Bess' Log Cabin Quilt

by D. Anne Love, Ronald Himler (Illustrator)

After their father is requested to serve the Confederacy as a spy and doctor, leaving them in the care of servants and neighbors, Susanna and her brothers Neddie and Sam must fight for survival as they escape to Charleston to elude the Yankees who are searching for them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

I was born in western Tennessee, the eldest of four children. My father was a lover of books who taught me to read even before I started school. My mother was (and still is!) the world’s best mom and a lover of music who sang in the kitchen as she taught me to cook.

I enjoyed playing games and riding bikes but my favorite activity was reading. Among my favorite authors were Lois Lenski, Louisa May Alcott and Harper Lee. I was in love with words and stories, with the feel of paper as I turned the pages, with the smell of ink.
Major, the golden retriever

In high school, and later, in college, I discovered newspaper writing and worked for the paper to help pay for my education. I became a teacher, and later, a school principal, and then a college professor, but I never forgot my dream of someday writing books. In 1989, I began writing full time, and in 1995 Holiday House published BESS’S LOG CABIN QUILT, my first novel for young readers.

Since then I have published a number of other books. Writing is still my full time job, though I spend a lot of time visiting schools, talking to students and teachers about my favorite subjects: books and reading!

In addition to Texas, I’ve lived in Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, and California. Currently I live in central Ohio with my husband Ron, and Major our rambunctious golden retriever. But Austin, Texas is, and always will be the place I call home.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always enjoy frontier fiction, but this one didn't catch me. The plot was predictable and standard and lacking in depth. Despite that, it is a suitable story underscoring the many and varied challenges of frontier life. I would recommend this to younger readers just gaining the confidence to progress to longer books.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place in the prairie times. Bess’s father is on the Oregon trail trying to bring new settlers Bess and her mother are getting very worried because he has been gone longer than usual. While they are awaiting pas arrival Bess’s mother is teacher her how to quilt and suddenly falls ill. Bess is left to take care of the house, farm and her mother by herself. When a debt collector informs Bess that her father owes him money and if he doesn't get it by a certain time he will take the farm Bess enters the quilting competition in the next town over. The prize money will cover the debt her father owes so Bess is determined to finish her quilt perfectly. She makes it to the quilt competition after run ins with indians and mean ladies who do not want her to win. She has a hard time competing against the experienced ladies.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was not the best book only because I do not like the time period it takes place in. I enjoyed reading through Bess’s life because she is a very relatable character and goes through realistic struggles. The plot did include a lot of drama and that got old after a while but overall the book was an enjoyable read.
This book would be useful to teach students about settlement times. They would learn a lot about life in the prairie days and the day to day responsibilities someone their age would have to do and worry about. I would also recommend it to young girls who like to do crafts because it talks a lot about quilting and what goes into that.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice pioneer story about a young girl who father is away, her mother becomes sick, the bank man wants his money, and the Indians come to the house. Bess enters a contest to win the money to pay the bank man, she fires a rifle to scare away the Indians, and she sews a quilt in all of her spare time. Papa comes home safe, mama gets better, Papa already paid the bank man so Bess gets to keep the money she won.

[Lyn Sweetapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good look at life during the early settlement of Oregon and the strength and resolve of a young girl. The story is well paced and the characters are well developed.

[Jeni]

Very predictable and a bit cliche but fit the niche I wanted it to. Girls enjoyed it overall even if we all knew from chapter 1 what the entire plot would be. 😂

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an endearing story about a girl and her mother awaiting the return of her father who leads others across the Oregon Trail. When her mother falls ill with swamp fever, she nurses her mother and cares for the farm while fighting off Indians and a man who show up to call in a loan to her father. She is learning to quilt from her mother and decides to enter her first quilt into a town fair quilt contest to try and win the money to save the farm. A wonderful book with endearing characters.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book, and I recommend it.

[Karsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it because theres no entosiasom to me.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book, wished it would have been a series really.