A School of Her Own

Grandma's Attic #6

by Arleta Richardson

American life around the turn of the century is the backdrop for these heart-warming, real-life stories! And while some things have changed for girls, some haven't.Mabel's not sure if she's ready to handle all the responsibilities of being a schoolteacher.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Classics, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Childrens, Christian, Young Adult

173 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Arleta Richardson was an author, librarian, and a teacher. The Grandma's Attic series was her most well known series. She was born in Flint, MI, and served in World War II. She belonged to the Free Methodist Church.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mabel has graduated from high school and is all set to start her first year as a schoolteacher. She accepts a position far enough from home that she must board with a local family during the week, only going home on weekends and holidays. Mabel has always leaned on the wisdom of her parents and support of her best friend, Sarah Jane, to guide her through life's challenging occasions.

She does well as she transitions into adulthood, navigating tricky situations, personal and professional, with thoughtfulness and care, gaining independence and confidence. I enjoyed reading about her school and her interactions with the students. Her uncertainty regarding her relationship with Russ is handled with grace and reinforces a genuine friendship.

A feel-good, faith-based read that leaves you contented and maybe even a bit envious of Mabel, her cheerful disposition, and her trust in God to lead her where she belongs.

[Lydia Willcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love these books, and it seems like they just keep getting better. I so enjoyed the romance in this one...and even though I liked the one she nearly married a lot, I knew beforehand that she wouldn't, and I ended up liking the one she did more. I also enjoyed everything related to the school and Mabel's teaching. This was one of my favourites so far, and I just can't get enough of this series.

[Yibbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah yes... how our words can come back to haunt us! And how much amusement we can provide! The first story in this one kicks things off with a bang or almost a bang anyway. Poor Mable, if she doesn't get into at least one wild scrape per year she wouldn't know what to do.
Here we get to see how Mable handles her first big separation from family and friends. As she learns to solve problems on her own she also learns how to lean on the Lord's guidance and comfort for herself.
It's full of the same fun and joy as the other books, but also has the deeper struggles of a young lady with new responsibilities.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of delightful stories that you can learn by!

Mabel is now eighteen and off to teach school! She and Sarah Jane each accept a position, learning how to adjust to being teachers and how to take charge, and for Mabel, trying to determine where her heart really lays; with Russ, with teaching, or with someone else?

This book is good but I gave it three stars as I didn’t like it as much as the others. A typical love triangle of sorts, and if Mabel had just talked out her woes with someone (something I’m realizing myself), things would have gone a lot better sooner.

Don’t miss this series. An oldie but a goodie!

Cleanliness: “Goodness” and “for goodness sakes” are used. Courting and jealousy are main threads in this story. Nothing mushy. A tween boy is abused by his father and runs away. A bad man often ogles a woman and tries to get chummy with her via conversation, than threatens her to keep away from his family.

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[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am wavering on how many stars to give this one. Cute simple story set in my favorite time period. I really wished there were a little more "moments" between Len and Mabel. I also felt the book could have used a little more embellishment overall on detailed stories to bring out personality and variety. However, I really liked how respectful Len was on Mabel and her current relationship.
I did not realize this was book#2 of a series. I think I will read book #1 and #3 for sure.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little story that's both charming and teaches good lessons, such as knowing God's will for your life, choices and consequences, and kindness. I came into this book not familiar with the series it's a part of, but I would like to see now if I can collect the remaining books and complete the series. I know if I were much younger I would have adored these books, as they are targeted towards a younger age. It was still an enjoyable read for an adult, and I think others would enjoy it too.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. This wasn't my favourite as a teen because I just didn't find it very funny, though it was certainly dramatic. As an adult, however, I LOVE IT. I related to Mabel having to figure out life and constantly running into new problems and having to work things out alone + lean on God. She may have made some dumb choices, but it's easily understandable. Her romance is cute, and I LOVE the school + community (we need more books like this!!).

[Annalise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to go back and reread some of the Grandma's attic books. I have always loved the Grandma's attic series, but this one is by far my favorite. What I appreciate about it most is that is a true story with great humor, fun characters, and a little bit of romance that all takes place in Michigan. :)

[Abigail Whitcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little heavier thematically than the previous ones. My 9 year old said "Now that she's older she's not getting into as many scrapes" 😆 Still highly enjoyable!

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mabel is done with high school and ready to teach her first year of school at a little country one-room schoolhouse. Her boyfriend, Russ, is pressuring her to make plans for their future wedding, but Mabel isn't ready to commit to a formal engagement. Meanwhile, Mabel has trouble with her country students when there is a scarlet fever scare, a break-in at the schoolhouse, and a blizzard runs through the area. Another young man seems to have feelings for Mabel and she has to decide between a new love or the steady old relationship with Russ.

I just love how spunky and energetic Mabel is! She is always getting into the most ridiculous situations with her best friend, Sarah Jane. Just because she is grown-up now, doesn't mean she isn't still mischievous and playful, but her problems are bigger and require a deep solution now that she can't rely on her parents and teachers to bail her out of scrapes.

I did NOT like how Mabel kept her problems to herself instead of telling her friends or alerting the authorities. At one point, she worries that a student is being abused at home, but decides to try to handle it herself instead of alerting the school board and asking for help. The results are disastrous for both the student and for Mabel, and I was so angry with her for being so foolish!

I was also disappointed in the love story. Mabel barely has one conversation with her new love interest, and suddenly he's proposing out of nowhere. I needed more interaction between those two to believe that they could really have feelings for each other. The love story was "told", instead of "shown" so it fell flat.

But for the most part, I enjoyed this book and the tales of the country school house. I love the old-fashioned innocence of the book and the charming writing style.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book six of the 10-book Grandma's Attic series. While these later books are perhaps an idealized historical fiction of the author's grandmother, they are a lovely insight into rural life in late 1800s Michigan. These books are charming, simple, and very quick read for an adult. I read this one in about an hour. I love this series!

Note: This book was originally released with the title, "Eighteen and On Her Own."

[Tirzah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perhaps my favorite of what I like to call the "second" Grandma's Attic series. There are lots of challenges Mabel and Sarah Jane face that help them mature into strong, young women. Each have their own school and experience the life of a schoolteacher while Mabel finds herself faced with a duo of romantic suitors. As always, Mabel's story is a comical, inspirational read!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was possibly my favorite book out of the entire series! This is the book where grown-up Mabel meets a man in her life who will change her forever. As with all of the books in this series, I laughed and was captivated through the whole book.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute book....

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably my favorite book of the series! The loved story of Mabel and Len was darling!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stepped back a century when I read this book. This is book #6 in the Grandma's Attic series but it's the first one I've read. It's an interesting story in the Little House tradition. I suspect that the publisher is a religious one since there is lots of praying. In this story Mabel, the main character, has graduated from high school and has applied as a teacher. She lives in Michigan. The school is probably not that far from home but travel is by horse and buggy so she stays with the president of the school board's family. She does get home often. She has the usual problems with the children, which she easily fixes, but a problem with the mean father of some of her students has her worried and somewhat scared. Winter weather is also a danger along with illness. Meanwhile, she is between being wooed by her old boyfriend, now in college, who is pressing her to become engaged to him, and her growing feelings toward Len, a poor minister and son of the house where she lives.

[Mitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

There were more problems with representations of Native and Roma people in this book, but the real reason I'm giving it a one-star is because Mabel is ultimately rewarded for failing to report violent child abuse to the authorities. It can be argued that not messing in other people's business and treating children like property were just a part of the times, but I would not allow one of my children to read this book for the positive way in which silence is represented in this book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The similarities between this series and the Anne of Green Gables series is uncanny. Despite that, I still am enjoying revisiting these books I liked so much when I was younger. And to process the series as an adult is really interesting. To see it from the other side of my own education and teaching career brings some new conclusions about adulthood and life that I couldn’t have made when I was reading these as a child.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
So much fun rereading this book! Loved seeing Mabel as a school teacher and getting to know each of her students. There is some excitement and some mystery in this story, but there is also a lot of fun and sweet moments.
This is the first book that is really a continual story and not just a story each chapter.

[C.G.Koens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always loved this series, and this book in particular, as a kid. It's super fun to re-read it to my girls now for the first time for them, and hear them get involved in the characters and beg me to read more. Great set of books for girls ages 8-12 (and moms and grandmas, ages 22-102!!). 😉

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this one much better than the other YA ones without Grandmother.
In this day and age it's really hard to think of someone running a school and teaching multiple grades without any particular training. Interesting.

[Dakota Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these books

[Kari McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well-written, but a very poor approach to dealing with a dangerous situation.

[dazzledbyink]

No rating💛

[Jacinta Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love seeing Sarah Jane and Mabel grow up

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story except for the part of Abe being abused by his father and it not being reported right away.