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49th out of 231 books
—
175 voters
Our Only May Amelia (May Amelia #1)
by
Jennifer L. Holm (Goodreads Author)
It isn′t easy being a pioneer in the state of Washington in 1899, but it′s particularly hard when you are the only girl ever born in the new settlement. With seven older brothers and a love of adventure, May Amelia Jackson just can′t seem to abide her family′s insistence that she behave like a Proper Young Lady. She′s sure she could do better if only there were at least on...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
April 24th 2001
by HarperCollins
(first published June 1st 1999)
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There are so few books out there that have really hit me like a hard punch in the gut that the emotions of the experience are always compounded by the surprise. To stir up complex and dynamic real emotion in a human heart by nothing more than the trails of ink on the page of a novel is an accomplishment that almost defies reason. How could a made-up story have more of an impact on us than most of what we live through on a daily basis? How could we become so invested in the lives of fictional fa...more
Book Talk: Our Only May Amelia
People keep asking me to tell them about my sister, May Amelia. Well, Grandmother Patience says she is a trouble maker and a hellion, but then again Grandmother Patience is just plain evil. Yes, May Amelia does have a knack for getting into sticky situations. Like the time she got treed by a mother bear while out trying to catch that fugitive. We had to search all night for her. She never listens when Pappa forbids her to do something and she's downright pigheaded....more
People keep asking me to tell them about my sister, May Amelia. Well, Grandmother Patience says she is a trouble maker and a hellion, but then again Grandmother Patience is just plain evil. Yes, May Amelia does have a knack for getting into sticky situations. Like the time she got treed by a mother bear while out trying to catch that fugitive. We had to search all night for her. She never listens when Pappa forbids her to do something and she's downright pigheaded....more
Grade Level: 4-6
Historical fiction – Finnish American
This was a wonderful story set in the wilderness of Washington State during a time when people cared for and about each other. Life was hard. This is one my favorite timeframes for historical fiction. The story teaches unity between families and the community. Many of the families were immigrants from Finland and other parts of the world. All brought many cultural traditions, customs, and ethnicity to their homes and community. The story also...more
Historical fiction – Finnish American
This was a wonderful story set in the wilderness of Washington State during a time when people cared for and about each other. Life was hard. This is one my favorite timeframes for historical fiction. The story teaches unity between families and the community. Many of the families were immigrants from Finland and other parts of the world. All brought many cultural traditions, customs, and ethnicity to their homes and community. The story also...more
This was a highly enjoyable book that ranged from funny to heartbreaking. May Amelia's voice was very strong and very believable. I was not surprised to find that some of the story was based on the real diaries kept by the author's ancestor. The use of capitalization and incorrect grammar to both emphasize certain things, giving them more or less weight, and to remind us that this is a young girl with little real education was masterfully done.
The characters were strong, though the brothers ble...more
The characters were strong, though the brothers ble...more
4 1/2 stars
Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com
Overall Review:
Journey to nineteenth century Washington state in Our Only May Amelia, a beautiful and touching Newberry Honor winner. Inspired by author Jennifer L. Holm's own family history, the book follows the misadventures of May Amelia, a girl who is anything but a "proper young lady". Readers will find May Amelia to be a one-of-a-kind character -- spirited and strong yet relatable and prone to making mistakes. The story is well-written, wi...more
Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com
Overall Review:
Journey to nineteenth century Washington state in Our Only May Amelia, a beautiful and touching Newberry Honor winner. Inspired by author Jennifer L. Holm's own family history, the book follows the misadventures of May Amelia, a girl who is anything but a "proper young lady". Readers will find May Amelia to be a one-of-a-kind character -- spirited and strong yet relatable and prone to making mistakes. The story is well-written, wi...more
I remembered getting this book at one of the Scholastic fairs in middle school. And I LOVED IT. For the longest time I could identify with May Amelia because SHE WAS JUST LIKE ME at that age. Only girl in family of boys? Check. Always getting into trouble? Check. People always telling her she will never grow up into a Proper Young Lady if she didn't mend her ways? Check. Never wearing dresses because they got in the way of climbing up trees? Check.
It's a really interesting and different look at...more
It's a really interesting and different look at...more
Tired of being the only girl around, on her twelfth birthday May Amelia wishes the baby her mother is carrying will be a sister. She continues to help her brothers with the farm work by haying, tending the sheep, milking the cows, and mucking out the barn. She also helps her mother with the cooking and cleaning. But May Amelia takes every opportunity she can to go on adventures with her brothers. They go fishing, watch a Chinook burial ceremony, and visit their aunt and uncle in town. Sometimes...more
My mom's been married a few times now, and I can honestly say that not much good has come out of the multiple stepfathers I've dealt with. There is one notable exception: my first stepfather, when I was maybe 8 years old, randomly decided to give my sister and I a present each. He put his hands behind his back and told us to each pick a side, and then presented us each with our own book. My sister got "Because of Winn Dixie" and I got this book.
I remember being disappointed at first, because I...more
I remember being disappointed at first, because I...more
In trying to read as many books as possible on the "best of 2011" lists, I decided to read this book before I read the sequel, The Trouble with May Amelia. I did enjoy it, and can't believe I hadn't read it before. One of the things I really liked was that May Amelia is definitely a child, and acts like a child. Sometimes it was very maddening, just like being a parent! I don't think I've read that many books set in the NW US (although The Grape Thief comes to mind, but I liked this much better)...more
Maybe I am uptight and too conservative, but I cannot cope when books don't use quotation marks to indicate dialogue. I will never understand why this happens.
ASIDE FROM THAT, this book was mildly interesting (and I'm picking it up now because the sequel is out this year). A little Caddie Woodlawn-esque, Finnish immigrants settling in Washington state in the late 1800s, tomboy May Amelia gets up to hijinks.
The book was based on the diary of a relative of the author, and on one hand it's intere...more
ASIDE FROM THAT, this book was mildly interesting (and I'm picking it up now because the sequel is out this year). A little Caddie Woodlawn-esque, Finnish immigrants settling in Washington state in the late 1800s, tomboy May Amelia gets up to hijinks.
The book was based on the diary of a relative of the author, and on one hand it's intere...more
Jennifer Holm is a well-deserved three-time Newbery Honor award recipient. She received her first award in 2000 for the outstanding book Our Only May Amelia.
I know I've read a good book when I learned about history or events previously unknown to me.
This gem was chock full of facts of the Pacific Northwest in the late 1800's. The Nasel river is the setting of this lush, descriptive and endearing tale of May Amelia Jackson, the first girl born to immigrant parents in the Nasel river valley commun...more
I know I've read a good book when I learned about history or events previously unknown to me.
This gem was chock full of facts of the Pacific Northwest in the late 1800's. The Nasel river is the setting of this lush, descriptive and endearing tale of May Amelia Jackson, the first girl born to immigrant parents in the Nasel river valley commun...more
While saving the review I just wrote for this book, the website slowed and a did not save the review, so I can't promise any miracles for this one.
I liked this book and found that there were many opportunities for classroom use. While the history was rich and unique, I found the language to be particularly important. The story is told in first person from May Amelia Jackson's point of view. She has such a great perspective and voice. As the only girl born in a Finnish village to a family with 7...more
I liked this book and found that there were many opportunities for classroom use. While the history was rich and unique, I found the language to be particularly important. The story is told in first person from May Amelia Jackson's point of view. She has such a great perspective and voice. As the only girl born in a Finnish village to a family with 7...more
Another unique voice, not unlike that of The Watsons go to Birmingham, telling the story in short episodic chapters. Again, I thought the "safeness" of each story was refreshing. (Perhaps I just need to read more middle grade novels.) I never worried that Holm would put May Amelia in any real danger, (SPOILER ALERT) despite the murder and the bear and the logging camp upriver. I enjoyed the unconflicted relationships w/ each of her brothers and, eventually, the boy she meets in Astoria. The endi...more
Another wonderful book by Jennifer Holm. My favorite so far. A friend of mine had trouble getting into it because she capitalizes words here or there for emphasis and runs one portion of a dialogue into another. I found that had the effect of freeing your eyes from the page. The flow of the story wasn't impeded by "proper" punctuation and sentence structure.
Jennifer Holm does an excellent job taking bits and pieces of her own family history to imagine life in a Finnish pioneer community in Wash...more
Jennifer Holm does an excellent job taking bits and pieces of her own family history to imagine life in a Finnish pioneer community in Wash...more
Our Only May Amelia (May Amelia #1) by Jennifer L. Holm is an historical fiction novel set in 1899 along the Nasel River area of Washington state, inspired by the diary of the author's great aunt.
As the only girl ever born in her pioneer settlement, May Amelia has seven brothers and pioneer life to contend with. With a love for adventure and her sassy, tomboy ways, May Amelia can't abide her families insistence that she behave like a Proper Young Lady. She longs for one other girl to be living...more
As the only girl ever born in her pioneer settlement, May Amelia has seven brothers and pioneer life to contend with. With a love for adventure and her sassy, tomboy ways, May Amelia can't abide her families insistence that she behave like a Proper Young Lady. She longs for one other girl to be living...more
May Amelia is a girl growing up on the Oregon frontier, surrounded by boys: brothers, mostly, but there aren't very many other families with daughters who live close by, either. She is constantly getting into trouble, or causing it. Her spunk and persepective come through on every page. It's not just all funny scrapes and foolishness, though. May weathers a tragedy first-hand that completely rocks her world and changes the way she relates to her family and to the world.
I re-read this recently an...more
I re-read this recently an...more
'Our Only May Amelia' would make a terrific introduction to middle-grade historical fiction for boys and girls alike.
May Amelia is the daughter of Finnish immigrants, settled in southwest Washington near Astoria, Oregon. She is also the only girl on the Nasel River settlement. With seven brothers in her family, May Amelia is a stand out. She is strong, boyish and prone to mischief. This makes for great story-telling.
The format reminded me of the Little House series, with interesting stories tol...more
May Amelia is the daughter of Finnish immigrants, settled in southwest Washington near Astoria, Oregon. She is also the only girl on the Nasel River settlement. With seven brothers in her family, May Amelia is a stand out. She is strong, boyish and prone to mischief. This makes for great story-telling.
The format reminded me of the Little House series, with interesting stories tol...more
Let's see.. In general I rather liked this book. It had a charming voice to the narration with a generally likeable protagonist. It fit together very nicely with themes connecting throughout the book such as the Chinook baby, the new babydoll, and Baby Amy. The foreshadowing felt so subtle that I'm not sure that it was useful while reading despite being interesting to look back upon toward the end. Some interesting things are sort of bumped into, possibly in a "good" way, but generally left unex...more
Jul 05, 2011
Cathy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Cathy by:
Newbery Honor - 2000
It isn′t easy being a pioneer in the state of Washington in 1899, but it′s particularly hard when you are the only girl ever born in the new settlement. With seven older brothers and a love of adventure, May Amelia Jackson just can′t seem to abide her family′s insistence that she behave like a Proper Young Lady. She′s sure she could do better if only there were at least one other girl living along the banks of the Nasel River. And now that Mama′s going to have a baby, maybe there′s hope.
Inspired...more
Inspired...more
I read this book to my children (ages 7 and 9) at bedtime for about a week. I enjoyed it more than they did, as some of the scenes were too intense for them.
Although it was realistic that family members would disappear or die, that children would come across bears and cougars, that some grandmothers would be mean and horrible, that a girl might think her father hates her when he is just concerned over her safety in the wilderness, somehow it was too much in one book for them. It was an appropri...more
Although it was realistic that family members would disappear or die, that children would come across bears and cougars, that some grandmothers would be mean and horrible, that a girl might think her father hates her when he is just concerned over her safety in the wilderness, somehow it was too much in one book for them. It was an appropri...more
This was pretty good. A little choppy. Always interesting to see what life was like back then. May Amelia is the only girl in a family of too many boys. She is a trial to her parents and brothers. Always in scrapes, usually from curiosity, she keeps her family on their toes. She dresses in overalls (a no-no for that time), she doesn't want to do what nice girls are supposed to do. (but the family should take a look at what they have her do, she works along side the boys, plus help her pregnant m...more
Really, three and a half stars -- if that were an option.
This is a notable book and with its Newbury Honor award will likely be widely read; however, maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I think the content in places is a bit more appropriate for readers older than the target juvenile category.
I would recommend this more unreservedly if the author had aimed it for a teen/young adult audience instead. Given that it wasn't, I'd recommend that adults of sensitive young readers of this book first read t...more
This is a notable book and with its Newbury Honor award will likely be widely read; however, maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I think the content in places is a bit more appropriate for readers older than the target juvenile category.
I would recommend this more unreservedly if the author had aimed it for a teen/young adult audience instead. Given that it wasn't, I'd recommend that adults of sensitive young readers of this book first read t...more
Holm, Jennifer. (1999). Our Only May Amelia. New York. Scholastic Inc. (272pg.)
May Amelia is a pioneer in Nasel, Washington in 1899, but it's particularly hard for her when she is the only girl ever born in the new settlement. With seven older brothers and a love of adventure, May Amelia Jackson just can't seem to tolerate her family's insistence that she has behave like a proper young lady. May Amelia is sure she could manage better if only there were at least one other girl living along the...more
May Amelia is a pioneer in Nasel, Washington in 1899, but it's particularly hard for her when she is the only girl ever born in the new settlement. With seven older brothers and a love of adventure, May Amelia Jackson just can't seem to tolerate her family's insistence that she has behave like a proper young lady. May Amelia is sure she could manage better if only there were at least one other girl living along the...more
Super! I felt like I was right there with the Jackson family. Although I didn't understand what Jalmer's problem was, he seemed to always be in a bad mood, the insights into family togetherness and love were wonderful. Those people were amazing. They had to do everything for themselves. It struck me when brother Wendell becomes very, very ill with the scarlet fever, no one thinks "oh we should go get the doctor". Who knows where the nearest doctor was? They took care of him themselves and eventu...more
This book reminded me of a more culturally sensitive Caddie Woodlawn, which is awesome because that was one of my very favorite books growing up. May Amelia lives in a small community of Finish immigrants in Washington State in 1900. She's got a lot of spunk and a lot of heart, running around their farm and the woods with her many brothers, but she's also starting to feel pressure to "act like a girl". With lots of detail about the Finish immigrants and Native American people of the time and are...more
5th&up
Our Only May Amelia is like Little House on the Prairie, but from an alternative universe if Laura Ingalls Wilder were a hellion and a bit of a smart aleck. In a fantastic way, of course.
Set in Washington in 1899, this pioneer tale of a girl named May Amelia and her seven older brothers is full of humor, adventure, and emotion- with a bit of spice thrown in for good measure.
Have to admit, I teared up a little at the end. :)
Sidenote: Infrequent inclusion of language like goddamnit, a m...more
Our Only May Amelia is like Little House on the Prairie, but from an alternative universe if Laura Ingalls Wilder were a hellion and a bit of a smart aleck. In a fantastic way, of course.
Set in Washington in 1899, this pioneer tale of a girl named May Amelia and her seven older brothers is full of humor, adventure, and emotion- with a bit of spice thrown in for good measure.
Have to admit, I teared up a little at the end. :)
Sidenote: Infrequent inclusion of language like goddamnit, a m...more
3.5 stars, maybe 4??? I don't know if I'm just cranky or if I've actually chosen this many mediocre books in a row. :) Another historical fiction - this one about a young Finnish immigrant and her family living near Astoria, Oregon. I loved the setting because I went there last year so it was easy to picture what the author was describing. However, the lack of punctuation and the random capitalizations, etc. drove me crazy through the whole book! I must have missed whatever the author was trying...more
Like May Amelia, I grew up in a Finnish-American family in Naselle (the extra "le" was added in the early twentieth century). This story, through it's heartache, always manages to bring me to a happy place. As May Amelia travels throughout the valley, across the rivers and over to Astoria, my heart follows her along in familiarity. Jennifer Holm captured the area--the culture, the scenery--and from it, has brought to life the memories of her great-aunt May. Whether your connection to the story i...more
Full review to come. A few notes here first, though.
First: this rating is for me where I am right now. I liked it, but didn't love it. I think this is absolutely a 5-star book for the right reader. I have a hard time imagining myself as an elementary school reader, but I would believe it's a great book for 4th grade. It's just not as good for me, given my tastes. By the way, see Mrs. Heise's post on 5-star ratings; it's good -- http://heisereads.blogspot.com/2012/0...
Second: can someone explain...more
First: this rating is for me where I am right now. I liked it, but didn't love it. I think this is absolutely a 5-star book for the right reader. I have a hard time imagining myself as an elementary school reader, but I would believe it's a great book for 4th grade. It's just not as good for me, given my tastes. By the way, see Mrs. Heise's post on 5-star ratings; it's good -- http://heisereads.blogspot.com/2012/0...
Second: can someone explain...more
Spunky girl growing up in turn of the century Southwest Washington. Only girl among 7 brothers in immigrant Finnish family, she refuses to bow to exceptions for girls for that time and subsequently seems to be a magnet for trouble. Doesn't sugar coat the struggles homesteading families faced here in the PNW.
Naturally, coming from Southwest Washington myself I loved the setting- the descriptions of farming and logging made the moss between my toes tingle. The valley I grew up in had been settled...more
Naturally, coming from Southwest Washington myself I loved the setting- the descriptions of farming and logging made the moss between my toes tingle. The valley I grew up in had been settled...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| What's The Name o...: About a girl growing up I think in the 1900's with all boys as brothers [s] | 3 | 28 | May 07, 2012 10:09pm |
Jennifer L. Holm is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling children's author and the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE. Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on two graphic novel series -- the popular Babymouse series and the bestselling Squish series. She is also the author of several other highly praised books, i...more
More about Jennifer L. Holm...
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Feb 28, 2012 06:19pm
Feb 28, 2012 06:48pm