The Borning Room

by Paul Fleischman

Lying at the end of her life in the room where she was born in 1851, Georgina remembers what it was like to grow up on the Ohio frontier

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Middle Grade, School

Paperback

First published September 30, 1991

About the author

Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California. The son of well-known children's novelist Sid Fleischman, Paul was in the unique position of having his famous father's books read out loud to him by the author as they were being written. This experience continued throughout his childhood.
Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation.
In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.

Reviews

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pioneer girl's life, told through the scenes from her family's borning room...where all births and deaths take place. The cycles of life...birth, death, courtship, giving birth, death...are eloquently described. This is a most tender and uplifting book.

From the book: As a child of five, Grandfather had shaken the hand of the aged Benjamin Franklin and received the great freethinker's blessing. I wondered what hands Franklin had shaken, looked down at Grandfather's fingers in mine, and felt I was reaching back through the centuries. And just as Grandfather had never forgotten his New Hampshire past or his parents' mettle, I promised him I'd preserve his memory. The chain of hands would never be broken.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored the writing and characters in this small book that is listed as YA, but I would categorize it as historical fiction. It doesn't read like fiction at all, however, and I'm blown away that a man wrote it. He clearly knows the female heart. Births and sickness and deaths take place in the Borning Room, off the kitchen in an old Ohio farmhouse that is filled with a big family. Think Waltons. Spanning the years prior to the Civil War to the beginning of WWI, the family deals with birth, illness, daily life, weddings, religion and spiritual beliefs, and an ever changing America. I heard about this book when researching an upcoming trip to Vicksburg. I'm so glad I did! It's such a heartwarming, life affirming, uplifting little gem of a book about what really matters most - love.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may not have been the best book to read while pregnant (involves a scene of mother/infant death), but it was still an interesting look at new life and death in one family over the course of one girl's lifetime, mostly set during the Civil War era.

It's a quick read, so most of the "life story" focuses on her adolescent/teenage years including life on a farm, harboring a runaway slave, attending births of siblings, and pursuing slightly unconventional religious practices (for that time and town). The story keeps coming back to "the borning room" -- one room in the house where many different family members have come into the world or taken their last breaths (or been nursed while sick).

[Janice Workman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is obvious that I really like this book. There are so many parts of it that reached out to me: customs, birth, death, issue of slavery, old myths and beliefs, etc. The way it moved from beginning to end was so good. I think part of my bias is my involvement with birth, etc. It is simply written with a depth to it. I did not want it to end, but when it did, I knew it had to.

[Life_in_ivorytower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 3 🍂🌸🍁... felt each and every word.. felt the wind .. the water.. the scent in the air.. taught me an entirely new way of ‘praying’ .. gives heart so much peace .. I read that chapter again and again ...!

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story and easy to read. I liked how Fleischman came full circle in Georgina's life.

[Linz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this book when I was a little girl but never read it until now. I'm so glad I did. It is one that I will never forget!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Borning Room is a historical novel about Georgina and her family move from New Hampshire to Ohio in the early 1850s. Her father builds a home and ensures that there is a borning room right by the kitchen. In this room, birth and death are the only things that take place. Her mother is with child and worries about the baby dying since that has happened before. However, Georgina is born healthy and well. In the beginning, Georgina finds a run away slave named Cora and helps her hide away in their barn. This highly illegal, but she does it anyway because she knows that it is what's right. When the mother is pregnant again, Cora helps birth the baby and the father helps the slave escape to Canada. The book goes on explaining different citations where the family uses the borning room.

I enjoyed this book because it was historical fiction and while it told the story of a family, it also told of the history of that time. You see conflict between Georgina and her families beliefs and the beliefs of her family. You can see the difference in respect of race, the coming of medicine, and the views of these new inventions and ideals. Really quick read and fairly entertaining.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a book to read last night while I was waiting for my slow-moving fourteen year old to get out of the shower and let me have my turn. This was on the shelf, so I grabbed it. I read half of it then and the rest when I got home from work today. Despite the gentleness and pastoral nature of the story, it was a page-turner. I wasn't sure whether to classify it as YA or juvenile, but since it was a discard from a high school library, I went with YA.

This series of vignettes follows a girl named Georgina in 19th century Ohio through the stages of her life as they relate to happenings in her family's "borning room." This room is set aside for birth and death. The first chapter opens with the impending arrival of Georgina's baby brother. Each chapter advances her in age a few more years and to another event associated with the room. Births, deaths, and serious illnesses affect Georgina and her family. Joys and tragedies come in their turn, and Georgina grows and changes along with them. Such a beautifully written and realized story.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I remember of this book is the child narrator's belief that pregnancy occurs when a married woman swallows a watermelon seed.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a clinical psychologist with a specialization in child psych. I sometimes select books for young people to see what is being written to encourage reading. The description of this book includes children and middle school. I think the book is well written, but would not recommend it for young children. It is too dark concerning death and childbirth. It might be OK for middle school with supervision. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Kellyn Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Read for school. Was frankly a little uncomfortable with all the details of childbirth, though that could have been due to the fact that my mom was reading it aloud to me and my little brothers. I probably would have been fine with it if I was reading it by myself. ;) Overall, an okay story. Very sad and dramatic. No main plot that I could see.

[Katrin V · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lesser known Fleischman book, and there is a reason why. It is a book written for children but not really easy for children. The book is all about birth and death. It is a good historical picture of how natural birth and death are woven into everyday life and quite a contrast with our hospital focused culture for these landmark events.

[Cadie Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a child and it stuck with me, so much so that 15ish years later I had to track it down and read it again. My one complaint is that the family isn’t as historically accurate as they could be. But the story has such a lovely soothing flow, full of how families and generations stay connected through the cycle of births and deaths.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story; could also be called the Dying Room or The Sick Room. Towards the end the séance was not believed by the main character and much superstition abounded, especially surrounding birth.

[Linda Russo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deceivingly short simple story that reads like poetry

[Sue J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant book about the lives of our forebears. From the perspective of a girl/woman written by a talented man!!

[Holli McGuffey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this one. I just wish it was longer.

[John Slack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. Ironically enough, for all of the book's disgust with preachers, the preachiness of the book got to me.

[Scott Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reverent

Toward birth and dying, and the wonder and mystery of all living things.

[Emma Carter]

Just rereading books from when I was a child. Still such a moving story

[Ewa Ciejka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book and although short moves very quickly through the story of a young girl living in a 1900s life.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is an excellent book for teens and adults as well as children! It is a historical fiction book with timeless ideas in it.

[Jessica Cupo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think about this book all the time. I think about the story. I forgot the title but the story stayed with me for decades. Worth reading.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread this for my 2017 book challenge. It wasn't as wonderful as I remembered, but it's still a sweet read.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jr. Fiction life and love and loss in frontier family on Ohio

[Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would be a good children's read--after all, it's by an award-winning author, and it's set in Ohio during (well, before and after, too) the Civil War. But, even in this tiny book, I felt a good amount of thinly-veiled disdain for Christianity. Some of it was a little contradictory: for example, although Georgina believed the superstitions in the beginning (such as opening windows to further the birthing of a baby, or that swallowing a watermelon seed produces a baby), she discarded them as she grew older and wiser. And yet, the author seemed to disparage advancements with the scene of the incompetent doctor.

The religious mentions, frankly, were confusing, and I distrusted them all, especially once séances became a part. Georgina's grandfather was treated as the most admirable figure, but I think he had the biggest problems of all. (At first I thought he was worshiping God, but the story was so vague, now I don't think so ...) By the end of the book, I found the whole shaking-hands-with-Ben-Franklin kind of creepy. The whole I'm-my-mother-holding-me-as-a-baby scene was weird, too. I felt it bordered on the metaphysical realm, and not in a good way.

I am also fairly surprised at the content, considering this is a children's book. It wasn't overly graphic, but there were descriptions of births, as well as deaths and stillbirths. The story basically revolved around these life occurrences, but still.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Days of Her Life

Eight-year-old Georgina Lott shares with us the story of her life in several memorable episodes or chapters, which take place over the years in a small Borning room built off the kitchen by Grandfather when he emigrated from New England to Ohio. The events which occur in the title room in this story span the years from 1860 through 1918 in the life of of four generations of one family. This spare room is used for births, illness and death--for Arrivals and Departures, as the protagonist puts it. It is the scene of extreme emotions when all family members are eventually put to the test. Ever appreciative of Nature her Grandfather was careful to include a small window on the world for whomever lay confined.

This story delights readers by the simplicity and honesty of Flesichman's characterizations. Narrated by a middle child the plot unfolds as the typical, unremarkable tale of her life--slowly and painstakingly spun on a loom of love and family traditions. We read of many 19th century superstitions re childbirth and daily life which seem curiously quaint to modern readers. Be prepared to settle back and savor this unpretentious charmer, written by a male author who has captured the delicate essence of womanhood. For girls who will someday be women--the domestic backbone and heart of the homefire.

(November 26, 2012. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Meg Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short YA piece with a Lion King-ish "Circle of Life" feel to it. The action follows a Civil War-era heroine literally from birth to death, all via events which take place in the "borning room" (a room in the house dedicated to the birthing of babies and passage of the dying). Addresses beautifully the theme of familial ties amid the tragic joy of life. At only 100 pages, it's really more of a sketch than a novel, but I still enjoyed it (especially the final chapter). I have a feeling I would have LOVED it if there had been some meat on the bones.

FAVORITE QUOTES:

Just as in our house, Mama filled any room she was in with light. I felt proud to be her daughter, flickering beside her.

Every leaf has its shadow, and finally meets it when it falls.

It dawned on me that what seemed to be a wedding was in truth another death in the family, a leaving disguised with laughter and dancing.

Titus, Ada, Lucilla, and Spencer had all left in turn. I chose to stay. I was the seed corn, saved for sowing.

Grandfather felt a ripe apple was an invitation to know the Creator and his goodness.

A good conscience is a soft pillow.

[Stacy Allbritton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is the story of Georgina Lott, a farm girl from Ohio who tells the tale of her free-thinking family from the Civil War through the Great War. (You find out to whom she is telling the tale, but I won't spoil it.)

This book is not an action-packed, adventure-filled, roller coaster ride. It is an ordinary story of an girl who is extraordinarily insightful. She lives a simple life on the farm, but makes discoveries about the truly important things in life through her relationship with her family members: her mother, her grandfather, her brother, and later on, her husband.

The only warnings I would give to those of you who plan to recommend this novel to middle-school readers is that it contains graphic birth and death scenes, so you may have some explaining to do. It also has a free-thinking grandfather who chooses to follow his own doctrine instead of that of a church. Some people may find this offensive. That being said, the events are very tastefully written and a good way to open a dialogue with children.

If you value family above all else, this is the novel for you.