Our Only May Amelia (Harper Trophy Books)
by Jennifer L. Holm
published
May 1st 2001
by HarperTrophy
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binding
Paperback, 272 pages
setting
United States
literary awards
Newbery Honor Book
isbn
0064408566
(isbn13: 9780064408561)
description
Twelve-year-old May Amelia is too busy chasing sheep, fishing for salmon, and keeping pace with the antics of her seven Finnish brothers to bother we...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 324)
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
readers who enjoy historical fiction, such as the Little House on the Prairie series
The authenticity and charm of May Amelia’s narration pulls the reader into this book from the first page. Holm shows us the spirit and adventure of the homesteading life as well as the hardships, and an imperfect but loving family that will inspire conversation about historical attitudes regarding gender, race, and immigration.
CIP: As the only girl in a Finnish American family of seven brothers, May Amelia Jackson resents being expected to act like a lady while growing up in Washington sta...more
CIP: As the only girl in a Finnish American family of seven brothers, May Amelia Jackson resents being expected to act like a lady while growing up in Washington sta...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Kristen by:
Jessicarecommends it for: strong readers age 9+
Thanks for mentioning this book, Jess. I ran into it when I was looking for something else at the library for Emma, and remembered it was one of your favorites. What a great book!
It paints an amazing picture of life in the early days of Washington state. You get a view at Finnish culture, farm life, and what it would have been like to be a girl in a very rough-and-tumble world. The characters are very well developed and likeable, although at first I had a hard time keeping her May's seven br...more
It paints an amazing picture of life in the early days of Washington state. You get a view at Finnish culture, farm life, and what it would have been like to be a girl in a very rough-and-tumble world. The characters are very well developed and likeable, although at first I had a hard time keeping her May's seven br...more
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1 comments
Read in April, 2007
maybe i’m getting cranky. i didn’t really like this book much either. may doesn’t use quotation marks ever and is quite liberal with capital letters used to make things seem more important. i’m all for stylistic writing, but this was occasionally confusing and that’s me reading it as an adult. plus, after trying to teach high school freshmen how to use quotation marks and them being clueless about it, i’m all about exposing readers to standardized punctuation and spelling as much as ...more
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Read in April, 2008
What a fun little book. It tells the story of the only girl born in Finnish farming community along the Nasal River in Washington in 1899. She has a bunch of older brothers and is constantly called a little miracle, being the only girl born in 20 years or so. She has so much spunk and fun about her that the hard times break your heart. The author passed on so much feeling and humor in her use of capital letters indicating Important Phrases and Messages.
I, of course, loved the Finnish ref...more
I, of course, loved the Finnish ref...more
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Read in March, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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recommends it for:
historical fiction addicts
The first time I read it, I cried. May Amelia Jackson is a spunky twelve year old living on the Nasel River (now Naselle River) in Washington. She is the only girl in a family of 7 boys and longs for a sister.
What May Amelia really wants is her father's approval and love. She feels that her father hates her. Her grandmother is a horrible woman who beats and criticizes May whenever she feels like it. I truly come to hate her as the story goes on. I can't help but love Wilbert, May's understan...more
What May Amelia really wants is her father's approval and love. She feels that her father hates her. Her grandmother is a horrible woman who beats and criticizes May whenever she feels like it. I truly come to hate her as the story goes on. I can't help but love Wilbert, May's understan...more
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Read in September, 2008
This was a good story of frontier living. It's a Newberry Honor story about a young girl in a Finish settlement in the Oregon territory during her 12th year. Another coming of age story, but pretty well done. Kept we wanting to read - she's has some wild adventures!
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This book was extremely sad, but I enjoyed it very much. It was written very well.
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This is a great children's book, especially for a fourth or fifth grader who is learning about the Oregon Trail and the early settlers. It takes place on the Naselle river in Washington and is about a farming family and the small community they live in. It is a great historical fiction book and I found out a lot of new information about the Northwest from it.
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May Amelia Jackson is the only girl in her family. Her family lives on a farm by the Nasel River. Thier family is proud of their Finish heritage, and blond hair. May feels like her father doesn't like her because she isn't a boy. But, she is always into trouble, like a boy. Now her mom is pregnant, and May is desperately hoping for a sister.
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I listened to this one. It was narrated by Emmy Rossum, which is the reason I decided to listen instead of read. I enjoyed the story; it was an equal mixture of the silly and the serious aspects of life. And it was really informative, about that area of Washington state and the people (both native and settlers) that lived there in 1899.
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