What do you think?
Rate this book
Main Street #1
Welcome to Camden Falls
Combining the heart of her Newbery Honor-winning fiction and the spirit of her legendary Baby-Sitters Club series, Ann M. Martin introduces a timeless new series for girls.
Flora and Ruby do not want to move to Camden Falls. But they don't really have a choice -- their parents are dead and their grandmother, Min, is taking them in. It's strange to be in a new place. But luckily, it's a very welcoming place.
Min runs a sewing store, Needle & Thread, at the heart of Main Street in Camden Falls. There, Flora and Ruby become friends with Olivia, who likes to organize things, and Nikki, who lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Even if Flora and Ruby never expected it to, Camden Falls becomes their home . . . and its stories become a part of their stories.
Flora and Ruby do not want to move to Camden Falls. But they don't really have a choice -- their parents are dead and their grandmother, Min, is taking them in. It's strange to be in a new place. But luckily, it's a very welcoming place.
Min runs a sewing store, Needle & Thread, at the heart of Main Street in Camden Falls. There, Flora and Ruby become friends with Olivia, who likes to organize things, and Nikki, who lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Even if Flora and Ruby never expected it to, Camden Falls becomes their home . . . and its stories become a part of their stories.
185 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
70 people are currently reading
1131 people want to read
About the author
Ann M. Martin
1,102 books3,047 followersAnn Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.
Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.
Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.
After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
Read
April 8, 2018Jesus I read this series when I was like 10 and it was honestly my life.
September 14, 2015
I can't remember the last time I have been so pleasantly surprised by a book. I chose the first three books in Ann M. Martin's new series "Main Street" to review because my daughter wanted to read them. I picked up the first one, dreading it. Not sure why, maybe it was the whole "Baby-sitters Club" thing. My daughter went through a phase with these, and although I've never read one, I have a negative view of them. Don't know why.
By the time I was half-finished, I didn't want to put it down. Gentle story with realistic, modern characters in a small town. Not too sappy--we've got a 17-year-old with Down Syndrome, an older man trying to care for his wife, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and a girl whose father is a verbally-abusive and mean drunk. Not what I expected. But then again, not much in this book was. I loved the wholesome, small-town atmosphere. I didn't want to visit amden Falls, i wanted to live there.
I genuinely liked this book, and its sequel, Needle and Thread. Now I'm on the third one, 'Tis the Season, and enjoying it just as much. Give 'em a try. You might just be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
By the time I was half-finished, I didn't want to put it down. Gentle story with realistic, modern characters in a small town. Not too sappy--we've got a 17-year-old with Down Syndrome, an older man trying to care for his wife, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and a girl whose father is a verbally-abusive and mean drunk. Not what I expected. But then again, not much in this book was. I loved the wholesome, small-town atmosphere. I didn't want to visit amden Falls, i wanted to live there.
I genuinely liked this book, and its sequel, Needle and Thread. Now I'm on the third one, 'Tis the Season, and enjoying it just as much. Give 'em a try. You might just be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
October 6, 2008
Grades: 4 to 6 Genre: Realistic Fiction
Sisters Ruby and Flora have to move to small New England town to live with their grandmother after their parents die in a car crash. The girls are a bit nervous about the new town, but while things don’t always go smoothly, they start to make friends and start to feel apart of this small community. When a local girl is accused of stealing from one of the shops, Ruby knows that she is innocent and decides to solve this mystery. The grief that the girls feel at the death of their parents is realistically portrayed. They wide varieties of characters add depth and charm to this book. First in the Main Street series.
Sisters Ruby and Flora have to move to small New England town to live with their grandmother after their parents die in a car crash. The girls are a bit nervous about the new town, but while things don’t always go smoothly, they start to make friends and start to feel apart of this small community. When a local girl is accused of stealing from one of the shops, Ruby knows that she is innocent and decides to solve this mystery. The grief that the girls feel at the death of their parents is realistically portrayed. They wide varieties of characters add depth and charm to this book. First in the Main Street series.
August 10, 2024
oh, how i love this series
November 25, 2016
These are amazing books. These are my favorite children's books of all time. They are good for ages ten and up. I still go back and read them for fun sometimes. If you are looking for a good clean middle school books these are the ones to chose.
July 16, 2016
I liked this well enough for a realistic fiction kids book. It's a good book for late elementary kids. I like that it introduces a lot of diversity into the characters, not just ethnically diverse, but broken families, social class, Down Syndrome, age, Alzheimer's, as well dealing with the death of parents. As such, it may be a bit intense for younger or more sensitive kids, but it's a good way to bring these topics into discussion as a family. This small town community feels so close-knit and makes me want to live in a town like this, where you can walk around town at a young age, where people interact with each other instead of just being a face in a crowd. Of course, the downside is, everyone seems to know your business. The main characters are orphans, and while there are many orphan stories, most don't get into HOW they became orphans, but this one does, right at the beginning, and it could be upsetting for kids to hear how it happened. But dealing with death and changes is one of the ways the book reaches beyond the typical kids' realistic fiction genre. The girls aren't 'perfect', they bicker and make mistakes and a bit spoiled...all very realistic!
As for the writing and flow of the book, I felt it was a bit choppy, like each chapter a vignettes that didn't always flow together, although sometimes they did come together later. But through these vignettes, you get to see the different dimensions of the characters. It's a pretty short read and overall an 'interesting' book, but I wouldn't say it was an 'exciting' book.
As for the writing and flow of the book, I felt it was a bit choppy, like each chapter a vignettes that didn't always flow together, although sometimes they did come together later. But through these vignettes, you get to see the different dimensions of the characters. It's a pretty short read and overall an 'interesting' book, but I wouldn't say it was an 'exciting' book.
April 3, 2019
These books came across my memory the other day and I was so lucky to find the first two still at my library. The Main Street was really pivotal to my childhood not only because of its diverse cast - whether racially, class wise, or circumstantially - but also because it contributed to my love of small towns, whether as a reality (since I live in a small, close-knit town myself) or as a trope I’d started to take interest in since my days of watching Arthur. Martin had already done a splendid job with The Babysitters’ Club, so it’s no surprise she put another just as marvelous series and small town world with this one. I still love the characters just as much and was overjoyed to remember that I took the name for one of my own original characters from these books, so they truly hold a special place in my heart. They feel just as relatable and simple in their childhood philosophy as I remember, and since I don’t think I finished the series the last time I read them, I definitely will be this time.
January 28, 2020
I needed something sweet and easy and I like this series. An easy audio for a long drive home.
Read
September 4, 2020I read these books when I was something like 10 or 11 and now I feel overly nostalgic
March 1, 2022
I will never stop loving this book! I read it for the first time 15 years ago when I was just a 10-year-old. I loved writing for fun, but this book made me want to be an author someday. I can point to the specific page that made me say, “I want to be a writer when I grow up.”
Why am I reading this book at 25 years old? Because now I’m a freelance writer who’s finally writing a novel of my own. I’m slowly but surely accomplishing my childhood dream. I couldn’t think of a better time to reread this series. It’s a great reminder of who I want—and wanted—to be.
Reading this book as an adult is a different experience, but it’s still enjoyable. It certainly sounds like it’s written for younger audiences, but the descriptions are beautiful, the setting is cozy, and the characters are lovable. The problems don’t last for too long (the font isn’t tiny, after all), and everything ends up happy in the end. But, children will find it thrilling. I know I did at the time.
It tackles tough subjects like death, bullying, and Alzheimer’s, but I think it’s handled tastefully in an age-appropriate way.
Why am I reading this book at 25 years old? Because now I’m a freelance writer who’s finally writing a novel of my own. I’m slowly but surely accomplishing my childhood dream. I couldn’t think of a better time to reread this series. It’s a great reminder of who I want—and wanted—to be.
Reading this book as an adult is a different experience, but it’s still enjoyable. It certainly sounds like it’s written for younger audiences, but the descriptions are beautiful, the setting is cozy, and the characters are lovable. The problems don’t last for too long (the font isn’t tiny, after all), and everything ends up happy in the end. But, children will find it thrilling. I know I did at the time.
It tackles tough subjects like death, bullying, and Alzheimer’s, but I think it’s handled tastefully in an age-appropriate way.
May 28, 2010
Judging from the other reviews I have read, I am the only person who didn't like this book. I bought the series for the elementary school, and now I wish I wouldn't have spent the money on it.
This is a very wholesome book, but I feel part of the problem is that it is trying too hard to be wholesome. Every character has some sort of problem, and the girls are very tolerant of those problems. I don't have a problem with tolerance and acceptance of those who are different, but how realistic is it for young kids to behave that way? I didn't find the plot especially exciting or the characters realistic.
This is a very wholesome book, but I feel part of the problem is that it is trying too hard to be wholesome. Every character has some sort of problem, and the girls are very tolerant of those problems. I don't have a problem with tolerance and acceptance of those who are different, but how realistic is it for young kids to behave that way? I didn't find the plot especially exciting or the characters realistic.
October 22, 2015
I almost gave up on this book after disk 1. I'm glad I stuck it out because it ended up being a decent children's realistic fiction story. This small town had a lot of stuff going on around it. Ann M. Martin touched on quite a few issues without being too graphic or too preachy. I think this series would appeal to a lot of young girls because they could see themselves somewhere in the book. She even managed to catch my attention with a small cliffhanger at the end. Flora found a picture of her mother with "Scary Mary". Darn you Ann M. Martin, what's the connection?!
December 13, 2008
It's quite a light read about two orphan girls moving with there lovely grandmother to her hometown. How they settle in and adjust to living in an isolated town in New England, America. At times the speech can be a bit corny but otherwise a good read.
January 28, 2009
It's really fun.
September 23, 2009
This book was very good and i really want to read the next!
November 3, 2009
too sad barly could end the book.After 3 pages i couldn't bare to read it any more.
December 31, 2009
Great. Not five stars, but still a good piece. Is Camden Falls real? I would completely live there. Ann brings a peaceful component to this children's goodread. ;)
Read
January 3, 2010this book has blown me away in so many different derections this story a great childrens book and i hope you liked it as much as me
June 25, 2025
These books are pure nostalgia for me and are just as good as I remember them being when I was young.
January 4, 2010
I loved this book you could really understand it!!!
April 24, 2020
Mom got this book for me when I was seven years old. She found it at the library, and my guess is that she liked the way the cover looked. I read it, and I liked it. Apparently, the book was way too old for me. I understand why. I’m going to explain more about that in the review about needle and thread. That’s when we realized that it was too grown-up.
I have been meaning to read this book again for a while. I always thought it sounded interesting. Last year, I downloaded it onto Hoopla. I was planning on reading it. I never did. I read the second book in fifth grade on this school app called epic. It has books on it. I didn’t get finished with the second book, though. Finally, about last Sunday, I decided to read a few chapters. I’m still in the middle of the whatever after series, so I wasn’t sure what to do. I read a few chapters, and then, I decided to just keep reading. It was so good. I listened to the audiobook while doing exercises or just well relaxing in my bedroom. It’s very bittersweet, and the narrator is really good.
I have to say, my favorite part was the peek through the windows. By the way, there will probably be some spoilers from here on out. Anyway, I like seeing all the people in the different row houses. I thought the party sounded like a lot of fun. Although, I don’t know if I’d want to live in the real house is too much. Since I can’t see, it would be pretty hard to tell my house from someone else’s house. With my house, it has a step, so that’s part of the reason I know that is mine. I mean, another house does, too, but if I lived in the row houses, it would be even harder.
Flora and ruby kind of remind me of my sisters. I mean, not the situation, but their personalities. Gwen remind me a Florida. Gwen started a business selling mini furniture. She loves to SEW, and she loves to craft. She’s very good at them she can also be very quiet. Sometimes, I don’t know she’s in the room.
Poppy kind of reminds me of Ruby. Before this quarantine, Poppy took gymnastics. She still practices a lot, though. She loves doing cartwheels and handstands on our carpet. She’s louder than Gwen, but still, sometimes, I don’t know if she’s in the room. Technically, I guess that happens to pretty much anybody. Poppy would also like to be a singer when she grows up. She crafts a lot, too. I don’t really know who I am like. If there was somebody who loves to read and you didn’t love exercising but did it anyway, that would probably be me.
Here is a summary of this book. This book is about two girls whose parents died. They are sent to live with their grandmother in Camden Falls.. they miss their parents. They help out with their grandmother in her store, needle and thread. They make some good new Friends.
This book deserves five stars. Although, one hour seven, I probably would have given it three or four stars. NM Martin makes the characters come alive. I read her other books, but this might be my favorite. They’re all different in their own ways. When I was seven, I probably would’ve categorized the stuff about Mary Wallsey as, “boring.“ now, I think she’s just an ordinary woman who likes to stay at home. Maybe more than most people, but she’s still nice. Then again, I don’t know. I liked the chapter from her perspective. I recommend this book to everybody. Period. Well, maybe not to seven-year-olds.
I have been meaning to read this book again for a while. I always thought it sounded interesting. Last year, I downloaded it onto Hoopla. I was planning on reading it. I never did. I read the second book in fifth grade on this school app called epic. It has books on it. I didn’t get finished with the second book, though. Finally, about last Sunday, I decided to read a few chapters. I’m still in the middle of the whatever after series, so I wasn’t sure what to do. I read a few chapters, and then, I decided to just keep reading. It was so good. I listened to the audiobook while doing exercises or just well relaxing in my bedroom. It’s very bittersweet, and the narrator is really good.
I have to say, my favorite part was the peek through the windows. By the way, there will probably be some spoilers from here on out. Anyway, I like seeing all the people in the different row houses. I thought the party sounded like a lot of fun. Although, I don’t know if I’d want to live in the real house is too much. Since I can’t see, it would be pretty hard to tell my house from someone else’s house. With my house, it has a step, so that’s part of the reason I know that is mine. I mean, another house does, too, but if I lived in the row houses, it would be even harder.
Flora and ruby kind of remind me of my sisters. I mean, not the situation, but their personalities. Gwen remind me a Florida. Gwen started a business selling mini furniture. She loves to SEW, and she loves to craft. She’s very good at them she can also be very quiet. Sometimes, I don’t know she’s in the room.
Poppy kind of reminds me of Ruby. Before this quarantine, Poppy took gymnastics. She still practices a lot, though. She loves doing cartwheels and handstands on our carpet. She’s louder than Gwen, but still, sometimes, I don’t know if she’s in the room. Technically, I guess that happens to pretty much anybody. Poppy would also like to be a singer when she grows up. She crafts a lot, too. I don’t really know who I am like. If there was somebody who loves to read and you didn’t love exercising but did it anyway, that would probably be me.
Here is a summary of this book. This book is about two girls whose parents died. They are sent to live with their grandmother in Camden Falls.. they miss their parents. They help out with their grandmother in her store, needle and thread. They make some good new Friends.
This book deserves five stars. Although, one hour seven, I probably would have given it three or four stars. NM Martin makes the characters come alive. I read her other books, but this might be my favorite. They’re all different in their own ways. When I was seven, I probably would’ve categorized the stuff about Mary Wallsey as, “boring.“ now, I think she’s just an ordinary woman who likes to stay at home. Maybe more than most people, but she’s still nice. Then again, I don’t know. I liked the chapter from her perspective. I recommend this book to everybody. Period. Well, maybe not to seven-year-olds.
April 2, 2018
I listened to this on audiobook with my 4th grade daughter and we both agreed it was wonderful! A little bit of a sad start-two sisters are orphaned in a car crash and go to live with their grandmother in the idyllic little town of Camden Falls where Min (Grandma) owns a charming sewing store called Needle and Thread (it's as if that part was written for me.) Ruby and Flora and Min live in a row house and the story focuses on the girls' adjustment to a new town and life, making friends, and becoming part of the row house group of neighbors. All the neighbors have their own sorts of stories and some of them are fairly serious (dementia.) I think Martin has a pretty deft hand in middle grade fiction incorporating serious things into stories.
The audiobook reader was a new voice for me and I really thought she was great. One story/character who especially benefited from the audiobook treatment was Robbie, a boy with Down Syndrome. When the reader (I'll look up her name) spoke in Robbie's voice she did indeed sound just like someone with Down Syndrome. Which at first made me sort of flinch because you instinctively think "someone is mimicking someone's disability! That's not nice!" But she is not making fun, just being an amazing actress and realistically bringing all the character's to life. I will say though that then listening to the scene where some nasty children make fun of him and call him the R word and then he cries was so heartbreaking to listen to that both Tabby and I cried when we heard it. (Much like listening to The War that Saved My Life--hearing cruelty is worse than just reading the words.)
We were really captivated by this story and delighted to go to the library and find 5 more books in the series all sitting on the shelf. Since the audio version only appears to be around for book 1 we are going to read book 2 aloud together next.
The audiobook reader was a new voice for me and I really thought she was great. One story/character who especially benefited from the audiobook treatment was Robbie, a boy with Down Syndrome. When the reader (I'll look up her name) spoke in Robbie's voice she did indeed sound just like someone with Down Syndrome. Which at first made me sort of flinch because you instinctively think "someone is mimicking someone's disability! That's not nice!" But she is not making fun, just being an amazing actress and realistically bringing all the character's to life. I will say though that then listening to the scene where some nasty children make fun of him and call him the R word and then he cries was so heartbreaking to listen to that both Tabby and I cried when we heard it. (Much like listening to The War that Saved My Life--hearing cruelty is worse than just reading the words.)
We were really captivated by this story and delighted to go to the library and find 5 more books in the series all sitting on the shelf. Since the audio version only appears to be around for book 1 we are going to read book 2 aloud together next.
August 22, 2017
I really liked this book. The story of two girls losing their parents, leaving the place they grew up, their school, their friends and everything behind, only to move to a new place, not even being sure if they will fit in with the people there or not. This book shows that how difficult it is to start afresh in life for some people and on the other hand how easy it for some people to do the same. This book shows life from everyone's perspective. Whether it is the sisters with a difficult past, the girl who is younger than her other peers, and the girl who is an outcast at school due to her family's financial problems. These girls find friends in each other and get along very well. Their insecurities have been portrayed excellently, not much different of what we have in our own lives, proving these characters are just like everyone else. Although at some points we will get irritated by the character's behaviour, staying stuck to one thing, talking about it again and again and not moving on, which is actually human nature. This book is a slice of a life, and I believe that everyone can relate to and love this book.
December 23, 2017
Welcome to Camden Falls ( Main Street, #1) By Ann M. Martin. grades 4-6. genre- realistic fiction. Sisters Ruby and Flora have to move to a small new England town to live with their grandmother after their parents die. The two have to make new friends and new people. But when a mystery comes up the two girls decide they need to solve it for there own good. really good book for elementary students. I love how the book has more then just the two girls but it deals with Alzheimer disease, epilepsy and down syndrome to. The difference between normal and being different is so amazing in this book. I recommend this book to elementary students interested in realistic fiction. Also there is a lot of realistic in this book if you like realistic.
January 26, 2023
"Welcome to Camden Falls" is a story about two sisters whose parents die in an accident and they move in with their grandmother, Min. Flora and Ruby adapt to their new life in Camden Falls making becoming better friends with a neighbor down the street, Oliva, and new friends with Nikki. Throughout the book, they go through several trials that ultimately bring them closer as friends. I love this book because it really shows how friends are made by choice and that everyone comes from different walks of life. I would not necessarily teach this book in a classroom but would definitely have it as an on-the-shelf book for my students to read because of the lessons and the greater story that it tells.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2020
This novel by the author of the Babysitters Club books tells the story of Flora and Ruby, sisters whose parents have died in a car accident and who move with their grandmother Min to Camden Falls at the start of summer. Their life is very different in their new town, where they live in one of eight Row Houses. Suddenly, instead of being two miles from town and not allowed to go into town alone, the girls find themselves sharing backyards and front porches with many neighbors. The rich cast of characters is enjoyable, as the girls learn about making their own choices about people rather than just following the crowd's lead.
April 4, 2023
I picked this book up again after fifteen years since I last read it as a kid for nostalgia reasons. Twelve year old me absolutely adored this book, it was a safe space for me. So I gave it another go as an adult.
Its very obviously written for kids, so the simpleness of the writing and story was frustrating sometimes but I found it to be a great book to read before I fell asleep, as its not engaging enough to keep me flying through chapters. Will be onto the second book for night time reading as its still a nice and wholesome series to read!
Its very obviously written for kids, so the simpleness of the writing and story was frustrating sometimes but I found it to be a great book to read before I fell asleep, as its not engaging enough to keep me flying through chapters. Will be onto the second book for night time reading as its still a nice and wholesome series to read!
March 14, 2018
I liked how this book showed both the messy and the wonderful parts of life. Flora and Ruby lost their parents in a car accident and had to move in with their grandmother; Nicki lives in poverty; and Olivia's father loses his job. Although each girl has her own struggle or struggles to work through, they are able to find happiness and friendship in the small town of Camden Falls. The book has a warm tone, beautiful descriptions, and balances the painful with the sublime.
June 7, 2018
Man, this one was a STRUGGLE to finish! There were tons of characters (I guess to set up the series), and I felt like there wasn't much action in the storyline. Chapters rarely ended with a "Wow--I want to read more!" feeling. I wanted to finish it because I kept thinking the story would pick up and because a friend recommended the series. Eh. Not my favorite (and I love BSC and Rain Reign by Ann Martin). Oh well. Now I know.
October 31, 2024
I read this series YEARS ago when I was in middle school and stumbled back to it when I was looking for a book with a small-town vibe. I am impressed even years later reading this book because the verbage, while it can be understood by a younger demographic, is still satisfying to an older reader. So much love for Main Street!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews