Millie's Unsettled Season

A Life of Faith: Millie Keith #1

by Martha Finley, Mission City Press Inc. (Editor)

'Oh, Aunt Wealthy,' Millie cried, as Wealthy's boot touched solid ground, 'It's decided!' 'My child, what is it?' asked the older lady, dropping the letter to take the girl's hand and draw her to the sofa, 'What is decided?' Millie spoke with a determined effort to be calm. 'This morning, at breakfast, Pappa told us children, I mean3/4he and Mamma had talked it over last night, and you know they have been praying about it, and . . . 'And?' asked Aunt Wealthy as she clasped Millie's hand to her heart. 'We are going to move . . . to . . . to . . . Pleasant Plains, Indiana,' replied Millie. 'The frontier!' Wealthy gasped, sinking back on the couch. Meet Millie Keith, a bright and energetic twelve-year-old living in the charming town of Lansdale, Ohio, in 1833. Her world is about to be turned upside down when her Pappa announces that he is moving the family west to an undeveloped town on the frontier. The eldest daughter of eight lively children, Millie must shoulder responsibility for her mischievous brothers and sisters on the perilous journey and learn to trust God for her uncertain future. Will her Christian faith sustain her as she leaves behind friendships and everything she has ever known?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Historical

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Martha Finley was a teacher and author of numerous works, the most well known being the 28 volume Elsie Dinsmore series which was published over a span of 38 years. Finley wrote many of her books under the pseudonym Martha Farquharson.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_F... or, http://marthafinley.wordpress.com/

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. It's different yet the same every time I read it.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

....that was amazing. <3

*dies at the cliffhanger ending and grabs book two*

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been able to relate to Millie so well. This series is fun and full of learning for young and old! Embark with Millie as she moves from her home in Ohio to the wilds of the west. There are loads of wonderful characters along the way. And the ending just makes you want to read the second book! A great read!

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this series when I read it a few years back. It's the A Life of Faith: Millie Keith series by Martha Finely, revised ... so they're easier to read than the old versions. Humorous, fun, and faith-filled; with tons of adventure and a dash of the sweetest romance. I highly recommend to Christian teen girls! I've been meaning to get my 13 and 15-year-old younger sisters to read this series! It's amazing! <3 I'm tempted to read it over, but I have so many other books to read already!! O.O Haha.

But seriously, give the Millie Keith series a try!

[Micaiah Keough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to reread this because a friend was reading it for the first time. I'll be rereading Millie's Courageous Days too, most likely. :)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Millie Keith series was one of my favorite series to read. It's written by Finley, the same woman who wrote the Elsie Dinsmore. However, I found that I was more discouraged reading the Elsie series than I was with the Millie series. The reason being that Elsie is SO perfect in the books, always in the right, etc, etc. I'm not like that, so I was discouraged reading the books. However, when I read the Millie Keith series, I was encouraged by who Millie was. She was just like me! She had her problems with wanting to pinch her brothers right away when they wouldn't listen to her, or being content with what her parents told her to do. But, throughout the series, you get to see her grow in the Lord, and eventually those problems began to go away. She no longer feels the urge to pinch her little brothers, no longer struggles as much to be content with her new life. So, it was more encouraging, to me. The Dinsmore books are good, too. But perhaps I just felt better when I thought I could 'grow with the characters', per se. :)

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book for Christmas and was already expecting to like it because I trust the friend who gave it to me, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The character was very likeable and the plot good. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
The one thing I can say that was a little irritating is how if Millie prays about something, it seems like her problem goes away instantly. I thought that was unrealistic, because while I firmly believe that God will help us when we ask Him, he doesn't alway just make the problem vanish. Sometime its a struggle.
Overall, this was a good book with a strong message that I throughally enjoyed.

[Megan M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite christian series. This is the first book out of 8. It's about Millie Keith who has to move and she has all of these problems testing her faith and whatnot. It includes a romance later in the series....ooooh. It's really sad at some parts and it made me cry and other times it made me laugh really hard. I definitely recommend it.

[SarieBerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just happened upon this book at a second-hand bookstore, I only bought the first one because I wasn’t sure. Upon reading the first page I was immediately immersed in Millie Keith’s story. My husband went right out the next day to buy me the rest of the books there and I ordered the two that were missing from the set. They’re out of print so it’s not easy to find them!!
Millie was such a wonderful character! She was so easy to love! A lot of books for younger girls have a lot of angst in them and usually the main character is a trouble maker. Not so for Millie! She is strong and kind and very filled with faith! I found myself second guessing how I react as someone that knows the Lord. What a blessing to stumble upon these!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Millie Keith soooooo much more than Elsie Dinsmore!!!
Millie lives an exciting life and faces real struggles in a godly way. Plus her family is so endearing and lovable!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reading the books again, for fun because I liked them so much!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book, because I could relate to Millie in quite a few ways. It really encouraged me to read my Bible more and live for God, and it was also very fun to read!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout the book, Millie almost turns into a new character!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every single one of the Millie Books! I read them when I'm sick of reading or if I can't sleep or if I'm having a bad day. She grows up through the books so I'm always her age. :)

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a nostalgic read for me. These books meant so much to me when I was young, and I'm so glad that this one still held up. I need to binge all of them now!

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am only 11 but I love the Life of Faith series! I have read the whole series but love to reread them again and again! Millie really helps me to trust God! ( 5 star!!!!) :) :D

[Sofia Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Oh, Aunt Wealthy,” Millie cried. ... “It’s decided!” “My child, what is it?” asked the older lady, dropping the letter to take the girl’s hand and draw her to the sofa. “What is decided?” Millie spoke with a determined effort to be calm. “This morning at breakfast, Pappa told us- us children, I mean- he and Mamma had talked it over last night, and you know they have been praying about it, and…” “And?” Wealthy clasped Millie’s hand to her heart. “We are going to move … to…to… Pleasant Plains, Indiana.” “The frontier!” Wealthy gasped, sinking back on the coach.

In 1833, 12-year-old Millie Keith’s family is moving from their comfortable house in Lansdale, Ohio to Indiana, the frontier. Millie is leaving everything she has ever known behind. A trip so far in the 1830s is perilous. Even if all her seven siblings get to Pleasant Planes safely, Millie isn’t certain it will ever feel like home.

Genre: Historical, adventure. For girls ages 10-14. Issues dealt with: family relationships, friendships, trust in God, obedience to God, outreach, standing up for your faith, being nice to others, moving.

In "Millie's Unsettled Season," Millie struggles to understand God’s plan for her. But, looking at her parents and great-aunt as brilliant examples, Millie constantly grows in her faith. She gets into heated discussions about the joy of being God’s children and looking at others as God would. Millie is an excellent example of standing up for your faith and helping others. Even when she does do wrong, she understands it, asks God and others to forgive her.

This is book 1 of the 8 books in the A Life of Faith: Millie Keith series. The others are "Millie's Courageous Days," "Millie's Remarkable Journey," "Millie's Faithful Heart," "Millie's Steadfast Love," "Millie's Grand Adventure," "Millie's Reluctant Sacrifice," and "Millie's Fiery Trial."

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22 (NIV)

Learn more about Martha Finley, the 19th century author of the story. For more on Kersten Hamilton, who beautifully adapted Finley's story visit her website.

[Alisha Bonnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow......I just love these books! they are filled with wonder, excitement, laughter, sorrow, and joy. Martha Finley did a fantastic job in writing the Elsie Dinsmore and Millie Keith books!
when I read this book, I was amazed at how I grew in my faith as Millie grew I hers. this was the first series in which I felt as if I was there, a part of the Keith family.
I highly recommend this book for 10+......and when you're done with them, you can put them in your hope chest for your future daughters to enjoy :)
this is 1 out of 8......so don't miss reading all the books!

[Liz Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty out of genera for me, and the only other book I've read that was similar to this I ended up hating. But a friend recommended it to me and let me borrow a copy, so I was determined to give it a try.
I really enjoyed it! It wasn't my favorite, but the characters were endearing and entertaining. The writing was clean and easy to read. The plot was not the most entertaining, but I did enjoy it all around and can't wait for the second one!

[Anna Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOSH!!!!! I've tried reading this book before but didn't have an interest in it until my sister started reading the "Millie" series and I tried it, too, and now I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE it!!! I'm going to the library tonight to pick up the next in the series!!!! :)

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read a book about this location in this period of time. The heroine moves from her civilized hometown in Ohio to an unsettled, emerging area in Indiana in the 1830s. Along the way she is challenged to find new friends and to face issues such as poverty and classism.

[Micah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I remember loving this books when I was little! I tried rereading them again recently, but the writing style was a little weak for me. It's a great book for a younger audience though!

[Stacy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is about a girl named Millie who just traveled on a long long journey to Ohio. Lots of things have happened on the way and finally they are in Ohio. They are staying at a hotel. They just went to see their new house and Millie hates it.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Millie better than Elsie Dinsmore for the simple fact that Millie is more real. She does have problems with her character and she does have to deal with them. She's not perfect but she is trying. Love!

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the Elsie Dinsmore series and I found it hard to relate to her because she was so "perfect". I really enjoyed Millie's series because she was relatable but still set a good example. Millie's story makes me dream of living on the prairie in 1833!

[Smiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is amazing!!! it really shows how god's word was used to inspire this girl. :)

[Cayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

liked this book, i read last summer and it was much better than i expected

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. They really know how to keep you on suspese to buy the next book..At the end of this book I cried...But it was happy crying...

[Elyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a wonderful book, in a wonderful series.

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For one of my daughters this was the series that sparked her desire to read well. Love this off shoot of the Elsie Dinsmore series. Which also sparked it for her. They both did.