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daria_morgendorffer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
A great book to read for nostalgia.
mhprince21's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
angelafishkin's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lmkennedy's review against another edition
5.0
This book does a beautiful job showing how family, friends, and even strangers help in a community. Especially displays friendship in a lovely way for children with the creation of the quilt for Kirsten.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
5.0
This book is an excellent picture of pioneer life, and portrays the challenges and joys of being a family during that era. I remember liking this book especially as a child, and it probably is still my favorite in the series. However, one marked difference in my reading experience now is that I spent a lot of time thinking about what Kirsten's parents must have been thinking, instead of just connecting with her.
I especially like her mother, and this story about adding a new sibling to the family gave me so much more respect for her. What a woman, giving birth on the frontier with just family to help, and still investing in and supporting her relationships with her other children. Even though Kirsten has to do lots of work around the house after her mother gives birth, her mother acknowledges and appreciates her sacrifices, and it is a beautiful picture of love from both of them.
Kirsten's connection with her cousins and friends also plays a significant role in the story, and I enjoyed the subplot about quilting, which is one of my hobbies. The detail of signing part of the friendship quilt also reminded me of something sweet I did many years ago. Before I moved into the youth group in seventh grade, I sewed a patchwork pillow and got the other girls in my fifth and sixth grade Sunday school class to sign the blank, back portion before I sewed the pillow together. My teacher was thrilled, and I'm glad that this book gave me the idea. It was nice to remember this, too. I usually remember what a basket case I was at that age, and it's nice to remember that despite all my problems, I was a good kid.
I enjoyed reading about Kirsten's birthday party again, and the picture of her and her dad dancing under the frame of the new barn is still one of my favorite American Girl illustrations. This book is lovely, meaningful, and ages well for an adult reader, and I'm so glad that it exists.
I especially like her mother, and this story about adding a new sibling to the family gave me so much more respect for her. What a woman, giving birth on the frontier with just family to help, and still investing in and supporting her relationships with her other children. Even though Kirsten has to do lots of work around the house after her mother gives birth, her mother acknowledges and appreciates her sacrifices, and it is a beautiful picture of love from both of them.
Kirsten's connection with her cousins and friends also plays a significant role in the story, and I enjoyed the subplot about quilting, which is one of my hobbies. The detail of signing part of the friendship quilt also reminded me of something sweet I did many years ago. Before I moved into the youth group in seventh grade, I sewed a patchwork pillow and got the other girls in my fifth and sixth grade Sunday school class to sign the blank, back portion before I sewed the pillow together. My teacher was thrilled, and I'm glad that this book gave me the idea. It was nice to remember this, too. I usually remember what a basket case I was at that age, and it's nice to remember that despite all my problems, I was a good kid.
I enjoyed reading about Kirsten's birthday party again, and the picture of her and her dad dancing under the frame of the new barn is still one of my favorite American Girl illustrations. This book is lovely, meaningful, and ages well for an adult reader, and I'm so glad that it exists.