Miss Agnes and the Ginger Tom

by Kirkpatrick Hill

In the previous book, The Year of Miss Agnes, it’s 1948 and a new teacher comes to teach in the tiny Athabascan village on the Koyukuk River in Alaska. Ten-year-old Fred tells why Miss Agnes is the best teacher they’ve ever had in their one-room school, and different in every way. ln the sequel, Miss Agnes and the Ginger Tom, their wonderful teacher is back. And she’s brought a cat, the first they’ve ever seen. But how long will she stay? Miss Agnes has arranged for her extraordinarily gifted student, Jimmy Sam, to go away to a college prep school “outside.” If he can pass the test. Miss Agnes starts Jimmy on a rigorous program of study for the test and Fred and the others learn right along with him. The whole village is part of Miss Agnes’ school. She’s brought boxes of books and soon everyone in town is reading something from the school bookshelves. And she’s brought a movie projector so the village people can see movies for the first time. The village’s anxiety increases as the school year goes on, waiting for Jimmy’s test. Grandma says it’s hutlaanee, bad luck, to talk about the test, but they can’t help it. If Jimmy doesn’t pass it he will have to leave school next year to do a man’s work with his father and brother, all his dreams of being a scientist come to nothing.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens

150 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2011

About the author

Kirkpatrick Hill lives in Fairbanks, Alaska. She was an elementary school teacher for more than thirty years, most of that time in the Alaskan "bush." Hill is the mother of six children and the grandmother of eight. Her three earlier books, Toughboy and Sister, Winter Camp, and The Year of Miss Agnes, have all been immensely popular. Her fourth book with McElderry Books, Dancing at the Odinochka, was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Hill's visits to a family member in jail inspired her to write Do Not Pass Go.

Reviews

[Darryl Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every bit as heartwarming as The Year of Miss Agnes. Sequels sometimes disappoint, but this isn’t one of them! Miss Agnes is as dynamic, creative, and inspiring as ever, and Fred’s narrative voice captures all of the wonder and joy of her learning experience that I loved so much in the first book. Highly recommended!

[Heather Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard book to rate. On one hand, it’s not written nearly as well as Hill’s other works I’ve read, but on the other it’s self-published and lacking in resources that her others have received. Beyond that though, this story has just as my heart as The Year of Miss Agnes and had me rooting for the whole class. For anyone who’s curious of what homeschooling is truly like, they only need to be referred to Miss Agnes. Even though she’s a schoolhouse teacher, this is as close as I’ve ever read to the homeschool experience, and I love her for it.

[Molly Grimmius · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids were delighted that there was a sequel to the first one. Though that same fun feeling of learning and books and cheering on Jimmy to pass his test, I felt like it was a little more sloppily put together with chapters that had a hover poster of things happening and so many names of people… too many sometimes. Anyway my kids didn’t notice and it was still just a sweet story to live in together.

[Marisa Maloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel to the book A year with Miss Agnes , this book takes place immediately where the first left off. You get to step into an Alaskan one room rural schoolhouse with their beloved teacher Miss Agnes.
More fun stories of making the Aladdin play, getting one of their older students ready for a major test and more .

[Tamara York · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it was a bit hard to get past the self-published cover and font (I am so cover prejudiced), this second year in the classroom with Miss Agnes made it a worthy read. I just love Miss Agnes and all of the Alaskan village children who love learning.
So glad my friend, Heather, requested this library loan (from Florida!) and pressed it into my hands when she was done.

[Beth Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I just wish there were more books in this series. I’ve grown to love these characters and this storyline after reading this book to my students for many years.
I will say that the writing felt hastily done, with many of the big issues left open and unresolved. So, hopefully, more books will be forthcoming!

[Beth Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there was more!!

I loved this sequel, but it just makes me wish there were more books in this series! I have grown to love these characters so much after reading the first book to my students year after year. I’m so happy I found this follow up!

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I **LOVED** this book!!! ❤️❤️❤️
I was so sad at the end of The Year of Miss Agnes! I was delighted to pick up this book and read more of her adventures in the Athabascan village!
This is a must-read series!

[Stacy Atherton Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting follow-up to The Year of Miss Agnes, but it misses the mark a little bit. It was definitely not as good or interesting as the original, which was a really amazing book.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book for boys or girls! It tells how an Athabascan community in Alaska welcomes Miss Agnes as their teacher for a second year of school.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read-aloud with Kason.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first in the series, but good app the same.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing the saga of the Year of Miss Agnes.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Pamela Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows naturally from the previous one - not that it's repetitious - there's lots more about life in and around their Alaskan village that we haven't heard before. And Miss Agnes has new and exciting books and other things to show the kids and even share with the adult villagers.

The kids are thrilled that Miss Agnes is going to teach another year in their school. And she's brought the first cat they've ever seen - a kitten really, and a friendly one, too. He supervises the school, the way cats do. He is (quite properly) terrified when a dogsled comes to the village, but he knows how to hide.

A lot of the story centers on Jimmy Sam, one of the oldest kids in the school. His father thinks he needs to quit school and help with the hard work of the family. But he wants to be a doctor and Miss Agnes wants him to be able to go to a boarding school.

The one thing I didn't like was when Miss Agnes read the kids Greek myths and the kids learned about the gods the Greeks believed in. They asked if everyone now believes in one God, and expected Miss Agnes to say yes. But she assured them that many, many gods are still worshiped around the world, and she said it in a way that implied there is nothing wrong with that. I suppose I was unconsciously assuming that Miss Agnes was a Christian like I am and was disillusioned that she wasn't.

I DO think kids should be taught mythology, and that older kids should learn about other religions, but that's another conversation.

Still well worth reading.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as strong as The Year of Miss Agnes, but it's nice to return to the village and hear more about Fred's fascinating life.