Winterbound

by Margery Williams Bianco

Newbery Medal Honor Title (1937)

Four city bred, children find themselves on their own in an unheated New England farmhouse in this captivating tale by the author of the velveteen rabbit. With their father gone on a business trip and their mother assisting a far away relative, Kay, Garry, Caroline, and Martin must rely on themselves – and each other – to solve the day-to-day challenges of a chilly country winter. Margery Williams Bianco‘s depression era novel offers young readers an inspiring tale of the value of self reliance as well as the importance of family ties. The Newberry medal winning honor book is enhanced by charming black-and-white illustrations.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Christmas, Juvenile, Classics

234 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1936

About the author

Margery Williams Bianco was an English-American author, primarily of popular children's books. A professional writer since the age of nineteen, she achieved lasting fame at forty-one with the 1922 publication of the classic that is her best-known work, The Velveteen Rabbit.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am most definitely more than pleasantly surprised at how much I have absolutely loved (and not simply enjoyed) Margery Williams Bianco's Winterbound (and I have also just reread the novel for something like the fifth time, and once again, pure and utter sweet reading delight).

And yes indeed, Margery Williams Bianco's characterisation, the cadence, thematics etc. actually tend to remind me rather strongly of L.M. Montgomery and especially Kay and Garry (Margaret) are reminiscent of some of the former's strong female characters (Anne Shirley, Emily Byrd Starr and Sara Stanley do come to mind); but even Bianco's supporting characters are nuanced and generally well if not even perfectly well conceptualised. However, I believe that the main reason why I just adore Winterbound so much is precisely because it tells a nicely sweet and warm family story, and one where there does not need to be constant action in order to move along the plot, the narrative, and even in order to show both conflict and resolutions (much of the fiction of Lucy Maud Montgomery is also like this, also shows this very tendency, and that obvious similarity is what is endearing Winterbound to me so strongly and so lastingly). And of course for those who happen to know me and who are aware of my reading preferences and habits, if I claim that a children's or young adult novel positively reminds me of L.M. Montgomery, this is probably the absolutely highest praise I can in any way or manner grant.

Furthermore and another reason for my intense and total enjoyment of Winterbound, while certain perhaps dated ideas do of course and by mere necessity of place and time exist, these are not overt (and never ever nasty or grating). For instance, it might not be all that politically correct for the African American maids who are employed at the local resorts and hotels to be called "coloured" but guess what, that was the way African Americans were generally referred to in the 1930s, and it is in my opinion rather majorly and appreciatively avant-garde and progressive that Edna gives them (the African American maids) free taxi rides to town (although she also has to unfortunately keep mum about this in the presence of her "old ladies" who of course would freak out if they knew that African American hotel maids were also using Edna's taxi).

But I guess I should (my absolute love of Winterbound notwithstanding) warn potential readers that hunting (and rather specifically fox hunting) is repeatedly depicted and presented. However, while hunting is described, and also to a point condoned, Neal (the main "hunter" in Winterbound) actually seems very responsible and Garry herself is actually quite against hunting altogether (but hunting for foxes, and selling their pelts, while repugnant to many of us perhaps, also makes a world of difference financially-wise to a struggling family like the Rowes). And what I do find both heartening and of much social and historic interest is that Margery Williams' Winterbound is one of the earliest children's books I have read to date that presents the difference between responsible and irresponsible hunting behaviour (for example, it is pointed out that is is better to have a black or a yellow cat because a tabby coloured cat can often end up shot due to the fact that many hunters just shoot at anything that moves, something that Neal certainly does NOT do and strongly and very vocally criticises).

And finally, while Winterbound is of course a novel written during the Depression era, it fortunately and happily is for all intents and purposes a positive and uplifting story, so very much unlike and different from the doom and gloom historical fiction children's books about the Depression that seem to be all the rage nowadays (and I am talking about recent historical children's literature offerings about the Depression era). Maybe we should consider that while the Depression might have been an era of want and poverty, it was perhaps not automatically an era of universal pain and cynicism (and that poverty was perhaps not always abjectly horrible either). And really, my only and very minor (insignificant) personal complaint, is that Winterbound is simply much too short for me, and that there are no sequels. For yes, I definitely wanted more, and I still want more. Very very warmly and highly recommended, and not just for children either!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't think of a more pleasant or cozier book to curl up with this winter than this title right here!

I mistakenly thought this was a children's book. It's actually a young adult book. And if you think of a creamy blend of Gene Stratton-Porter and Grace S. Richmond, you'll accurately capture the essence of this charming, wintry tale.

It's October in beautiful Connecticut and Kay, Garry, Martin and Caroline find themselves parent-less. Their father is on an expedition to South America and their mother must go to assist with an ailing relative. The children are plucky, though, and with Kay being nineteen, they have no doubts they'll manage wonderfully. That doesn't mean everything goes according to plan though. Haha!

With vibrant descriptions of New England scenery in the 1930s and characters of such depth and warmth, you'll be hard-pressed to not put this book down before you've come to its end.

Ages: 12+

Content Considerations: nothing to note.

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[Emmkay · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's nothing like reading a comfortable older children's book at the end of the day during a busy week. This one was by the author of The Velveteen Rabbit, which I cried over as a child, but fortunately it wasn't as emotionally taxing. Published in 1937, it's a pleasant, somewhat episodic story about a city family that moves to rural Connecticut to save money while their father is off on some kind of scientific expedition. True to classic children's story form, the mother then suddenly departs as well, to look after a sick relative, leaving the two teenage daughters and two younger children to face their first rural winter on their own in a drafty farmhouse.

It took me a little at first, but then it was just the right read for the moment. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the weather, seasons, and landscape. While some of the characters are only loosely outlined, I loved the independence of the two girls as they try to earn some money and pursue their interests, one who enjoys illustration and design, the other who prefers manual labour. FYI, some fox hunting, and one dated racial reference. 3.5.

[Teri-K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how I missed this lovely Newbery Honor book by the author of The Velveteen Rabbit, but I'm so glad I finally got to read it. From the description I was expecting a story of winter survival, a man-vs-nature book, but it's not that at all. Instead we have four siblings who, with their mother, rent a house in rural Connecticut. When their mother has to leave suddenly the siblings are left in the old, run down house. But they're not alone. There are some helpful neighbors just across the road and a new family who moves in part way through the book.

Without the moralizing or preaching of some older books the reader sees the young people solve problems, try new things, and discover strengths and abilities in that old-fashioned way of books like the All-of-a-Kind Family, Five Little Peppers, the Melendy Family, the Penderwicks and Laura Ingalls Wilder. The descriptions of nature are wonderful and balance the stories perfectly. If Gladys Tabor had written children's fiction, she could have written this book. It's a gem that I wish I'd known about earlier, as I think my children would have enjoyed it. Still, I received a great deal of pleasure from reading it myself. :)

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This wasn't a bad story. I rather liked the characters, but it wasn't one I'd read again for a couple reasons.
1) The author used the Lord's name in vain several times, as well as a couple swear words. For a story published for young readers, this really bothered me. (It would bother me anyway, but I wasn't expecting them in this.)
2) The children refer to their mom by her first name. It took me a bit to realize that "Penny" was the mom not another sister. Even though the mom isn't in the story much (she is out of town) any time they mentioned her it jolted me.

There wasn't a big plot in the story, which is not bad, but I was expecting things to wrap up a little more, or something that wasn't there.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

In this 1937 Newbery Honor novel by Velveteen Rabbit author Margery Williams, teen sisters Kay and Garry have moved from the city into a farmhouse in Connecticut with their mother and younger siblings, while their father goes on an archaeological expedition. When their mother is called away to nurse a sick relative, the two girls are left to care for the household through the brutal New England winter.

This novel of the Great Depression is a wonderful family story populated by memorable characters. The artistic Kay and science-minded Garry take turns as the focal point of the book, and their concerns about their personal interests are as compelling as the difficulties they face in keeping warm and surviving the difficult winter conditions. Their personalities are strong and compelling, and especially enjoyable to read are their encounters with "The Cummings," an older woman who is sent to babysit them, and who does not last long in her post, and with a writer to whom they rent a room when they find themselves in need of extra money.

Despite its age, this book has a very contemporary flair to it. It is similar in tone to family stories like those in the Bluebell Gadsby and Casson Family series, especially in terms of the very familiar and affectionate way the children relate to their mother. It also has much in common with other stories of teens taking over their households and working to survive on their own, namely Hattie Big Sky and Strong Wings. The writing is excellent, with believable dialogue, several interesting subplots, and prose that is beautiful without being overly purple. Though the intended audience is probably teen girls, the content is appropriate for younger readers as well, as long as they have some context for understanding life during the Depression.

(Note: Missing from the edition of this book that I read are Kate Seredy's illustrations. As I have become quite a fan of her work lately, this is something I must soon remedy! I found the endpapers on the late Peter Sieruta's website, but I want more!)

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first read this book during one of the most severe cold snaps of the entire winter, when simply setting foot outside made me wonder how the nineteenth-century American pioneers ever survived such harsh weather. For them, just the act of living until spring had to have been a herculean task; they didn't have heated homes to relax inside, yet they still had to eat, which meant they had to do long hours of work outside in the brutal weather. I suppose that their bodies probably never felt completely warm until winter's frosty hold on their area of the country began to fade into the more temperate months, and I doubt that most of us can really even conceive of how happy they must have been to see winter go each year.

In Winterbound, the situation faced by three teenage sisters who have taken on the responsibility of weathering a Connecticut winter without their parents isn't as dire as what the pioneers were up against, but it's certainly a lot less pleasant a task than it would be seventy years later. Kay, Garry and Caroline (the three sisters) have no means of predicting what degree of snowfall they're likely to receive on any given day, but chances are that the cumulative effect will be substantial; and, like the pioneers, they have no mechanical way of heating their house, which means that it will often be nearly as cold indoors as it is outside. It could be a very long, hard winter on their own.

How did Kay, Garry and Caroline end up being left alone in charge of their house? Their father is away on business for a couple of years, and near the beginning of winter their mother receives a message from an ailing relative, asking if she might be willing to come and take care of her (for pay) in balmy New Mexico during the winter months. After discussing the matter with her daughters, who voice confidence in their ability to keep the household in order until their mother returns, it's off to New Mexico for the one remaining parent, and the three sisters must prepare to face the forbidding Connecticut winter by themselves.

The winter described in this book is one of much personal growth and change for Kay, Garry and Caroline, a time when each of the three girls will begin to understand what she wants from life and how best to go about getting it. By the time the worst of the cold and snow has begun to recede into the happy freshness of a new spring, the sisters have come to know each other better than perhaps they ever would have had they not been holed up together for a quarter of a year. And as they learn about themselves, their realizations reflect back on us and teach us something about ourselves, as well.

Margery Williams Bianco's literary style is calm, relaxed and simple of plot in a way that is different from most Newbery books. Winterbound is, however, a nice story capable of widening one's horizons regardless of age, and I'd like to see it remain in print. It is, at once, both a nonstandard and completely worthwhile read, and I'm glad to own a copy of it.

"This growing-up business—perhaps it didn't after all make so much difference as one thought. Or did anyone really grow up at all?"

Winterbound, P. 232

[Qt · Rating 5 out of 5]

1930s setting, lovely writing--just the sort of book I like! I really, really liked the author's descriptions and thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved reading about the Ellis family and everything they did.

[Miss K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a lovely read for winter! It was a bit of a slower read, telling the story of four city children who move to the country and use their survival skills. Their country house has only one piece of technology: a telephone, which means there was no bathroom either. Written in the 1930s in the Great Depression, it reminded me of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Long Winter book. After their parents are called away, the two eldest girls, Garry and Kay, must take on the lead roles. I especially enjoyed the dialogue and descriptions, as they brought the characters to life. It is different than today's writing, but that made it all the more enjoyable!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

As part of an ongoing project to read all the Newbery winners and honorees, I collected a bunch of books available for very little on Kindle. I very much enjoyed this book, which tells the story of a family of four children who are left on their own in an old farmhouse in (apparently) northwestern Connecticut over the winter. Their father is an archaeologist who has had an opportunity to do fieldwork, and their mother has gone to New Mexico to care for an ailing relative. A companion/chaperone/housekeeper is hired but doesn't work out so the young people (there are two upper teenagers in the family) decide to tough it out by themselves. They do have some good neighbors and have many little adventures. This would be a very different story nowadays; it was pleasant to think of a time when this story could not only be published but win an award. Recommended both for grownups and kids from around 5th-6th grade up.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable in a nothing-really-happens-in-this-story way. It is just a simple story about a family in the 1930s who has moved to the country and how their winter unfolds while the mom is away helping a niece. Except for the references to amounts of money (ie: a salary of $40 a month being acceptable) this story really isn't all that out of place for modern country life. Still, the word choices and the writing style definitely date the book a bit. Probably not likely to appeal to most kids or teens today unless they want to know what life might have been like in that setting, but not a waste of time, either.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just another very unexciting Newbery book. It had a bit of the "survivor in the wilderness" flare to it. I kept it up at three stars because there were some parts that I enjoyed. I liked the characters and the spunky, determined attitude of Kay and Garry. All the hunting scenes were pretty dull and I would've liked the book better without them. If the book was about half as long I would've enjoyed it more as well. I can't really tell you what it's about because it's not really about anything. Just a bunch of kids on their own making it through a cold winter.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it's no The Long Winter but it's certainly fascinating, and charming, even humorous at times. The hardships don't strike me as too extreme; Bianco emphasizes that courage & good neighbors are all one really needs. I do definitely appreciate that the women are seen as individuals, just as strong and independent as they could possibly be, and that's all handled so matter-of-factly. In 1936 that was true for some (remember, we'd had flappers etc., and had achieved suffrage).

Thank you, OKC library for buying the Dover trade paperback. It's a true classic, not moldy canon.

Highly recommended to fans of bold young women in what would nowadays be read as historical fiction.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice comfort read of two teenaged girls and their two younger sisters making it through a New England winter in an old house in the early-ish 20th century with little money when their mother has to leave them to look after a sick relative.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I love Winterbound the same way I loved Margery Williams' Velveteen Rabbit. NO! I want to be honest about that from the start. Winterbound is not nearly as charming and lovely and wonderful as The Velveteen Rabbit. But with the right expectations, Winterbound could work for some readers.

Winterbound is about four siblings living on their own in a rented house in rural New England with both parents away. The father is an archaeologist, if I'm remembering correctly. He'll be gone for a year or two. The mother's absence is more sudden. She goes to take care of a sick relative in New Mexico. The family--three girls, one boy--were raised in the city. This is their first time 'experiencing' country life. This is also their first time being independent. The two oldest are nearly-grown--upper teens. Kay. Garry (short for Margaret). Caroline. Martin.

Is the book about anything? Yes and no.

It is a coming-of-age story for both Kay and Garry, in a way. Both are learning who they are as individuals: what they like, love, want, need, etc. Both are thinking ahead, thinking about the future: who they want to be, what they want their lives to look like, how they plan to earn money, etc. I think it's good to approach this one as an "Am I ready to be an adult?" book.

It is a book about family and friendship. All of the siblings make friends within the community. And, of course, there's always their relationships with each other. The sections when they're spending time with their best friends are always enjoyable. Plenty of storytelling.

It is a book about rural life, seasons, and nature. When you see the title don't think LONG WINTER, that isn't fair to this book at all. This book isn't so much about winter, as it is about all the seasons. Yes, the four face a difficult week or two when they're isolated because of too much snowfall, a blizzard perhaps. But that's just a tiny part of the book as a whole. It's just as much about all four seasons.

It is a slower-paced book, I admit. Not every book has to be action-packed and full of adventure and drama. But I wouldn't say that nothing happens. The focus is on the ordinary.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winterbound is not the best title in the world for this book, as it covers an entire year from late summer to late summer. It reminded me of Northern Farm in a way, though the country life episodes that interested me most were usually glossed over in a sentence or two.

At first I thought this would be a children's book, but Garry (Margaret) and her sister Kay are in their late teens, and are the main characters. No, here we have a panegyric to good ol' Yankee know how, self reliance and the ol' can do spirit, mostly personified by Garry who is repeatedly referred to as "the man of the family". She digs the garden, hammers and papers and shifts the furniture about one-handed, as well as making any money that comes into the house. Little Miss Fix it, Do it, and Encourage Others to Get Off Their Duffs and Work. Her brother isn't all that much younger, but he spends all his time playing around with the neighbour kid, hunting with the kid's dad--and when he does pitch in and help out, curiously enough it is by doing what would be considered "girls' work" in the 1930s: washing dishes, sweeping and cleaning house, preparing meals etc. Because Garry can't cook, though she does go goopy over a newborn baby. Mom and Dad are conveniently off in faraway places so the young folks can get on with proving their grit and worth. BTW, calling your mother by her first name was NOT a thing in the 1930s, unless she were maybe a journalist or something. But then the girls speak and think of her as if she were one of the younger children, which is odd considering that up to now she has raised them mostly single handed while her scientist husband (though what kind of "scientist" is never clearly expressed) is off in the hinterlands.

It was an okay read, but I found it somehow superficial and lacking. I wanted to be charmed, but I wasn't. Two and a half stars.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always knew The Velveteen Rabbit, and it's grown on me as I grew up, but it's not my favorite story. And I didn't like it much or see much use for it when I was a kid.

I read Other People's Houses a few years ago, and liked it, although not perfectly. Liked it better than Rabbit.

This one is also okay; I've been rereading other books that cover the same topics this year, and I finally found this one after having it on my to-read list for years. I think I'd recommend reading the other books over this one though--the later Sue Barton books, parts of Laura Ingalls Wilder (yes I know the time period is different), Melendy Family, even the sappy easy-reads that were a dime a dozen in the '70s that tended to cover families sticking together, doing ordinary stuff, being friendly with the neighbors, living in old or run-down houses.

The great virtue in reading this right now is that my own youngest siblings are all the same exact ages as these kids, and the youngest sister even has basically the same name. Having been raised that we all could handle normal life and basic sickness, even for a whole winter if we had to, I think the one sister who was willing to read it too since it was in the house (the equivalent to Gary, no less) liked it for that reason; if I were reading this at her age, I might have liked comparing myself successfully to the character.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

1937 Newbery Honor Book

This book was ok. It was a little confusing in the beginning with how they introduced the characters. I had to look up a plot summary to figure out what was going on. That's never a good sign.

The story takes place during the Great Depression. A mother and her children are renting a small country home because it is cheap while their father is away doing archaeology. The mother has to leave to care for a sick relative, leaving the two older girls to care for the two younger children with the help of a "chaperon" who turns out to be more of a hindrance. After the old lady leaves them, the children fend for themselves over the winter.

[Ami E. Bowen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The GR's entry for this book didn't have any info or a cover so I had to fix that. Nothing really happened. It was pretty much one boring thing after another. Glad I finished it, though, but, it was nearly destined for the "abandoned" shelf.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells such a simple story; nothing grandiose, or overly adventurous, but charming nonetheless. I found Garry to be such an interesting character and as she created ways to earn money or increase the family's finances, her personality traits became more endearing.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not figure out the year this story was set in at all. It was a pleasant enough tale, but I did really wonder how old the characters each were and why their parents were off doing their own things. Basically I enjoyed it.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really is just about a family and how they deal without their parents through a Connecticut Winter. It was simply fantastic.

[Beckyg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warm and Cozy. I would really give it 3.5 if I could. Great for a late winter read.

[Amber Scaife · Rating 2 out of 5]

Four siblings face their first New England winter without their parents. Meh. Not the best in the kids-on-their-own-in-the-semi-wilderness genre, but not horrible, either.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a treasure that should be better known, in the ilk of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Dorothy Canfield Fisher, and Lenora Mattingly Weber.

[Kirsten Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Connecticut during the Great Depression, this book by the author of The Velveteen Rabbit features a family of four siblings spending the winter in a small rural house with no modern conveniences.

While the books description reads, "Four city-bred children find themselves on their own in an unheated New England farmhouse," that really gives it a bit different flavor from the actual focus of the story. While I would describe the younger two siblings in the family as "children", the older two sisters are 16 and 19, and are capable young adults. While their father is on an archeological expedition and their mother is taking care of a relative in New Mexico, the four Ellis siblings are first left in the "care" of an older lady who is to be their chaperone. The older lady is fussy and doesn't do a thing to help with life around the house - and soon leaves, taking her payment for the next month with her.

While the old house starts out unheated, before Mrs. Ellis leaves, the house does get a giant woodburning stove, which the family must keep going all winter. Water comes from a manual pump - which of course is prone to freezing up when the weather is quite cold! The description might give one the idea that this is a survival story, it doesn't really have that feel to a great degree.

Winterbound is definitely more of a "slice of life" style of book without a very strong conflict per se, other than the need to manage all winter on their own in the old house. Whether through happy times like celebrating Christmas, earning extra money to pay expenses, and enjoying the company of neighbors, or more challenging times like illness, winter storms, and worry over some out-of-character letters sent by their mother, the Ellis siblings work hard and make the best of their situation.

I enjoyed the strong family relationships among the siblings in this cozy winter read. While I wouldn't say it is exciting, reading it was a nice way to spend a cold afternoon. The focus of the story is the two teenage older sisters, but I think this book could be enjoyed by about ages 10 and up. Younger listeners than that might find it a bit boring, but there aren't really any content considerations that would make it an inappropriate choice at a younger age.

4.5 stars - not a full 5 due to that lack of excitement/conflict in the overall storyline.
Content considerations - none that I noticed

[Leah Agirlandaboy]

This low-stakes novel is in the style of “Little Women” and the Little House books and the Saturdays—largely a collection of cozy, domestic episodes about living a simple life and being grateful for what you have. It’s also surprisingly feminist, with lots of examples of women living independently, daring to be ambitious, muddling through on their own terms, and feeling capably self-sufficient while also coming together for support as needed.

This is a book clearly written for teen and tween girls, and it has a definite 1937 sensibility about it, but it’s great winter break reading too—just enough mild uncertainty to keep things moving, but nothing tragic or even dramatic, and plenty of subtext for readers to make up their own theories about what’s going on.

The mother is away for most of the book, leaving the two teenage daughters in charge of the younger children for several months, and the way she recalls her long solo drive back to them feels like it could have been written by a modern mother just yesterday:

“‘I felt so selfish, having a perfectly good time all by myself without you knowing. It was the first time in years I’ve ever done exactly as I pleased, with no one to consider. I could stop when I chose and go on when I chose. I slept in any old tourist camp I took a fancy to. I didn’t have to stop and eat unless I felt like it and I didn’t have to talk to a single soul unless I chose. I had a perfectly marvelous time.’

Garry [the possibly lesbian-coded second daughter?] nodded. She, more than anyone else, knew exactly how Penny had felt. This growing-up business—perhaps it didn’t after all make so much difference as one thought. Or did anyone grow up at all?”

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a pleasantly charming young adult novel by the author of the classic children's book "The Velveteen Rabbit". Set mostly during a Connecticut winter in the 1930s it's a tale of the Ellis family, city folk, who have moved to the country to save money while the father is off on an expedition (archaeological it turns out). Before Thanksgiving the mother heads to Arizona to care for a sick relative leaving the children on their own. As others have pointed out there's not much excitement outside of small daily adventures - which are beautifully told: setting up a huge iron stove for winter, exploring a nearby empty house, hiking in the woods, hunting foxes by moonlight, and dealing with cold and flu, as well as the day by day management of the family finances. It's important to note that these events are handled by children, a thing that wouldn't be permitted today. I read this for my 2017 Reading Challenge "a book with a one word title" (Read World 52) and for my Newbery Challenge (Honor Book 1937)

[Isabella Leake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has all the makings of a truly great children's novel, and I'm not totally sure why it isn't one, despite receiving a Newbery Honor in 1936.

The characters and incidents are interesting. The central predicament -- two almost-grown sisters must manage the household, finances, and their two younger siblings through the winter without both parents in a small rented house in rural Connecticut -- is absorbing.

I suspect this plot and cast of characters would have made an excellent book double the length. There isn't enough time, in 230 pages, to really feel at home with the people and place. As it is, the action moves too quickly, and the portrait is only half sketched, but the rich rural setting and good-hearted rural community would be a lovely place to dwell in for 500 pages.

[Agnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover was just so striking I had to read it!
I do love 1930's & 40's children's books.

While a 19 & 17 year old getting a household through the winter in a house in Connecticut is not much of a challenge- there was conflict & suspense & humor.

Their guest Mrs. Cummings is disruptive "Getting things out of the way and having things "handy", though apparently contradictory terms, were among her firm beliefs."

and I love when Caroline is being bratty and waits to tell her sister the food is burning on the stove "Caroline edged off before firing her parting shot." It was so realistic.

I was annoyed by too similar character names- Aunt Carrie & Caroline and Penny & Peggy.