SOLVED. YA mid-90s US Pioneer fiction; follows main character Abby as she loses herself to marriage, motherhood, a difficult life - each child she has pursues one of her talents she was unable to in her own youth. [s]

[Amber Rehac]

I read this book in a Western New York elementary school in the early/mid 90s, and I think about it so often but can't remember the title or author. Here is what I remember (hopefully - it is from childhood so I hope I'm not scrambling up memories, but I don't think I am):

The main character is a girl named Abby living in the USA during the pioneer/Oregon trail era. It follows her from youth to old age.

She had all these talents as a young girl, singing, painting, etc. There is one scene where she is a young girl standing on a rock singing outside, and someone surprises her listening in.

She eventually marries a guy named Matt. They travel out west with some people including a young woman named Sara, who has youthful rosy cheeks. At some point later in the story the book describes Sara's rosy cheeks as being from a box now (blush/makeup) instead of natural youth.

Ultimately Abby never does any of the things she loved as a young girl, but each of her children has one of her talents (one sings, one paints, etc).

When Matt dies, after his funeral she is doing dishes and overhears someone outside her window say the only thing he ever gave her was his good name. She is hurt by the implication that his name is not enough for her and thinks to herself his good name is all she would ever need.

(paraphrasing all this obviously).

Does anyone know what this book is? Thank you!

[Rainbowheart]

West Against the Wind?

[Amber Rehac]

Rainbowheart wrote: "West Against the Wind?"

Oh my God I think that's it...I can't thank you enough, you found that so fast! This has been low key haunting my mind for nearly 2 decades, thank you so much!

[Rainbowheart]

Awesome, glad to help out!

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Amber.

West Against the Wind (book 1) of the Griswold Quartet series by Liza Ketchum Murrow - Rainbowheart's find.

[Stephanie]

Well dang I guess I need to reread this one; I thought it sounded so good from your description and here it's on my reading list from a couple of decades ago. Still don't remember it -- but the title instantly rings a bell.