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Sarah's Legacy
"You know how it is when you get a feeling that something big is going to happen? Well, it wasn't like that for me. In fact, that Thursday started out like any other."
Thus Sarah Gilmore 12 begins the story of when she and her mum surprisingly inherit a home in New Brunswick and secure income after years struggling in Ontario on Maggie's waitress pay. Plus a big old chest. Visions of gold and jewels cause disappointment, until Sarah learns the truth about her legacy.
Thus Sarah Gilmore 12 begins the story of when she and her mum surprisingly inherit a home in New Brunswick and secure income after years struggling in Ontario on Maggie's waitress pay. Plus a big old chest. Visions of gold and jewels cause disappointment, until Sarah learns the truth about her legacy.
199 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Sherrard
37 books68 followersI was born in 1957 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and grew up in various parts of Canada. My dad was in the Air Force so the family moved often, and was sent to live in Lahr, West Germany, when I was eleven. It was there that a teacher encouraged me toward writing. I didn't rush into it, though. It wasn't until 2002 that my first book was released, but since then I've had several dozen books for young people published.
One reason I chose to write for children and teens was my experience in working with them. Over the years I fostered about 70 teens in my home, and I also worked as the Director of a group home for teens in my community for more than a decade.
One reason I chose to write for children and teens was my experience in working with them. Over the years I fostered about 70 teens in my home, and I also worked as the Director of a group home for teens in my community for more than a decade.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 5, 2017
One of my favourite themes in literature is women who inherit old houses, so I was pleased to find this Young Adult novel about a mother and daughter who move into a lovely but somewhat decrepit dwelling in New Brunswick. Of course every old house has its treasures, and Sarah finds hers in the attic, a journal written by her great-aunt.
June 18, 2022
I borrowed this book from my local library. Its about a young girl and her mom inheriting a house in New Brunswick and about a great aunt that leaves everything to them.The book is full of surprises, great things and some laughs.
I read it because NB is my home,and I also love the author's books.
Its a young adult book,but well worth the read.
I read it because NB is my home,and I also love the author's books.
Its a young adult book,but well worth the read.
February 24, 2019
YA .. sweet story ...
May 12, 2008
Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
Sarah Gilmore and her mom, Maggie, are poor. Not living on the street, destitute, but living in an apartment without much money for anything other than food and bills. Until one day when what seems like a miracle happens. Maggie's Great Aunt Sarah, whom the younger Sarah has never met, has passed away, and left everything to them. There are only two conditions to the will. The first is that they must live in Aunt Sarah's house until Sarah is done with school, which means relocating from Ontario to New Brunswick. The second is that they have to take care of Aunt Sarah's pets, which turn out to be five cats, four dogs, a parrot, and a skunk.
Everything in their new life seems to be going well in short order. They are settling into the house, Sarah has a few friends at school, and Maggie might have a boyfriend. Sarah has some problems with the mom/boyfriend thing, but she's working on it. Until she accidentally insults him, in public, while he's standing behind her, and ruins the budding relationship. Her only salvation becomes the journals she finds in a hidden compartment in Aunt Sarah's hope chest.
Through Aunt Sarah's journals, the younger Sarah gets to know this distant aunt who changed her life. Most importantly, she learns about loneliness and love.
This was a beautifully written book. It made me grateful for the time I've had, and still have, with my family. There are some subplots and questions that are brought up once and never touched again, which is a little confusing. Younger Sarah is a wonderful character, you don't always like her, which somehow makes her more lovable and real. Overall, I really liked this book. It made me feel warm and cozy, and I'm going to go bake my Grandma's bread recipe now.
Sarah Gilmore and her mom, Maggie, are poor. Not living on the street, destitute, but living in an apartment without much money for anything other than food and bills. Until one day when what seems like a miracle happens. Maggie's Great Aunt Sarah, whom the younger Sarah has never met, has passed away, and left everything to them. There are only two conditions to the will. The first is that they must live in Aunt Sarah's house until Sarah is done with school, which means relocating from Ontario to New Brunswick. The second is that they have to take care of Aunt Sarah's pets, which turn out to be five cats, four dogs, a parrot, and a skunk.
Everything in their new life seems to be going well in short order. They are settling into the house, Sarah has a few friends at school, and Maggie might have a boyfriend. Sarah has some problems with the mom/boyfriend thing, but she's working on it. Until she accidentally insults him, in public, while he's standing behind her, and ruins the budding relationship. Her only salvation becomes the journals she finds in a hidden compartment in Aunt Sarah's hope chest.
Through Aunt Sarah's journals, the younger Sarah gets to know this distant aunt who changed her life. Most importantly, she learns about loneliness and love.
This was a beautifully written book. It made me grateful for the time I've had, and still have, with my family. There are some subplots and questions that are brought up once and never touched again, which is a little confusing. Younger Sarah is a wonderful character, you don't always like her, which somehow makes her more lovable and real. Overall, I really liked this book. It made me feel warm and cozy, and I'm going to go bake my Grandma's bread recipe now.
August 6, 2008
This book was dull and pointless. It wasn't the worst book out of the red maples, where soldiers lie and stolen away were definately worst. Sarah's legacy is about a girl and her mom who inherit a house in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick or something and move there from Toronto. That is basically all that happens. She finds her great aunt's journal in the house and reads it. It's boring to read the journal entries every few pages. Sarah's mom falls in love with this guy and Sarah is starting to like him when her friends start going
"eeeeewwwww, your mom is dating" and Sarah says
"They aren't dating! I hate him!" And obviously the guy hears her and stops seeing her mom. And then Sarah tells him it wasn't true and they all live happily ever after. You can't relate to the characters because basically all that you know about them is that they moved. The authour doesn't take you deep into their thoughts and you don't know what kind of person they are.
"eeeeewwwww, your mom is dating" and Sarah says
"They aren't dating! I hate him!" And obviously the guy hears her and stops seeing her mom. And then Sarah tells him it wasn't true and they all live happily ever after. You can't relate to the characters because basically all that you know about them is that they moved. The authour doesn't take you deep into their thoughts and you don't know what kind of person they are.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2023
Sweet happy tale in present, sad past. Spinster = sad. Chance-met good men determine happiness? That is sad. But true?
Much is predictable. Quick read. So no pauses to question whether voices are believable as 12 year old girl of time, Sarah of 1922. Mag's first NB friend, Stan, does have down East expressions. I thought his boxing career might have caused persistent nodding, from Parkinson's disease, frequent concussions.
Much is predictable. Quick read. So no pauses to question whether voices are believable as 12 year old girl of time, Sarah of 1922. Mag's first NB friend, Stan, does have down East expressions. I thought his boxing career might have caused persistent nodding, from Parkinson's disease, frequent concussions.
February 12, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book because it has a strong moral and I also learned a few new things while reading this book. I learned a bit more Canadian geography including a name of a town in New Brunswick. This book teaches people that everyone that happens in life happens for a reason and even if you don't get what you expected you have to learn to appreciate and accept what is happening in your life and other's to get that true gift.
November 8, 2015
I really loved when Stan had come back after what Sarah had said to him at the pool, and he wasn't mad....over I loved the book and I totally recommend reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews