In Care of Cassie Tucker

by Ivy Ruckman

Thursday, August 17, 1899, had been as ordinary as dishwater for Cassie Tucker, who lives near Blue Hill, Nebraska. Up until nightfall, that is, when the telegram arrives saying an orphaned cousin is traveling to their farm. Cousin Evan fits in at first, but his independent ways set him apart from Preacher Tucker's family.

As a carefree Indian summer propels the Tuckers toward year's end, Mother Nature tests them with everything from drought to dust storms to a blinding blizzard. Cassie fears she could become an orphan, too, as the family becomes separated and she and Evan must fight for their lives.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Juvenile, Young Adult

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Ivy Ruckman is the award-winning author of fourteen books, including No Way Out, for which she also wrote the screenplay. She is a former English teacher and creative writing instructor, and has written several short stories for young readers. Mrs. Ruckman lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Reviews

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 5-8 161 pgs


1899, Blue Hill, Nebraska. Although this decades has been called the "Gay Nineties", as the author observes this decade was full of hardships for farmers. 11 year old Cassie and her family must face a dangerous blizzard, caring for her older brother when he suffers a head injury and is in a coma, and learn to deal with differences when they take in her older cousin Evan. While Evan respects the strong religious beliefs of Cassie and her family, he does not share them, something that Cassie finds hard to understand.

[Tirzah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 1899 Nebraska, readers get a glimpse of how life was during those times. Stories like these make me thankful to the real people who paved the wild frontier to make it the country it is today. I think young readers will find it interesting to read about children who grew up in a different time period.

[Jen Bury · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun peek into the life of an 11 year old girl who lives on a Nebraska farm in 1899! I read this with my 11 year old daughter and found a lot to discuss! Such a different way of life was had that it is impossible not to find talking points!
The spelling and language would probably be difficult for a young reader on their own, but so much awareness can be had from the reading that it is worth the struggle! The writing is more in line with entertaining a child (less adult audience than Little House on the Prairie).

A few talking points: Chores/expectations, food/store options, schooling, bigotry, religion/expectations/judgment, gypsies, arthritis, comas, frostbite, etc…

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story reminds me a bit of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and a book called One Saint and Seven Sinners about a minister and his family in the Oklahoma territory ( before it was a state).

[Partridge Public]

Ruckman, Ivy