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Mable Riley: A Reliable Record of Humdrum, Peril and Romance
by
Marthe Jocelyn (Goodreads Author)
Winner of the 2005 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award
It is 1901 and Mable Riley dreams of adventure and of becoming a writer. When her older sister leaves home to become a schoolmistress in the small town of Stratford, Ontario, Mable is sent along too. Mable hopes her new world will be full of peril and romance. But life at the Goodhand Farm (where the sisters board),...more
It is 1901 and Mable Riley dreams of adventure and of becoming a writer. When her older sister leaves home to become a schoolmistress in the small town of Stratford, Ontario, Mable is sent along too. Mable hopes her new world will be full of peril and romance. But life at the Goodhand Farm (where the sisters board),...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
March 2nd 2004
by Tundra Books
(first published February 2nd 2004)
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Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
321)
Nov 06, 2011
Mara
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-to-buy,
historical-fiction
Criticisms first: the book begins very abruptly, it takes place in Canada, and there is no solid storyline. Not until you get a little further in, that is. And that is when the pros begin. Yes, it takes place in Canada, but so does Anne of Green Gables, and like that classic, I was able to ignore the general "dullness" Canada-based stories immediately have, because like Anne, Mable Riley is an engaging character, full of wit and innocent, though unrealistic, romantic thoughts of the world and ad...more
Aug 27, 2010
Dhara Mehta
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
kris pepper
Jocelyn’s Marble Riley: A Reliable Record of Humdrum Peril and Romance is children book about the adventures of fourteen year old who travels to a different town to assist her sister as a teacher. She and her sister live at a local farmer’s house (Mr. Goodhand). Marble, a spirited girl who aims to be a writer encounters quite a few adventures in care of Goodhands. There is an odd lady who seems to live alone and is scoffed at by the rest of the community. Mrs. Rattle’s unconventional dressing st...more
Apr 11, 2011
Bridget R. Wilson
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-fiction,
ya-historical
Mable Riley longs for adventure. She hopes that her new situation (as her sister's teaching assistant) in a new place away from all she's known will bring her some adventure. Not so. Her life is just as dull in Sellerton as it was in Ambler's Corners. However, when she befriends an unusual woman who wears bloomers and rides a bicycle, Sellerton is suddenly filled with adventure for Mable.
What I thought: A delightful book. Mable Riley reminded me just a bit of Anne Shirley. Could be because both...more
What I thought: A delightful book. Mable Riley reminded me just a bit of Anne Shirley. Could be because both...more
Charming, fun read for young/tween girls. It is a diary/journal of a 14 year old girl who moves with her sister to a new town. Her sister got a job as a teacher and Mable will be her assistant while finishing her schooling. It touches on "controversial" issues of the times (women's rights, labor issues) without being too adult or mature and is a great learning experience along with being a good read.
This is a charming book. Mable Riley is chronicling in her journal the experience of moving away from her family with her sister, who has accepted a teaching position in another Canadian town in 1901. She is learning about the movement for womens' rights, figuring out what she wants from life, hoping for some adventure, and realizing that one person can make a difference. Maybe that one person will be Mable...
I found some witty and profound statements that I really enjoyed:
"If I had no books, I...more
I found some witty and profound statements that I really enjoyed:
"If I had no books, I...more
It was alright. Not as good as some things, and I had a hard time not comparing it to other works, such as 'Anne of Green Gables' and 'Little House on the Prairie.' One of the subjects of controversy in the story was a painting of a naked lady. I wasn't sure if that was necessary to convey the point, but just so you know, it's in there. I did like the humor that Mable had.
This is a cute young adult novel that gives a look at life at the turn of the century and at the women who fought for their rights. The main character reminded me a lot of Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables books. I didn't like this as wall as those but I thought it as a pretty good book and one that could teach young girls a little about history.
One of the reviewers compared this book to Anne of Green Gables which is a dangerous thing to do- especially to a Canadian- so I began this book a little jaded. While I wouldn't say it is in the same league as Anne (which I consider a true classic), it was surprisingly enjoyable. Set the early 1900s in Canada, it is fun to see how a 10 year old girl would deal with the changing times. She also has some sister issues which bring a smile to my face.
This book was set in diary format but also includ...more
This book was set in diary format but also includ...more
Mable and her sister Viola take rooms on a dairy farm in a distant village when Viola becomes the new teacher in the small school. Mable meets a rabble-rousing woman who wears bloomers and rides a bicycle. I enjoyed Mable's adventures very much.
Jan 16, 2008
Amber
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of historical romance for children/YA
Being a sucker for romantic writing styles and historical fiction, I absolutely adored reading this book. I'm left wondering where Mable's life will lead her next. The setting is 1901 Canada and follows social customs of the time, as well as introduces women's suffrage via thorn-in-the-side character Mrs. Cora Rattle. Of course, she immediately becomes Mable's heroine. The romance is very innocent, seeing as how this is a children's book (grades 5-8). Written in journal format with equal parts h...more
Fun and fast read. Written as journal entries. A young girl trying to find out what life will hold for her, and looking for adventure. Deals with women's rights vs. social norms of the early 1900's.
Charming enough, but doesn't break any new ground in the whole turn-of-the-century-girl-finds-her-voice genre. Mable's story within a story is amusingly over the top, and while her life is a little too precious at times, it's always endearing to have a spunky narrator who thinks deep thoughts and still has a great sense of humor. In addition to her real life adventures and the sordid romance she's writing (which borrows delightfully from her real life experiences), Mable also writes some great,...more
Mable Riley is in the same vein as Anne of Green Gables. Historical Fiction set in Canada, Mable is not an orphan but she shares Anne's desire to write and her talent for trouble.
Meh. I found this book to be pretty boring, but probably because I wouldn't have normally read it if it weren't for the circumstances of boredom and isolation.
Apr 13, 2011
Ally Goodwin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-for-youth
sweet historical fiction; takes place in Canada around turn of last century (1900) women's sufferage and place in world.
Slightly uneasy mix of a new-school L.M. Montgomery and a Canadian Girl series - not much rings true, sadly.
Clever character and very fitting with our current history topic! Nia this one's for you!
Loved it! This book is for anyone who likes romance and the accidents of young girls
It was really good. It had a little bit of different feelings mixed in to it.
i really liked reading this book. the characters were fun to read about.
Recommended Ages: grades 5-8
It’s the year 1901, and fourteen-year-old aspiring writer Mable Riley is on her way to fulfilling her dreams, or so she hopes. After moving with her sister to a faraway town, Mable meets a real writer, one who wears daring fashions, unnerves the townsfolk by sharing her opinions, and has a few shocking secrets as well. Designed as a vintage journal, MABLE RILEY follows a feisty girl as she finds her own voice in a time when women struggled for independence — a charmin...more
It’s the year 1901, and fourteen-year-old aspiring writer Mable Riley is on her way to fulfilling her dreams, or so she hopes. After moving with her sister to a faraway town, Mable meets a real writer, one who wears daring fashions, unnerves the townsfolk by sharing her opinions, and has a few shocking secrets as well. Designed as a vintage journal, MABLE RILEY follows a feisty girl as she finds her own voice in a time when women struggled for independence — a charmin...more
Sweet, clever, and fun. Mable travels with Viola (her older sister) to Viola's first teaching assignment. She gets into all sorts of trouble, mostly because she is rather outspoken - incredibly so for a girl of that time period. The historical references to famous events and people were tied into the story in interesting ways.
A blurb on the back of the dust cover compares Mable Riley to Anne Shirley, but she reminded me more of Emily Starr. Anne is buttertongued, but doesn't sass. Emily and Mabl...more
A blurb on the back of the dust cover compares Mable Riley to Anne Shirley, but she reminded me more of Emily Starr. Anne is buttertongued, but doesn't sass. Emily and Mabl...more
except for the fact she says, "follow your heart..." gasp.
Reminded me of a Richard Peck book..
Charming! Mable's character was spunky and engaging.
Aug 15, 2010
Cindy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
20th-century,
childrensbooks
Mable accompanies her sister to her new little town to start her first job as a schoolteacher in 1901. Mable will be a student and an assistant. Life in the little town is about to get more interesting! Mable's diary reveals her thoughts on leaving home, on making new friends, on her relationship with her bossy big sister, her beginnings at romance, and her budding interest in women's rights. Lots of fun and easy to read.
This reminded me a lot of Anne of Green Gables. It is a journal-style story about a teenage girl in the 1800's. The author based it on her grandmothers journals. Fun story.
This book is far to simply written for me to be calling it amazing, but it was extremely cute and definately recommended for those of the age like 12 and under.
Started off a little slow but it sure picked up by halfway! "Mrs" Rattle is a fantastic character and I'd dearly love to read more about her. :)
Aug 10, 2009
Catherine Mustread
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Catherine by:
Canadian Children's Literature Award
Award-winning historical fiction set in rural Canada (Ontario) in the early 1900s. Subplot deals with women's rights and suffrage.
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