The Far-off Land

by Rebecca Caudill, Brinton Turkle (Illustrator)

First edition. Very good condition yellow hardcover in DJ. Viking Press, 1964.

Genres: Juvenile

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

American's children writer, as well as teacher and editor, known for her Appalachian fiction. Caudill graduated from Wesleyan College and, in 1922, received her master's degree from Vanderbilt University. She taught English in high school and college, and worked briefly as an editor. She moved to Urbana, Illinois, when she married James Ayars in 1931.

Caudill's book, Tree of Freedom, was a Newbery Honor Book in 1950. A Pocketful of Cricket was a Caldecott Honor Book.

The schoolchildren of her adopted state of Illinois vote each year on their favorite book. The winning book is given the Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (RCYRBA) named in honor of Caudill and her contributions to Appalachian literature.

Reviews

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but was a little not-so-happily surprised about the climax and the ending.

The writer's style was good at the beginning, and when the plot began to thicken. She had some very underlining-worthy parts, which I wanted to read more than once, just to taste and savor them. I really liked the culture, the satisfying romance (although personally I think it could have been better), and the historical background.
If, however, you are like me, and you hate melodramatic scenes of peril that end with part-tragedy, part-happiness, then this book will likely remain on your 'it-was-ok' shelf. Some parts dragged, without pushing the plot further.

I think for me it was truly a 3 starred book. I liked it, but it was not entirely my kind of story. I was definitely expecting that the best was yet to come, and was rather displeased when it was not.

[*KAYLA R* · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is an ok book so far but im pretty sure the best is yet to come!