The Trouble with May Amelia (May Amelia, #2) in Mock Newbery 2026

Jun 11, 2011 Donalyn rated it liked it

Shelves: ncbla-committee-2012-books, 2011-nerdy-book-club-award-nominees

Without a doubt, Jenni Holm is a great writer. The characters in The Trouble with May Amelia are well-drawn and readers will sympathize with their circumstances.

I thought the plot pacing was off, though. Dramatic moments seemed rushed and the ending was resolved too neatly. It also bothered me that this is Holm's second novel in a row with plots about con men (Turtle in Paradise).

Many readers I respect have loved this book and put it on their Newbery shortlists, but I just don't see it.

I will sh ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 29, 2011 Mary Ann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 4th, fathers, brothers, 3rd, humor, families, 5th, historical-fiction, coming-of-age, courage

When I was a kid, I loved reading about girls who went against the grain and weren't "good little girls," wearing dresses and doing what everyone expected of them. I think that's one of the lasting appeals of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She had spunk and a sparkle in her eye. Jennifer Holm has created a wonderful character May Amelia with this same appeal. Living with a pack of brothers, May Amelia wants to do all the exciting, brave things her brothers do - swimming in the Nasel River, working with t When I was a kid, I loved reading about girls who went against the grain and weren't "good little girls," wearing dresses and doing what everyone expected of them. I think that's one of the lasting appeals of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She had spunk and a sparkle in her eye. Jennifer Holm has created a wonderful character May Amelia with this same appeal. Living with a pack of brothers, May Amelia wants to do all the exciting, brave things her brothers do - swimming in the Nasel River, working with the animals, helping run the family farm. But living in the Washington state frontier wilderness in 1900 isn't easy - especially when her father declares that Girls Are Useless. This wonderful historical fiction will appeal to 4th and 5th graders who love characters with heart, courage and spunk.

The Jackson family lives in logging country in rural Washington State in 1900, in a community settled by many Finnish immigrants. It's a hard life, with rain, mud and work; but it's also a life full of family and community, traditions and adventure. This is a sequel to Holm's Newbery honor book Our Only May Amelia, but The Trouble with May Amelia can be read on its own since Holm introduces each character nicely.

May Amelia certainly has courage and guts, or Sisu as the Finns call it. As the only girl in a family with seven brothers, she must carry the weight of cooking and cleaning when her mother goes to help catch babies as the local midwife. While her father continually criticizes her as a useless girl, she thinks she may have won his respect when she helps her Finnish-speaking father by translating for a gentleman who asks them to invest in a new company establishing a local harbor for the logging business. But when the man turns out to be a fraud and the family loses everything, everyone blames May Amelia.

May Amelia's spirit and voice shines through on every page. I loved the first person narrative that Holm created - this reads aloud in my head just as if May Amelia is talking right to me. Holm takes you into really hard times for the family and despair for May Amelia, but the family's love and humor pulls through. This powerful, compelling novel will reach your heart and make you laugh. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2011 Susie rated it it was amazing

I had several epiphanies while reading this book (after all, it is January 6). Just knowing that I would write a review for it changed the way I read a bit. I take a few notes, but really do reflect more on what I've read if I plan to share it with others. My recent experiences with "The Nerdy Book Club" have had such an inspiring effect on my reading. I keep wanting to try to duplicate the experience for the students at my schools. Too often we bog them down with vocabulary, insignificant detai I had several epiphanies while reading this book (after all, it is January 6). Just knowing that I would write a review for it changed the way I read a bit. I take a few notes, but really do reflect more on what I've read if I plan to share it with others. My recent experiences with "The Nerdy Book Club" have had such an inspiring effect on my reading. I keep wanting to try to duplicate the experience for the students at my schools. Too often we bog them down with vocabulary, insignificant details and questions, and overlook the big picture. Because I will have written this review, I know that I will better remember the book and some of its features; don't we wish the same for our students?

Now, for the book itself: I had not read Our Only May Amelia before, so I read it right before I read this one. I do agree that you do not have to have read the first book, but it does help. I like the matter-of-fact way this is written, as if, "This is my life, and that's that." While adults may find part of the book to be predictable, I think fewer and fewer things are predictable in today's world for our students. Holm doesn't try to hit you over the head with all the repercussions of the plot elements, she just moves on. There were laugh-out-loud parts (Friendly and the outhouse immediately come to mind), as well as several sad moments, but I believe this is an accurate picture of what life must have been like. I find it very inspiring that several real life events were included in the book.

I did miss having the map that was included in OOMA and found myself referring back to it a few times, and the lack of quotation marks does still get me at times, but I like May Amelia's strong voice and the manner of storytelling.

Being a librarian and book lover, of course I approved of the fact that the man who finally "wins" the teacher is the man who proclaims his love of books. There really is never proof that he's read them, is there? I guess Miss McEwing eventually would be able to determine that.

The fact that May Amelia has an important part in the resolution is very satisfying; her continued problems with acceptance by her father may really resonate with some readers. The injustice when she is blamed for things that are not her fault are frustrating but realistic. And, count me among those who would be glad to read an additional sequel! I don't know if I will try to use cobwebs to stop bleeding the next time that happens, but I will still be favorably affected by reading this book. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 13, 2011 Deanna Day rated it really liked it

Historical fiction, family, survival, friendship

This was a laugh out loud funny book. All of the antics these seven boys and one girl are down right hilarious. It was interesting to read a book set so close to where I live too. I enjoyed hearing about the gill netter fishermen and Astoria, OR. It was depressing to read about the dishonest people who took advantage of hard working farmers though.

Perfect read aloud for grade 3 and higher. I can see using this book for literature circles in grades ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 30, 2011 Teresa Garrett rated it really liked it

Shelves: adventure, historical-fiction, summer-2011

Continues the story of May Amelia and her many brothers on the Nasel River in Washington circa 1900. Amelia is the only girl for miles around but she doesn't act much like a lady. This really upsets her parents and she always weems to be in some kind of trouble or other. Seems like Amelia bounces from problem to problem seldom solving one before the next one comes up. At times there are comic results while others are very tragic. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 04, 2011 Barbara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ncbla

When things take a turn for the worse in the lives of the Jacksons, their livelihood on their Washington farm is threatened, and their family bonds are tested. This book continues the adventures of the intrepid heroine of the Newbery Honor Book Our Only May Amelia, and I have to say I loved just about everything about this book. I laughed, I cried, I reflected, I identified, but most of all, I admired the spirit of May Amelia who somehow finds a way to lighten heavy moments and savor the joyful ...more

Like · see review

Aug 19, 2012 Dolores rated it liked it

I love Jennifer Holm, but this one was a real struggle for me. It seemed really choppy--like a bunch of unrelated chapters thrown together. It doesn't help matters that I'm not a historical fiction fan and really need a good book to keep my interest. This, unfortunately, was not that book. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 03, 2012 Karen Arendt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: family, historical-fiction, audio-books

Excellent story. The audio narration was somewhat monotone but fit the story somehow. It reminded me of the narrator for Turtle in Paradise.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2011 Becky Barrier Nelson rated it liked it

Shelves: 2nd-high-readers, 3rd-high-readers, newbery-candidate-2011, battle-candidate

I remember how much I enjoyed and was impressed by Holm's Newbery Honor, Our Only May Amelia. I was not as impressed with this sequel. It was a good read, but nothing special, I thought. I must admit that I just couldn't connect with May Amelia's personality...I found her irritating. Maybe it's just because I'm a girlie girl?--but I liked the first novel and I loved Boston Jane?? I certainly can't get excited about this for the Newbery. ...more

Like · see review

Jun 20, 2011 Megan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010-2011-challenge

At first I did not like this book but half way through I was hooked and I loved the ending and the theme in the book.

Like · see review

Jan 19, 2012 Beth rated it liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, historical-fiction

I liked the characters, I liked the story, but I really missed the quotation marks. I don't doubt that Jenni Holm had her reasons for not using quotation marks in all of the dialogue, she is a Newbery Honor author after all, I just found that I didn't care for plodding through the dialogue and narration to try to figure out which was which. ...more

Like · see review