are ingredients that say it's a perfect book for me (and my daughter). Sadly, neither of us liked it that much. 2.5 stars was what we decided. First, I just don't understand why the author chose to use no punctuation (or any indication at all, actually) for dialogue. It was confusing and did not add anything to the story. Second, I don't think the story flowed well. It felt choppy. Third, because of the flow issues the sad and scary parts felt abrasive - particularly for a children's novel. Extremely mean characters, murder, disease, SIDS... the horrors of life in 1900 outlined in this book are many and without context and balance. So, we won't be reading the next one.
johanna414's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
wordnerd153's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable story about a young girl's adventures in Washington during pioneer times. She gets into lots of crazy situations and is constantly being told to act more like a lady, which doesn't interest her at all. It was interesting to read about life in the late 1800's.
aklibrarychick's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks for mentioning this book, Jess. I ran into it when I was looking for something else at the library for Emma, and remembered it was one of your favorites. What a great book!
It paints an amazing picture of life in the early days of Washington state. You get a view at Finnish culture, farm life, and what it would have been like to be a girl in a very rough-and-tumble world. The characters are very well developed and likeable, although at first I had a hard time keeping her May's seven brothers straight! There are also some hard things in the book (murder, accidental deaths, terrible illnesses, a truly spiteful character), so that I wouldn't recommend it for very young children. It made me cry, so I can imagine it would be pretty wrenching to very young kids. I think Emma could read it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone younger.
Top notch kids lit!
It paints an amazing picture of life in the early days of Washington state. You get a view at Finnish culture, farm life, and what it would have been like to be a girl in a very rough-and-tumble world. The characters are very well developed and likeable, although at first I had a hard time keeping her May's seven brothers straight! There are also some hard things in the book (murder, accidental deaths, terrible illnesses, a truly spiteful character), so that I wouldn't recommend it for very young children. It made me cry, so I can imagine it would be pretty wrenching to very young kids. I think Emma could read it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone younger.
Top notch kids lit!
jennmarshall27's review against another edition
2.0
I was reading this with my 7th graders. This is their rating. They ended up abandoning it because they weren't enjoying it.
aymswa's review against another edition
3.0
Our Only May Amelia is a book I wish my parents had read my sister and I growing up. The book tells of the sweet, adventurous tales of May Amelia, a young girl living with her parents and seven brothers on the Nasel River in 1899 after the Finnish immigrated there.
My little sister and I often considered ourselves wildly boisterous and rambunctious children, always getting into trouble, all in an attempt at competing with our older brother and his friends. This book tells a similar tale of May Amelia and her life growing up with no other young females around. Based on the author's Grandaunt Alice Amelia Holm and her diary entries as a young girl living beside the river; Our Only May Amelia is a sweet story for anyone with young daughters, that perfectly balances the highs and lows of living in such a place in the late 1800's.
My little sister and I often considered ourselves wildly boisterous and rambunctious children, always getting into trouble, all in an attempt at competing with our older brother and his friends. This book tells a similar tale of May Amelia and her life growing up with no other young females around. Based on the author's Grandaunt Alice Amelia Holm and her diary entries as a young girl living beside the river; Our Only May Amelia is a sweet story for anyone with young daughters, that perfectly balances the highs and lows of living in such a place in the late 1800's.
greenbeanteenqueen's review against another edition
3.0
At ALA they announced a sequel to Our Only May Amelia and I decided I better read this one before the sequel comes out!
May Amelia is a great main character-she's funny and spunky and gets into a lot of mischief. The first part of the book tells the various adventures of May Amelia and her brothers and then one the new baby is born, the book shifts a bit. There's still stories about May Amelia's adventures, but the book becomes more about her than it was to start. (And I don't want to say much because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read it).
This one had the same problem with the other Jennifer Holm book I read this month, Turtle in Paradise. A great story, fantastic characters, but the ending just comes a bit too quickly. I wanted a bit more to be wrapped up. But as a whole, the book was great and I really enjoyed. I listened to it on audio and Emmy Rossum is the narrator and she did a great job-I hope they can get her again for the sequel.
I would recommend this one to readers who enjoy the Little House Series or Caddie Woodlawn.
May Amelia is a great main character-she's funny and spunky and gets into a lot of mischief. The first part of the book tells the various adventures of May Amelia and her brothers and then one the new baby is born, the book shifts a bit. There's still stories about May Amelia's adventures, but the book becomes more about her than it was to start. (And I don't want to say much because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read it).
This one had the same problem with the other Jennifer Holm book I read this month, Turtle in Paradise. A great story, fantastic characters, but the ending just comes a bit too quickly. I wanted a bit more to be wrapped up. But as a whole, the book was great and I really enjoyed. I listened to it on audio and Emmy Rossum is the narrator and she did a great job-I hope they can get her again for the sequel.
I would recommend this one to readers who enjoy the Little House Series or Caddie Woodlawn.
annieliz's review
4.0
At first, this novel reminded me a little of Junie B. Jones because of the style it was written in. As a character, though, May really grew on me. I loved the way Holm wrote about May's emotions, especially her grief. May's father was an interesting character because he never really changed; he is always very strict and stern. I would recommend this book to good readers in third grade through fifth and sixth grade, and I think I would mostly recommend it to girls.