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A review by literatehedgehog
Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
4.0
Whoa, I did NOT expect as many emotional gut punches in this historical fiction! There were some laughs, some tears, some white knuckled action, and of course, the rambunctious girl narrator with a passel of brothers.
Pros
-Immigrant perspectives in the Northwest, mostly Finnish characters, some Chinese
-Real consequences of some historically not great stuff - effects of prejudice, poverty, lack of education, people actually die from serious diseases.
-Even with a whole bunch of brothers, some with similar sounding names, and a couple of aunts, the characterization was strong enough that I could tell them all apart (even though the audio book narrator didn't quite change her voice for each of them).
Cons
-May be a little Real-Tell It Like Is (what with the deaths, poverty, cruelty) for some gentler soul kids
-Chinese immigrant prejudice may be a little intense for some kids; I would have liked our narrator to be even more clear in her "he's just like me!" revelations
-Tiniest plot confusion I might have missed - Savannah the doll was broken into pieces, and then many chapters later, was whole and could wear outfits again?
Best For
-Those emotionally more mature, but decoding at grade level readers (upper middle grade, 6-7th)
-Kids who liked Penny from Heaven, or are almost ready for Hattie Big Sky
Pros
-Immigrant perspectives in the Northwest, mostly Finnish characters, some Chinese
-Real consequences of some historically not great stuff - effects of prejudice, poverty, lack of education, people actually die from serious diseases.
-Even with a whole bunch of brothers, some with similar sounding names, and a couple of aunts, the characterization was strong enough that I could tell them all apart (even though the audio book narrator didn't quite change her voice for each of them).
Cons
-May be a little Real-Tell It Like Is (what with the deaths, poverty, cruelty) for some gentler soul kids
-Chinese immigrant prejudice may be a little intense for some kids; I would have liked our narrator to be even more clear in her "he's just like me!" revelations
-Tiniest plot confusion I might have missed - Savannah the doll was broken into pieces, and then many chapters later, was whole and could wear outfits again?
Best For
-Those emotionally more mature, but decoding at grade level readers (upper middle grade, 6-7th)
-Kids who liked Penny from Heaven, or are almost ready for Hattie Big Sky