Finest Kind

by Lea Wait

WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE TWELVE YEARS OLD AND YOUR WORLD IS FALLING APART?

It's 1838. Jake's father has lost his job and his savings. Hearing of work in Maine, the family leaves their large home in Boston and heads north, taking with them a few furnishings -- and a deep family secret. In Maine they find only a dirty, isolated farmhouse, and a job for Father that takes him away from home.

"I'll have to depend on you," Jake's mother tells him. But how can Jake find food? How can he prepare for the dangerous cold of a Maine winter? How can he protect his mother -- and his family's secret?

Slowly, Jake learns the ways to survive, catching game and storing food for the long winter months. Nabby McCord, whose family also has a secret, helps him. So does Granny McPherson, who may be a witch. But when it comes to earning the money they need, Jake knows he's on his own. He shows his determination as the winter approaches, but does he have what it takes to bring his family together to face the future -- and their past?

Finest Kind is the powerful story of a boy who is forced to become a man and to learn the truth about courage, friendship, and secrets.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult

246 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2006

About the author

Maine author Lea Wait writes the NYT-praised 8-book Shadows Antique Print Mystery series, the latest of which is SHADWS ON A MORNING IN MAINE, and the USA Today best-selling Mainely Needlepoint series which debuted with TWISTED THREADS in January, 2015, and was followed by THREADS OF EVIDENCE in August, 2015, THREAD AND GONE, in January, 2016, DANGLING BY A THREAD in late October, 2016, and TIGHTENING THE THREADS in March, 2017. Wait also writes acclaimed historical novels for ages 8 and up set in 19th century Maine, the latest of which, UNCERTAIN GLORY, takes place in a small northern town during the first two weeks of the Civil War. Lea's LIVING AND WRITING ON THE COAST OF MAINE, about being an author and living year 'round in Maine with a husband who's an artist also includes writing tips. Lea did her undergraduate work at Chatham College (now University) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and her graduate work at New York University. While she was raising the four daughters she adopted as a single parent she worked as a manager for AT&T. Now she writes full time and speaks at schools and libraries. She loves rowing, visiting historical sites, and, of course, reading and writing. See her website,
www.leawait.com, and the blog she writes with other Maine Mystery writers, http://www.mainecrimewriters.com, friend her on FB and Goodreads, and, if you'd like to be on her email list to find out when her next book will be published, send her your email address write to her at leawait@roadrunner.com

Reviews

[BiblioBickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Jake Webber has to learn how to find food and keep warm very quickly when his father loses his lucrative bank job in 1837 Boston and the family moves to Maine in September. They bring fine china, cut glass, and beautiful furniture but no food, not realizing the rural, rustic life they were destined for. It's a change for everyone, especially because Jake's father is away most of the time working at the saw mill and, later, cutting trees in the woods for the lumber trade. Jake's mother has never had to cook or clean much and spends her days caring for Jake's younger brother, Frankie, who has cerebral palsy, a poorly understood disease at the time which townspeople often blamed on the "sins of the parents." Jake quickly learns how to care for chickens, find and store food, and prepare the house for winter. He also finds a job himself while getting to know his neighbors, including unfriendly Tom, Simple Simon, the enigmatic Nabby, and the Native American widow of a Scotsman, Granny McPherson. Adventures abound, and the story is neatly tied up in the end, despite some cliches. Good survival story. Best for ages 10-12.

[Haylee B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. It's about a boy's life moving from his home to a little town called Wicasset in Maine. Jake, the main character, feels the weight of responsibility to keep the family safe and well fed as his father goes away each week to work at the sawmill with his uncle. Through it all the family keeps the one secret that they have been hiding ever since moving here, the one thing they don't want anyone to know about. But secrets don't stay secrets long in a little town like Wicasset.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young boy's life changes drastically when his father loses his bank job in 1830's Boston and has to move the family to the wilderness of Maine to get a job at a lumber mill. As his father has to be away from home for weeks, 12 year old Jake must take care of him and his mother and get ready for a typically brutal Maine winter without knowing anything about wilderness living.

[Amber Page]

Bookends-August -Poverty and it's impact-Maine author writes of a families struggle after bank crash and having to move from Boston to live in Wiscasset Maine in the 1830's. Amazing and heartfelt. Loved the characters. 5*

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story about a boy and his family who move from riches to almost rags, and from city life to rural farm life, and how they cope. Father loses his job in the financial depression of 1837, and so the family must let their servants go and leave their big house in Boston and take a small, run-down, 3-room farmhouse outside the village of Wiscasset, Maine, while Father takes a job in a lumber mill. The story is interesting on several levels. First, it's a story of survival and adjustment to a completely different way of life. Second, it's interesting for the information about life in Maine at that time. Third, it's also a story about superstitious prejudice against those who are physically or mentally handicapped, in this case little brother Frankie, who has cerebral palsy, and thiry-something Simon, who is "simple". Finally, it's about secrets, and how sometimes it's better to be open and truthful. A great book, highly recommended!

[Leah Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Finest Kind
Author: Lea Wait

After his father looses his job, Jake and his family head north to Wiscasset, Maine. Their new life is hard. Mother is afraid their new neighbors will find out about Jake’s brother, Frankie. Father is rarely home. Their new house is small and dark. Jake has difficulty making friends. Worse of all, he feels responsible for the family and he knows they don’t have enough food for the coming winter. Will Wiscasset ever feel like home? Will Jake’s family ever be together again?

I picked this book a few weeks ago. I intended to read one chapter before going to sleep, but several hours later (at midnight) I finished the last page. Finest Kind brings history to life.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I found myself wanting to read it book again and again! A high society boy used to getting served and doing nothing that would be considered work, had an interesting time when his father loses his job; he finds himself having to step up and adjust to the new-found role of being the "man" of the house. But the previously easily kept secret becomes a constant struggle on him and his mother when the move for a job; the threat of someone finding out their secret and ruining their, up until now, good name was constant and kept the family on their toes. After reading this book you'll have a better appreciation for your life and the gifts God provides for you.

[Michael27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I rate it 3 and a 1/2 stars) I went to the Multnomah County Library because I had to read a book for a shool assignment. (Genre Project) I was looking at some books when my sister found this book. I thought this book was going to be one of those books where I would fall asleep after the first chapter. I was totaly wrong. This book kept making me want to read more and more. My favorite part was when Jake and Nabby scared away the drunk men away from burning Nanny McPherson's house. My favorite character was Tom because he had a big attitute and got angry fast. I think anyone who likes books about old days should read this book.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A banker's son has lived a life of privilege in Boston during the mid-1840s. When the banking system collapses, his family is forced to move to the outskirts of a small village to a barely livable (to them anyway) farmhouse. Their father takes a job at a sawmill meaning he will be gone during the week - leaving Jake to care for his mother and brother - the brother no one must know about. Will recommend often.

[justablondemoment]

I didn't realize at the time I read this that its listed as juvenile fiction at the library. I sure didn't read like it. I was impressed by this book and the story within. Jake went through so much at his young age and he took it like a man.Reading historical fiction books always make me remember how far not only technology has advanced but medical science as well. It also makes me add into my prayers at night that I wasn't born back then. Such hardships!!

[Kendall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh...This Mark Twain nominee is full of every cliche there is. Not only does a family lose everything and have to move to the middle of nowhere, but a father comes home for Christmas, family members have to wait until a fever "breaks", and the neighborhood "witch" is actually a nice, helpful old lady. Blah, blah. I'm not sure what the MT committee was thinking!

[Sami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty cool. Its basically about this city boy from Boston being forced to move to rural Maine and trying to prove to the other boys that he is just as good as they are. He meets some strange characters in the process that cause some more strange events that really tie the book together.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine book for early teens which was very enjoyable even @ a great-gram's age.

Good insight into the culture of early Maine and the brave people who lived @ that time.


Val, this is one waiting for you @ 11 Franklin Avenue.

[Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. Adjusting to a new life is hard ecspecially when you are used to being waited on. Also keeping your brother who has fits secret is hard. Can the boy in this story do it? Read this book to find out.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, easy read. It was interesting reading on the side to learn about the Panic of 1837, which I had never heard of historically. This is a great story of a family going from riches to rags and how they deal with their new reality.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love historical fiction. This one was a good one about a boy learning to survive in rural Maine after his father loses his job at a bank in Boston. I couldn't put it down.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It touched my heart in many ways.

[Jordan]

I didnt like it

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another children's book I picked up at the library. Interesting that they added a character with CP in it - not something you often see in a historical children's book.

[Holli Keel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riches to rags in the 1800s. Wonderful story.

[Silas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ver interesting story. We are going to wiscasset to check out the old jail in the story.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, for children or really, any age. Historical fiction.

[Isaac L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of a family growing up in Maine. this book takes place in the 40s. great book.