Sarah's Daughter

by Ruth Bass

FOR READERS 12 YEARS OLD TO ADULT Rose begins to think of her mother as Sarah because the very word mother makes her cry. She continually asks herself what her mother would do about breakfast for the family; about how to take care of her siblings; about her father s drinking and going off to a hotel almost every evening. After the unusual accident that killed her mother, fourteen-year-old Rose Hibbard copes. She is forced to take on her silently grieving father and her younger brother and sister. Without a role model of her own, she becomes one for her eight-year-old sister. She makes breakfast, gets everyone started for the day, does the washing and ironing and sewing, and still manages to get to school and do her own homework. Interspersed with Rose s moments of panic or despair are warm hours shared with her friends, Alice and Emily, who listen and help and have fun with her; times familiar to most American teenagers today. As are the nights she stares at the moon and wishes on stars, as well as her developing romance with young Newton Barnes. Just when Rose thinks her family will find a way to manage without a mother, her father says she will have to leave school for good in the spring. Her teacher is her main adult ally. School is where she is happiest and feels most comfortable, where life feels almost normal for someone her age. The one thing that has kept her going, giving her the will to take care of everyone and stay awake in class is her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher, and it disappears in a matter of seconds. Her brother and sister often sneak off to cry at their mother s grave, and Rose s father, unable to face his own loss, becomes increasingly gruff and silent. She overhears a gossipy neighbor saying something about her father being at the drink. And when she comes home early one day and discovers her father, his trousers in a heap on the floor, laughing in her parents bedroom with a half-clothed woman, she flees to the wo

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult

400 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

A career newspaper woman, Ruth Bass published her first novel, “Sarah’s Daughter,” in 2007 at the age of 72. She was born July 18, 1934 in Amherst, Massachusetts, and grew up in various New England communities. A graduate of Westfield (MA) High School and Bates College, she earned a master of science degree in journalism from Columbia University where she also received the Tennessee Williams Award for creative journalism.

Her novel is based on a tiny kernel of knowledge about how her grandmother, at the age of 14, faced bringing up two siblings, running a household, coping with her increasingly alcoholic father. “I was a Girl Scout leader for years and became aware that my scouts faced many of the same problems that confronted my grandmother in the 1880’s and decided a book might be in there somewhere.” Since her grandmother did not talk about her experiences as a teenager, the book is almost entirely fictional, although its historical aspect – especially the daily life in a rural community – was carefully researched.

She is married to novelist and newspaper columnist Milton Bass, and the couple has three adult children and six grandchildren. In addition to writing, she finds time for gardening, knitting, reading, golf, tennis, photography and cooking.

Reviews

[Kymberli Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie, the every day simple life, but with a bit more grown up feel. I very much enjoyed this story.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up in my library's for sale section and it's been sitting on my bookshelf for years. I finally got around to reading it and am glad I did. It was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed a glimpse into the life of Americans in the late 1880's. The lead character, Rose, was a wonderful girl at the tender age of 14, who was faced with a tragedy and who handled herself with the strength of someone years older. While this book could be classified as YA - I thought it had a maturity above some the the "angsty" YA I've read before. I enjoyed how Rose could find moments of happiness in a sorrowful situation.

[NanC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story with a few plot twists - gets a little bogged down by tedious cliched writing.

[Karen & Gerard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed "Sarah’s Daughter" by Ruth Bass more than I thought I would.  It’s about a grieving family in the 1880’s and how the husband and his three children cope with the death of Sarah, the wife and mother.  Rose, the oldest daughter, is 14 and becomes overwhelmed with taking on all that the mother did while still going to school.  The father turns to alcohol to drown his troubles.
 
I liked the humor in this book and found the historical look at daily living in the 1800s very interesting.  The main character is likeable and well developed.  The author told most of the story from Rose’s point of view, even sharing her funny thoughts with the reader.  It is very well written and character driven.  This novel is about friendship, dysfunctional families, grief, suicide, dreams and some romance.  I recommend it to anyone who likes books teens or historical fiction.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel because it reminds me of the "old-fashioned" books for young readers I used to enjoy as a young girl. However some of the topics raised in the story, such as prostitution and alcoholism, which would not have been encountered in the young adult novels of yesteryear, make "Sarah's Daughter" particularly relevant for today's young readers.

The details about life in rural New England of the 1880s are especially engaging. One feels the debilitating effects of the drudgery young Rose has to endure, on top of her grief, and this is what draws us into her story. The story's message, that perseverence and love can overcome great difficulties, is as relevant for today's readers as it would have been in Rose's time.

[Richard Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I obtained the book for my wife. I thought that the story of a 15 year old girl who just lost her mother, set in the late 19th Century would be a book that my wife would enjoy.

Well, I had run out of books and there it sat on my wife's bedside table. It was ready to read so I picked it up and started.

The story is poignant and charming. Set in a simpler place at a much simpler time, but the story is a story of the human condition, and that hasn't changed. It is a tragedy of sorts, at least so far. The writing is tight and lucid and I think I am going to have to read it right through to the end.

[Jenben8426 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Rose Hibbard, a 14 year old girl living in 19th century New England. Her mother has just died, and Rose's father now expects her to carry the family just as her mother did. The author has researched what really happened to New England families during this time period and it is amazing to think about what women had to accomplish during one day--it is exhausting to even think about. Rose and her family must come to grips with the mother's death and understand how to deal with grief.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I found myself so angry at the father, but I loved the main character. She was awesome. For some reason, I enjoy reading books about people who suffer much more than I ever have---not because I like the suffering (!) but I think because it makes me feel like I can handle what comes my way. I think of those strong characters who didn't just surviv, they triumphed and then I say to myself, 'they did it, and so can I'. It's worth the read.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in New England in the late 1800's this teen age girl deals with many of the same hardships of today's youth. Combine grief and disfunction with the physical labor and the grueling daily tasks of the day, and you no longer have the quaint Little House on Prairie, but a check with reality. It is a young adult book, so some of the issues are addressed in a subtle way, but the meanings are clear. Being a teenage is never easy, but especially not in the 1800's.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is about Sarah, a 14 year old girl in the 1880's who has to deal with the sudden death of her mother. It made me sad and I couldn't finish it. However, this book really goes into detail about the everyday aspects of life in the 1800's, and I found that interesting.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good Old New England novel. It's about when 14-year-old Rose must run a household after her mother dies. The book is rather edgy at times, so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 12.

[Shirley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had too much historical and too little fiction. This was the only book I had on vacation so I was stuck reading it even though I didn't like it. When I finished, I left it on the plane. No way I was going to recommend this book to anyone!

[Erin(and Hannah) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching book about young girl struggling to fill her mother's shoes when a bizarre accident takes her life. It's a slow-moving story (not necessarily a bad thing), with lots of inner-dialogue. I'm hoping to find the sequel.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book, but right now I'm reading "A Northern Light", and there are a LOT of similarities in the plot so far. It makes me sad to think that there's a possibility that "Sarah's Daughter", which was written four years after "A Northern Light", could have ripped off another book.

[Christiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh - I ran into the author in FL and talked to her during a book signing and decided to buy the book. It was okay ... I don't often read Young Adult so that was a departure for me.

[Sheralyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful book I am surprised I have managed to live without.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! As I read it, I was reminded of Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie. It was wholesome, entertaining, sweet, and exciting.

[Amy Koester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It took place in New England in the late 1800s. I thought it was a good story and well told. I would definitely recommend it.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great gentle read for YA historical fiction. Really enjoyed the 1880's time frame, it is amazing what young woman did at the time, let alone the loss of her mother.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovley book!

[Kathy Roling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book; I think her writing can compare with Dorothy Garlock...stark, hardscrabble life with few joys and lots of hard work. So glad I didn't live in that time.

[Lanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just okay for me... nothing bad, nothing fabulous. There is a sequel, but the library doesn't have it.