Stories from the Growing Years

Grandma's Attic #10

by Arleta Richardson

Still content with her life as a minister's wife in a small Michigan farming community, Mabel observes with great interest the busy lives of family and friends.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Childrens, Young Adult, Chapter Books

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

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

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final book of the Grandma's Attic series. It is also my least favorite. The author abandons her narrative style from the previous 5 books and returns to a more disconnected story style like the first four. Unfortunately, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the stories other than to wrap up some of the storylines for characters like Elizabeth, Colleen, and the birth of the other children.

I truly love this series. I have even gone so far to research the real Mabel O'Dell. Her husband passed away 2 years after the end of the final book. According to the author's notes, Mabel was a widow for over 50 years. I love that the author showed what were undoubtedly the happiest times of Mabel's life. I feel like the everyday life of this woman is a "common man's" historical account. It feels charming and realistic. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a simple, sweet series about life in another time. Ideally, this is good for children in early elementary through mid-elementary.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. This is a fun collection of stories spanning some ten years of Mabel's early motherhood. I enjoy the children's antics (reminiscent of the earlier Grandma's Attic books) and the town shenanigans, including welcoming the phone and electricity. And of course I love the community focus. Also, I cried over Seth's story. <3 This is a really good way to say goodbye to the series...

[Abigail Whitcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished the series with the kids 🥳 My 4 yo said, "Now can we read it 3 or 4 more times?" 🥰

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Mom read these books to me and my siblings one year. They are the best!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

[Tirzah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family and I grew up with The Grandma’s Attic series. It was not until recently, however, that I realized there was a tenth and final book. Rather than marvel at how I could have completely missed this one after all these years, I hunted it down to find it at my local library! Anyway, it was exciting to pick up another one of Mabel and Sarah Jane’s adventures once again. This one is reminiscent of the first four books as each chapter is a separate story with an important moral to convey. I liked how author Arleta Richardson supplied a timeline and an author’s note at the end, telling readers a little more about her grandmother Mabel. These books are wonderful for a read-aloud or just to read on your own as they are humorous stories that share historical events and lessons on Christian faith.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read two of the ten books in this series (and may need to go back and read the others) and loved every minute of them. The stories were so warm and loving and gave a real indication of what life was like then, even though each story is really only a snapshot.

[Partridge Public]

Richardson, Arleta PB

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read this one in a while but I remember that I did like it and that it was very fun!

[C.G.Koens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a reread from my childhood to my girls. Four stars because I love knowing more about the family and seeing it grow, three stars because it didn't have the same flow as the other books in the series and felt like it was just thrown together. Still, nice ending, although a bit sad to read the afterward and see how much longer Mabel lived than Len, and even one of her children. I guess that's life.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed rereading this whole series, and adding on the two books at the end that I’d never read before. What a lovely reminder that even though the world looks different than it did 100+ years ago, people are much the same, still needing love, forgiveness, attention, growth, and community. We all have the chance to love and care for those who are in our sphere of influence, and these books remind me how important that love and care truly is.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Oh, this book! It's been years since I've read it so this rereading was such fun! And the stories. This isn't one continuing story like the last couple of books have been, but each chapter is a different story from Mabel's life as a wife and mother. And some just cracked me up! Others were more sweet. This was a perfect way to wrap up the series.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in the series. Mabel and Sarah Jane are now mothers to their own children. The residents of North Branch are excited about the arrival of electricity and telephones in their community. What other changes will they experience?