Family Reminders

by Julie Danneberg, John Shelley (Illustrator)

Sometimes we all need a little reminder.

Ten-year-old Mary McHugh’s world is shattered when her father is injured in a mining accident in the late 1800’s. After losing his leg, Mary’s father falls into a deep depression. He no longer plays the piano or has interest in carving the intricate wooden "Reminders" that he has always made to remind the family of the milestones they shared together. To make matters worse, the family may need to leave their home in Cripple Creek, Colorado in order to make ends meet.

Mary’s love for her father and her desire to get life back to "normal" push her to take a chance that restores her father’s spirit and brings her family a new life, strengthened by the hardships they have endured.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Family

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: "It's going to be a warm one, Mary. An Indian summer day," Daddy said to me as he got up from the kitchen table and slugged down his last gulp of coffee.



Premise/plot: Family Reminders is historical fiction set in Cripple Creek, Colorado, in the 1890s. It is a mining community, and the novel opens with an accident at the mine. Mary's father is injured at the mine. The novel is told through her perspective and captures how this one family moves on from this tragic even. It will be a struggle. But together as a family...they can do anything, right?



My thoughts: I enjoyed learning that it is loosely inspired on the author's grandmother's family. I love historical fiction. I have very fond memories of family vacations in Colorado. I enjoy family stories with a lot of heart and soul. This one was just a perfectly perfect fit for me. I absolutely loved, loved, loved the black and white illustrations by John Shelley. They give the book a charming, old-fashioned feel.

[Angie Fehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Mary McHugh is growing up in the frontier town of Cripple Creek, Colorado in the late 1890s. She has a very loving home life full of jokes, laughter and her father's wood carvings he calls "reminders", since he tends to carve figures inspired by real life memories.

Mary's father, a miner, experiences a work accident one day that costs him one of his legs. The transition into life as an amputee is not an easy one for Mary's father. Even once a large part of his initial physical healing has passed, he still struggles with the emotional turmoil brought about by this new life situation. Mary's father doesn't like to see his wife having to take up work as a laundress to pay the bills now that he is out of work... or Mary herself sneaking in babysitting jobs where she can to supplement the family income. Once a man who took pride in doing an honest day's work, Mary's father now battles a sense of uselessness. But when suggestions are made as to what he can contribute (work-wise), he goes back to moping.

But Mary is determined to do whatever is necessary to raise her father's spirits and keep the family unit strong. It is through Mary's bold, optimistic spirit that an answer to the family's prayers comes about, guaranteeing the reader a happy ending to close on. Once he gets his groove back, Mary's mother can't help but lightheartedly comment, "Guess he got bored with his orneriness."

Family Reminders is a quick little read --- big print, lots of heartwarming illustrations --- but there's a fair amount of heart and inspiring, feel-good plot, even a little humor, woven into these few pages! Author Julie Danneberry writes that the storyline is loosely inspired by the childhood of her grandmother, who grew up in the real Cripple Creek, CO and who also had a father who lost a leg in a mining accident. I'd recommend for fans of the Little House on the Prairie books.

[Kim Patton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction book about a family in the town of Cripple Creek, Colorado in the late 1800's. Based on the author's own grandfather's experiences, a mining accident leaves the father without his leg. This effects the family, which consists of Mom, Dad, and one daughter. The daughter, Mary, helps Dad to see that his "reminders," small handcrafted wooden renderings of people he knows, are valuable treasures. He learns he can be more than a miner.

This would be a great book for kids who have parents that have suffered injuries, such as parents that come back injured from war or that receive an injury on the job. You see a small glimpse of the father's pain through the way he interacts differently with his family as he tries to adjust to life without his leg.

[Lupine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed emotions about it. I liked the whole idea of it -- hope and taking advantage of new opportunities when tragedy strikes. However, he whole "historical" part of it fell flat for me. There was very little in the way of painting a picture of the time, no real information about mining and this way life other than people sometimes were killed or injured and a lot of things felt too...shiny for that time period. I much preferred "My Darlin' Clementine".

That being said, it's a quick read, it's got pictures and I can see kids reading it and enjoying it but I can't see it as being very memorable.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following an 1890s story from the author's family, the father in this story loses his leg in a mining accident in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The family struggles to become fully functioning again afterward.

I read this because it was historical fiction taking place in the 1890s. But there was little to no real historical detail. So that is not a reason for reading this book.

[Kelley Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great message this book delivers. Life doesn't have to end when tragedy strikes. Mary shows guts and determination in the wake of her father's injury. She is the shining star and gives hope to her family. When life gives you lemons make lemonade. The story is loosely based on the authors grandmother.

[Jean Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of our small groups reading curriculum (Being a Reader by Collaborative Classroom) for end of 2nd grade/beginning of 3rd grade. I read it with a group of 4th graders. This is a great historical fiction book for young readers that gently and appropriately deals with issues such as physical disability, depression, poverty, and family relationships.

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story of a girl whose father is injured in a mining accident. When she realizes that her family is struggling financially, she comes up with a plan to save them, and along the way, ends up helpiung her father, too.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this a good historical fiction for children. It shows them the importance in finding the good in the bad and using that good to seize new opportunities.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and simple story of a family's recovery after a mining accident.

[Judy Desetti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast read. I read it in about 45 mins. This means that it probably a good fit for for my third and fourth graders. I sometimes get upset that the WAW titles have so few that the younger kids can actually read independently, but this is one they should be able to handle.

Unfortunately the plot is superficial. Family lives in a mining town, dad mines. He gets injured and the family makes a miraculous adjustment with few problems in only one year. The fact that the family has a nice house with a parlor and upstairs when dad is only miner seems far fetched to me. Mom only has to take in laundry from two miners who overpay her and they are able to keep the house and make ends meet while Dad turns to carving figurines and becomes an artist and craftsman. All due to the upbeat Pollyanna attitude of Mary, the daughter. Mary prods him in to playing the piano again and turning his hobby into full time employment. It seems a bit cheesy but younger kids will probably like this one.

It does not give much detail and feel for a historical fiction

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the late 1890’s Mary’s father, a miner, is hurt in a coal mining accident and he changes from the happy father she knows to a man who believes he has no future. He can’t be a miner any more, and the mine won’t hire him to do anything else since he’d be seen as bad luck. Gradually, and with much support from Mary and her mother, her father finds a new and happy future. Interesting historical fiction, and the reality of no safety nets (insusrance, worker’s comp, social security) is addressed without emphasis. 3rd or 4th grade girls, but also perhaps older girls who need reading fluency.

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sat and read this book to the kids today! The whole thing! It had a great message and gave an insight into our counties history and family life that was really wonderful!
Katie said ," This book teaches us that we shouldn't let ourselves down by giving up hope. And when the Daddy is happy then the family is happy."
Time well spent.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solidly good little book for elementary aged kids set in the famous Colorado mining town, Cripple Creek. It is told from a young girl's perspective, handles issues of loss and grief, and gives a healthy, encouraging picture of family life. I think the title and cover were regrettably chosen but the story didn't suffer because of it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The quick resolution of the problem may have been a bit unrealistic, but I think the change in the family relationships after the father's accident were very well portrayed. This might be reassuring for a child who is coping with the changed relationships, frustration, and turmoil after a parent's illness or injury.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this short, sentimental story, Mary relates the account of her father losing his leg in a mining accident and his depression and the family's situation that follows. I like the setting--early 1900's Cripple Creek, Colorado, but found the book lacking in depth.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Battle of the Books book that I read to my daughter. Would give it 3.5 stars as it was a good story but I think it could have used just a little bit more history and time context. My 4th grade daughter really enjoyed it.

[Jess Trebanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet and a little sad, with a lovely ending.

[Chelsey Juenemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the William Allen White list for 2011-2012. A very easy read, but a great book. Short, but memorable. About a mining family in Cripple Creek, CO and how they move on after a mining accident.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet, simple story about a girl dealing with her father's recovery from a mining accident. Good for young readers.

[Sabrina Zambrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute little story about dealing with grief and change as a kid, if you want something sad but not sobbing worthy i recommend this. super quick read

[Cristy Harts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, interesting story, great book for those just starting to read chapter books.