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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Review is part of my reminiscence on books which influenced me most, found at A Writer Reads.
This was traumatic. I knew that her friend died but I didn't know it happened in the first book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Grief
My 8 year-old daughter and I just finished reading this book together, and we absolutely loved it. The story prompted so much discussion - where exactly is Sweden? how do people get cholera? when will Kirsten's family speak in English? why would the steam engine catch on fire? I love books that make kids thirst for knowledge. Madeline was especially excited when Kirsten's family's ship docked in New York by Battery Park, because we just visited NYC this summer, and the landmarks were familiar to her. She also was fascinated when I told her that some of our ancestors were Swedish immigrants just like Kirsten.
This book might be a bit heavy for a young child to read on her own, but it was a great mother-daughter experience. We'll begin the next of the series tomorrow evening.
This book might be a bit heavy for a young child to read on her own, but it was a great mother-daughter experience. We'll begin the next of the series tomorrow evening.
Great history less on for the kids! Loved this book :)
First book I remember reading on my own that made me cry.
This was a great introduction to historical fiction for Emma. She enjoyed the story and is looking forward to reading more in the series. I had forgotten that Kristen's best friend dies. We didn't linger over that part, but I could see that many young children would be upset by that.
This review is from the perspective of a mother - I never read Kirsten's series as a child, so this is my first exposure to the American Girl pioneer girl.
I think the author does and excellent job portraying both the adventure and drama of life aboard a ship, the reality of illness and the tenuousness of life in the 19th century, the confusion of an early American city for an immigrant, and adjusting to life in the new home on the prairie. There are many similarities to Little House in the Big Woods, but unlike Laura, Kirsten has real responsibilities and the interconnectedness of a pioneer family is made very clear.
I look forward to sharing Kirsten's story with my daughter when she is a little older.
I think the author does and excellent job portraying both the adventure and drama of life aboard a ship, the reality of illness and the tenuousness of life in the 19th century, the confusion of an early American city for an immigrant, and adjusting to life in the new home on the prairie. There are many similarities to Little House in the Big Woods, but unlike Laura, Kirsten has real responsibilities and the interconnectedness of a pioneer family is made very clear.
I look forward to sharing Kirsten's story with my daughter when she is a little older.
me: oh how cute, kirsten made a friend
the friend: *dies of cholera*
the friend: *dies of cholera*