What do you think?
Rate this book
My One Square Inch of Alaska
A pair of siblings escapes—along with a Siberian Husky—the strictures of their 1950s industrial Ohio town on the adventure of a lifetime.
Talented high-school senior Donna Lane yearns to leave her Midwestern home in pursuit of a career in design, but she feels obligated to stay and care for her helpless father and her younger brother, Will. In fragile health and obsessed with the television show Sergeant Striker and the Alaskan Wild, Will’s dearest companion is a mute Siberian Husky named Trusty. The arrival of two outsiders inspires Donna to consider her dreams anew. Then Will falls sick, and Donna packs up their yellow convertible—with Will, Trusty, and a road atlas—and sets off for the Alaskan Territory. A portrait of a singular American moment, My One Square Inch of Alaska is a moving tale of exploration and love—human and canine—that dares to believe the impossible.
Talented high-school senior Donna Lane yearns to leave her Midwestern home in pursuit of a career in design, but she feels obligated to stay and care for her helpless father and her younger brother, Will. In fragile health and obsessed with the television show Sergeant Striker and the Alaskan Wild, Will’s dearest companion is a mute Siberian Husky named Trusty. The arrival of two outsiders inspires Donna to consider her dreams anew. Then Will falls sick, and Donna packs up their yellow convertible—with Will, Trusty, and a road atlas—and sets off for the Alaskan Territory. A portrait of a singular American moment, My One Square Inch of Alaska is a moving tale of exploration and love—human and canine—that dares to believe the impossible.
383 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2013
23 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Short
17 books207 followersSharon Short is the author of sixteen published books.
Her newest, Trouble Island, is historical suspense and will be published by Minotaur Books on December 3, 2024.
As Jess Montgomery, she writes the historical Kinship Mysteries set in the 1920s and inspired by Ohio’s true first female sheriff.
Sharon is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest, for which she writes the column, “Level Up Your Writing (Life)” and teaches for Writer’s Digest University.
She is also a three-time recipient of the Individual Excellence Award in Literary Arts from Ohio Arts Council and has been a John E. Nance Writer in Residence at Thurber House (Columbus, Ohio).
When not writing, Sharon enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, swimming, and occasionally hiking.
Her newest, Trouble Island, is historical suspense and will be published by Minotaur Books on December 3, 2024.
As Jess Montgomery, she writes the historical Kinship Mysteries set in the 1920s and inspired by Ohio’s true first female sheriff.
Sharon is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest, for which she writes the column, “Level Up Your Writing (Life)” and teaches for Writer’s Digest University.
She is also a three-time recipient of the Individual Excellence Award in Literary Arts from Ohio Arts Council and has been a John E. Nance Writer in Residence at Thurber House (Columbus, Ohio).
When not writing, Sharon enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, swimming, and occasionally hiking.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
May 17, 2016
Picked up on a whim at a library bag sale with no more than a cursory glance, expecting the story of a woman staking a claim to some Alaskan acreage while living in a camping trailer with her dog. Not so much -- but far better than I expected.
What I got instead was a 17-year-old narrator from small town Ohio in 1953, struggling to make ends meet and raise her 10-year-old brother/keep them both clear of their by turns abusive and ineffectual father and domineering grandmother. High school senior Donna works multiple jobs to save enough money to move to New York after graduation and pursue her dream of becoming a costume seamstress, pursued on a smaller scale by modifying a suitcase full of her late mother's fancy dresses into her own wardrobe and keeping a sketchpad full of ideas. Before long, she is unexpectedly caught up in the thrill of dating the new mill owner's son and the respect that comes with it, while her brother takes advantage of his unsupervised free time to find unlikely friends that range from an impoverished Native American woman in her 90s to an abused and neglected junkyard dog.
One theme running through the book is the rumbling of a strike among the mill workers due to lax safety regulations, the other Donna's brother's love of a TV show set in the Alaskan territory, and his obsession with eating enough Marvel Puffs cereal to send away for a deed to the title subject. The two events dovetail nicely in providing the catalyst for the event described in the summary -- eventually. Don't hold your breath waiting for it; you'll be in Ohio a LONG time.
I fell in love within a few pages and never stopped being amazed by it, to the point that I accidentally raced through it within 3 hours because I wanted to savor it but I could not, I needed to devour and consume it and make it part of me as soon as possible. I loved that it shone a spotlight on the less savory parts of the time period without tarnishing the simple and innocent details that make me love it -- usually books are either nostalgic or critical of the era, but I thought this one made it possible to see why both perspectives exist.
I loved Donna, and I loved Jimmy, and I never stopped believing in the impossible for those two wonderful kids. I especially loved that he took such a shine to Will, and he never let the kid down no matter what else happened.
I loved the descriptions of how she altered her mother's dresses. I loved the controversy surrounding the new art teacher, Mr. Cahill, with his big-city views. I loved the wisdom and good hearts of MayJune and Miss Bettina. I loved Trusty, and Will's heartbreaking attachment to him -- lurking in the background of this novel was a juvenile boy's adventure story of the type that was popular in the era these events took place, and I found myself wondering what the story would look like from Will's point of view, edited for an audience of boys his age. I also loved how close the siblings were, and I usually have exactly zero feelings about older sisters/younger brothers with a 5+ year age gap.
But most of all I love Donna, whose series of small choices all made sense to me, even when I didn't agree, and who impressed me a one of the most realistic heroines I have ever read outside of YA.
What I got instead was a 17-year-old narrator from small town Ohio in 1953, struggling to make ends meet and raise her 10-year-old brother/keep them both clear of their by turns abusive and ineffectual father and domineering grandmother. High school senior Donna works multiple jobs to save enough money to move to New York after graduation and pursue her dream of becoming a costume seamstress, pursued on a smaller scale by modifying a suitcase full of her late mother's fancy dresses into her own wardrobe and keeping a sketchpad full of ideas. Before long, she is unexpectedly caught up in the thrill of dating the new mill owner's son and the respect that comes with it, while her brother takes advantage of his unsupervised free time to find unlikely friends that range from an impoverished Native American woman in her 90s to an abused and neglected junkyard dog.
One theme running through the book is the rumbling of a strike among the mill workers due to lax safety regulations, the other Donna's brother's love of a TV show set in the Alaskan territory, and his obsession with eating enough Marvel Puffs cereal to send away for a deed to the title subject. The two events dovetail nicely in providing the catalyst for the event described in the summary -- eventually. Don't hold your breath waiting for it; you'll be in Ohio a LONG time.
I fell in love within a few pages and never stopped being amazed by it, to the point that I accidentally raced through it within 3 hours because I wanted to savor it but I could not, I needed to devour and consume it and make it part of me as soon as possible. I loved that it shone a spotlight on the less savory parts of the time period without tarnishing the simple and innocent details that make me love it -- usually books are either nostalgic or critical of the era, but I thought this one made it possible to see why both perspectives exist.
I loved Donna, and I loved Jimmy, and I never stopped believing in the impossible for those two wonderful kids. I especially loved that he took such a shine to Will, and he never let the kid down no matter what else happened.
I loved the descriptions of how she altered her mother's dresses. I loved the controversy surrounding the new art teacher, Mr. Cahill, with his big-city views. I loved the wisdom and good hearts of MayJune and Miss Bettina. I loved Trusty, and Will's heartbreaking attachment to him -- lurking in the background of this novel was a juvenile boy's adventure story of the type that was popular in the era these events took place, and I found myself wondering what the story would look like from Will's point of view, edited for an audience of boys his age. I also loved how close the siblings were, and I usually have exactly zero feelings about older sisters/younger brothers with a 5+ year age gap.
But most of all I love Donna, whose series of small choices all made sense to me, even when I didn't agree, and who impressed me a one of the most realistic heroines I have ever read outside of YA.
May 15, 2014
This book came out of nowhere and my broke my heart. Not cool, book. Not cool. I work at a bookstore and was pulling books from the shelves that we had lots of copies of to toss up on a display in hopes of selling them and this was one of those books. I really liked the cover and since Alaska is my dream vacation I thought I would try it out myself.
I kinda wish I hadn't, because I read the last 80 or so pages with eyes clouded by tears. Like I said, not cool. I was looking for lighthearted, fun, and carefree and what I got was heartbreaking, beautiful, and nostalgic.
I wasn't looking for a tear jerker, but that's what I got. And truth be told, I'd do it all over again because this book was beautiful. Now go read it because it's worth it.
I kinda wish I hadn't, because I read the last 80 or so pages with eyes clouded by tears. Like I said, not cool. I was looking for lighthearted, fun, and carefree and what I got was heartbreaking, beautiful, and nostalgic.
I wasn't looking for a tear jerker, but that's what I got. And truth be told, I'd do it all over again because this book was beautiful. Now go read it because it's worth it.
January 17, 2015
4.5 stars I randomly came across this book while searching for authors with my same initials as part of my reading challenge for 2015. And I gotta say, I'm so glad I picked this one. It hit all of my sweet spots---coming of age story, an adventure, a bit of romance & a bit of tragedy. It was a story that connected with me on a slightly deeper level and made me think. To me, those are the best kinds of stories. Bonus points for being set in the '50s (a decade I've adored all my life)!
-------------
2015 reading challenge checklist: A book written by an author with your same initials
-------------
2015 reading challenge checklist: A book written by an author with your same initials
August 13, 2017
I absolutely loved this little book. I'll admit that it wasn't exactly what I expected; i.e., the Alaska setting was only a small part of it at the end, but I how they arrived there was amazing! The characters were so well-drawn, and the family relationships were the main focus of the story. The protagonist, Donna, was easy to root for despite her foibles, and her little brother Will was super easy to love. And who wouldn't adore Trusty, the mistreated Husky dog that Will befriends and later adopts as his own. I can't say a single bad thing about this sweet and charming novel except that I am sorry it had to end.
March 7, 2013
To begin with, Alaska isn't really in this story except as a dream and a cameo in the end. It can't be misrepresented because it was more the dream of the frontier. That is the Alaska I knew before I moved here and it is still the Alaska I love. From what I can tell, the experiences driving the AlCan (Alaska Canadian highway) in that time period are pretty accurate.
Alaskan accuracy aside (and awesome alliteration), let's talk about the book. For me it dragged at the beginning, I had trouble investing in the first bit. By about 1/3rd of the way through I was into it. By the last third of the book, I was in "do not put this book down" mode.
At the center of the tale is Donna, a high school senior growing up in Ohio in the 1950s. She has a lot going on in her life, a little brother she cares for and protects from their alcoholic father and abusive grandmother, a burgeoning desire to be a fashion designer, and the overwhelming expectations and mores of small town America in the 1950s. That would be a lot for anyone, but all that falls apart when her younger brother gets sick. Will had been obsessed with collecting cereal box tops and sending away for a deed to "one square inch of Alaska Territory". In a moment of emotion Donna grabs her mother's old convertible, her sick younger brother, an abused husky dog and drives off to find that one square inch.
That journey was why I picked up the book however (MINOR SPOILER) that journey doesn't come until near the end of the book. The real journey is Donna's emotional journey. And both journeys, emotional and physical, are realistic and satisfying. The characters are frankly portrayed and richly drawn. One or two characters verge on the stereotyped, but without ever going into the cliche. By the end of the book, they and especially Donna are real enough to you that you are sad to leave them behind. However the author does one of those wonderful epilogues where you find out what happens to the characters. I love those. I get so attached to characters.
If I had a criticism of this book, I would say it was trying to do too much. There is the strike/union activity, the sickness of the brother, the mystery about the mother, the alcoholic father, the art teacher, the McCarthy era political fighting, the romance, and a few things I'm leaving out. It's a lot for one short book and honestly one or two of those could have been dropped. Life isn't simple and often many things happen all at once not one issue in a vacuum. Almost every issue/plot string felt organic to the times and the story, save one. I'm not saying which, but one felt a bit forced. However it was not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Bottom line: Recommended for older teen and adult readers. Special interest to readers looking for a sensitive coming of age story and anyone who ever dreamed of running away to the frontier
Blog entry: http://bornlibrarian.blogspot.com/201...
Alaskan accuracy aside (and awesome alliteration), let's talk about the book. For me it dragged at the beginning, I had trouble investing in the first bit. By about 1/3rd of the way through I was into it. By the last third of the book, I was in "do not put this book down" mode.
At the center of the tale is Donna, a high school senior growing up in Ohio in the 1950s. She has a lot going on in her life, a little brother she cares for and protects from their alcoholic father and abusive grandmother, a burgeoning desire to be a fashion designer, and the overwhelming expectations and mores of small town America in the 1950s. That would be a lot for anyone, but all that falls apart when her younger brother gets sick. Will had been obsessed with collecting cereal box tops and sending away for a deed to "one square inch of Alaska Territory". In a moment of emotion Donna grabs her mother's old convertible, her sick younger brother, an abused husky dog and drives off to find that one square inch.
That journey was why I picked up the book however (MINOR SPOILER) that journey doesn't come until near the end of the book. The real journey is Donna's emotional journey. And both journeys, emotional and physical, are realistic and satisfying. The characters are frankly portrayed and richly drawn. One or two characters verge on the stereotyped, but without ever going into the cliche. By the end of the book, they and especially Donna are real enough to you that you are sad to leave them behind. However the author does one of those wonderful epilogues where you find out what happens to the characters. I love those. I get so attached to characters.
If I had a criticism of this book, I would say it was trying to do too much. There is the strike/union activity, the sickness of the brother, the mystery about the mother, the alcoholic father, the art teacher, the McCarthy era political fighting, the romance, and a few things I'm leaving out. It's a lot for one short book and honestly one or two of those could have been dropped. Life isn't simple and often many things happen all at once not one issue in a vacuum. Almost every issue/plot string felt organic to the times and the story, save one. I'm not saying which, but one felt a bit forced. However it was not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Bottom line: Recommended for older teen and adult readers. Special interest to readers looking for a sensitive coming of age story and anyone who ever dreamed of running away to the frontier
Blog entry: http://bornlibrarian.blogspot.com/201...
February 10, 2013
A pair of siblings escape—along with a Siberian Husky—the strictures of their 1950s industrial Ohio town on the adventure of a lifetime.
Donna Lane has been saving her money and working hard so that when she graduates she can head to New York to study fashion design. Her younger brother Will is obsessed with the with the television show Sergeant Striker and the Alaskan Wild. The show is running a contest with a very special prize that Will intends to win. He just needs 10 cereal box tops to get his own square inch of the Alaskan Territory. Then he is going to travel there with a beat up and abused Siberian Husky from the local junkyard to stake his claim.
Then Will gets sick and Donna decides to put her dreams on hold so she can fulfill her brother’s dream instead. They are soon packed up in her mother’s old yellow convertible, pulling a small camper, with Trusty the husky in the backseat, and a road atlas to guide their way. They are off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I first became acquainted with this author through her cozy mysteries. I saw on Facebook awhile ago that she had a new book in the works in a totally different genre. That story was finally released last week. It is a beautifully written inspiring story.
Donna Lane has strength and courage way beyond her years. Taking care of her dysfunctional father and her brother was hard enough, but then to pack up a car and travel thousands of miles to make her little brother’s dream come true leaves me awestruck. So many things could and did happen on their travels.
My heart was warmed by the hope that both Donna and Will had but also by the hope MayJune and Miss Bettina had as well. None of them had an easy life. They just took the lemons of their life and made lemonade. They kept pushing forward trying to make each day better than the last.
My emotions ran wild while reading this book. Laughing, crying and panicking too at a few harrowing incidents. Sharon Short takes us on an incredible journey with Donna and Will. Readers from young adults to senior citizens will enjoy this tender story.
Donna Lane has been saving her money and working hard so that when she graduates she can head to New York to study fashion design. Her younger brother Will is obsessed with the with the television show Sergeant Striker and the Alaskan Wild. The show is running a contest with a very special prize that Will intends to win. He just needs 10 cereal box tops to get his own square inch of the Alaskan Territory. Then he is going to travel there with a beat up and abused Siberian Husky from the local junkyard to stake his claim.
Then Will gets sick and Donna decides to put her dreams on hold so she can fulfill her brother’s dream instead. They are soon packed up in her mother’s old yellow convertible, pulling a small camper, with Trusty the husky in the backseat, and a road atlas to guide their way. They are off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I first became acquainted with this author through her cozy mysteries. I saw on Facebook awhile ago that she had a new book in the works in a totally different genre. That story was finally released last week. It is a beautifully written inspiring story.
Donna Lane has strength and courage way beyond her years. Taking care of her dysfunctional father and her brother was hard enough, but then to pack up a car and travel thousands of miles to make her little brother’s dream come true leaves me awestruck. So many things could and did happen on their travels.
My heart was warmed by the hope that both Donna and Will had but also by the hope MayJune and Miss Bettina had as well. None of them had an easy life. They just took the lemons of their life and made lemonade. They kept pushing forward trying to make each day better than the last.
My emotions ran wild while reading this book. Laughing, crying and panicking too at a few harrowing incidents. Sharon Short takes us on an incredible journey with Donna and Will. Readers from young adults to senior citizens will enjoy this tender story.
February 8, 2013
This wasn't what I expected. I was expecting--as the book promises on the back--a moving tale of exploration and love-human and canine--that dares to believe the impossible.
I felt the dog wasn't really in it often enough to warrant that. What I got was a moving tale of exploration and love between a brother and sister, a story that moved me to tears, even though the dog was in it very little.
It's the 1950s and Donna has raised her younger brother Will. She's been forced to be a mother way too soon. She lives in a small town, a judgmental type of place, where nobody minds their business and the slightest thing out of the norm is scandalous and this gets her in trouble.
I'm not done. I have more to say about this incredible read. Read it on Book Babe: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
I felt the dog wasn't really in it often enough to warrant that. What I got was a moving tale of exploration and love between a brother and sister, a story that moved me to tears, even though the dog was in it very little.
It's the 1950s and Donna has raised her younger brother Will. She's been forced to be a mother way too soon. She lives in a small town, a judgmental type of place, where nobody minds their business and the slightest thing out of the norm is scandalous and this gets her in trouble.
I'm not done. I have more to say about this incredible read. Read it on Book Babe: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
March 1, 2016
I came across this one at a library sale, so I picked it up for 50 cents figuring that I would put it in the Little Free Library that my wife and I run. I put it on the book shelf that stores all of the books we use to restock the library. last month, when I needed a book to read, I headed out to the garage and found this one on the shelf, so I picked it up and was hooked on the first paragraph.
Wonderful story. I'll leave it at that.
You need to discover this one for yourself.
Wonderful story. I'll leave it at that.
You need to discover this one for yourself.
April 19, 2017
A nostalgic coming of age story that starts quietly--inviting you to wrap your hands contentedly around your cup of tea, tuck your legs beneath you, and let a small smile of recognition (ah, youth) creep across your lips--and ends by breaking your heart.
March 21, 2013
Author of the Josie Toadfern and Patricia Delaney Mystery Series, Sharon Short has written a touching stand-alone novel.
Sharon Short introduces her reader to a cast of characters so diverse and well written you could very well be reminded of people in your own lives. She re-creates small town America from a time when the tracks still separated the classes and the main source of income is from working at paper mill.
Meet Donna Lane who should be spending her final year of high school enjoying time with friends, but most of her time is taken up with caring for her alcoholic, out of work father, her young brother, and working in her domineering grandmother’s diner to support her family. Donna daydreams about leaving the small town behind and becoming a seamstress. In her stolen moments she practices by taking apart her deceased mother’s dresses and redesigning them to the current fashions.
Her brother is eating a breakfast cereal for every meal to collect box tops in the hope of winning one square inch of Alaska to call his own. When he is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, Donna and Will pack up the convertible, dog included, and set out to drive straight to Alaska to fulfill Will’s dream of setting foot on the little piece of land he calls his own.
You can’t help but fall in love with Will and for that matter his shaggy companion Trusty as the author has written him with all the quirky traits a little boy would possess. Donna is a study in comparisons. She is responsible with a hidden rebellious streak, determined to care for her family but wishing she could escape the confines of a small town. She resonates because every teenager at one time or another has struggled with the same emotions.
There are many aspects to the story; hope, love, loss and snippets of humor that will make the book appealing to readers of many genres. Although the writing was well executed the story could have progressed at a more rapid pace however that fact in no way affects the read. This is one of those books that once you pick up you will become so thoroughly engrossed you won’t be able to put it down.
Final thought: this is the perfect vacation read. Although at points a box of tissues is required it will have you laughing as well.
Disclaimer: The ARC of this book was given to me by the publisher for an honest and unbiased review.
Sharon Short introduces her reader to a cast of characters so diverse and well written you could very well be reminded of people in your own lives. She re-creates small town America from a time when the tracks still separated the classes and the main source of income is from working at paper mill.
Meet Donna Lane who should be spending her final year of high school enjoying time with friends, but most of her time is taken up with caring for her alcoholic, out of work father, her young brother, and working in her domineering grandmother’s diner to support her family. Donna daydreams about leaving the small town behind and becoming a seamstress. In her stolen moments she practices by taking apart her deceased mother’s dresses and redesigning them to the current fashions.
Her brother is eating a breakfast cereal for every meal to collect box tops in the hope of winning one square inch of Alaska to call his own. When he is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, Donna and Will pack up the convertible, dog included, and set out to drive straight to Alaska to fulfill Will’s dream of setting foot on the little piece of land he calls his own.
You can’t help but fall in love with Will and for that matter his shaggy companion Trusty as the author has written him with all the quirky traits a little boy would possess. Donna is a study in comparisons. She is responsible with a hidden rebellious streak, determined to care for her family but wishing she could escape the confines of a small town. She resonates because every teenager at one time or another has struggled with the same emotions.
There are many aspects to the story; hope, love, loss and snippets of humor that will make the book appealing to readers of many genres. Although the writing was well executed the story could have progressed at a more rapid pace however that fact in no way affects the read. This is one of those books that once you pick up you will become so thoroughly engrossed you won’t be able to put it down.
Final thought: this is the perfect vacation read. Although at points a box of tissues is required it will have you laughing as well.
Disclaimer: The ARC of this book was given to me by the publisher for an honest and unbiased review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2013
I loved this book. The characters are incredible, their journey is epic, and like any amazing story, there is a courageous canine companion, and this story has them all. Leaving behind love, friends, her family as she knew it, and her dreams in order to help make her little brother's dream come true, Donna and Will embark on an adventure that had me hooked and on the edge of my seat. I HIGHLY recommend this wonderful story to everyone.
July 11, 2015
What a great, touching adventure story. This book contains many of the elements making up my favorite books--strong, endearing characters, a dash of romance, a dream worth achieving, and of course a dog. Excellent story!
March 8, 2013
finished this book in 2 days. I couldnt put it down.
September 8, 2025
meh. Seemed very YO?
April 4, 2013
There are a few things you should know about this book before you get your own imagination running on expectations. This book is marketed as adult, and is written like an adult book, but it's actually a teenage girl that is the main character (though she's telling it in the future, like she's relating her memories) so it's totally something a lot of teenagers would enjoy and it's not terribly heavy and doesn't have inappropriate content. The other thing is that in the description it makes it sound like this book is all about the road trip to Alaska while in actuality the road trip doesn't happen until the last quarter of the book.
This book is about Donna, a senior in high school. Donna's mother died and she is left with her alcoholic father and her 10 year old brother to care for. She gets up each day trying to be bright and happy for her brother while inside she's stifled. She loves to design dresses and has found an old suitcase of her mothers clothing that she has redesigned into new garments. She's very talented and her new art teacher has told her so. Donna is determined to leave this small town and achieve her dreams. Yet, she's not a big dreamer either. She doesn't seem to think it will really happen, that more likely she'll just be a seamstress in NYC rather than a designer. I really liked Donna's personality. She had her dreams, but yet she was realistic about them too. She also has to deal with her awful grandmother who doesn't hesitate to put her down and verbally abuse her her constantly. Her grandmother really made me feel so much and gave me a more emotional connection to the story. I was so furious and angry with her way of treating people and not showing any kindness. But on the other side of the coin we have MayJune who steps in and acts like a grandmother should even though she's actually not related in any way and she made me feel so warm and happy inside and also brought about the strong emotional connection.
There's a lot going on in this book without being too much. It's just right, I guess. Will, Donna's brother is sick. There's something going on with him but we don't know what until later. It's one of the things we are anxious to find out when reading the beginning of the book. There's also more to their mother than the fact she went to Florida to die. This is another mystery we are anxious to find out more about. But Donna is fully committed to her brother and Will is obsessed with getting his One Square Inch of Alaska by sending in box tops. Through the book Donna is pretty sure they will never see Alaska, but obviously we know they will eventually go, it's just how it comes about we are waiting to see.
There's also this poor husky that has been badly abused that Will has grown attached to and is determined to get him 'home' to Alaska. He feeds this dog and dotes on him even though the dog doesn't belong to him. I mention this because I think this is an aspect of the book that dog lovers will be able to really connect with.
There's romance in the book, but while it's definitely there, it's not the kind you swoon over as you know that it's just not quite right, that she deserves more. He's a perfectly nice guy, and is good to Donna and her brother, but you just know he's not right. And it's written that way, we know that it's not this epic romance, so that's not a spoiler. And I thought it was right. But dating Jimmy gets Donna out of working for her horrible (horrible, horrible) grandmother as well as so many other things because Jimmy is the bosses son. The boss of the paper mill in town where a large portion of the townsfolk work. Everyone respects Donna when she's with him.
The story wasn't exactly fast paced but it wasn't slow either. I never really felt bored even though I was anxious for the road trip to happen. I enjoyed every bit of the story but once the road trip did finally come about I didn't even pause my reading. And Donna and Will went through so much. But it was all worth it. And watching them persevere through each obstacle really was amazing and made me really love them both so much more.
I also want to comment on the time period. The book takes place in the 50's and you can definitely tell. From the party line phone calls, to the words used, to the styles and even more so to the small mindedness of the small town folk. They threw a fuss about their being an art teacher, for petes sake. I definitely felt the aura of the time period and it all felt very authentic.
I definitely recommend this book. It's one of those books I would recommend to readers of YA, historical fiction, and women's fiction. It's a mixed bag and kind of has something for everyone.
You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
This book is about Donna, a senior in high school. Donna's mother died and she is left with her alcoholic father and her 10 year old brother to care for. She gets up each day trying to be bright and happy for her brother while inside she's stifled. She loves to design dresses and has found an old suitcase of her mothers clothing that she has redesigned into new garments. She's very talented and her new art teacher has told her so. Donna is determined to leave this small town and achieve her dreams. Yet, she's not a big dreamer either. She doesn't seem to think it will really happen, that more likely she'll just be a seamstress in NYC rather than a designer. I really liked Donna's personality. She had her dreams, but yet she was realistic about them too. She also has to deal with her awful grandmother who doesn't hesitate to put her down and verbally abuse her her constantly. Her grandmother really made me feel so much and gave me a more emotional connection to the story. I was so furious and angry with her way of treating people and not showing any kindness. But on the other side of the coin we have MayJune who steps in and acts like a grandmother should even though she's actually not related in any way and she made me feel so warm and happy inside and also brought about the strong emotional connection.
There's a lot going on in this book without being too much. It's just right, I guess. Will, Donna's brother is sick. There's something going on with him but we don't know what until later. It's one of the things we are anxious to find out when reading the beginning of the book. There's also more to their mother than the fact she went to Florida to die. This is another mystery we are anxious to find out more about. But Donna is fully committed to her brother and Will is obsessed with getting his One Square Inch of Alaska by sending in box tops. Through the book Donna is pretty sure they will never see Alaska, but obviously we know they will eventually go, it's just how it comes about we are waiting to see.
There's also this poor husky that has been badly abused that Will has grown attached to and is determined to get him 'home' to Alaska. He feeds this dog and dotes on him even though the dog doesn't belong to him. I mention this because I think this is an aspect of the book that dog lovers will be able to really connect with.
There's romance in the book, but while it's definitely there, it's not the kind you swoon over as you know that it's just not quite right, that she deserves more. He's a perfectly nice guy, and is good to Donna and her brother, but you just know he's not right. And it's written that way, we know that it's not this epic romance, so that's not a spoiler. And I thought it was right. But dating Jimmy gets Donna out of working for her horrible (horrible, horrible) grandmother as well as so many other things because Jimmy is the bosses son. The boss of the paper mill in town where a large portion of the townsfolk work. Everyone respects Donna when she's with him.
The story wasn't exactly fast paced but it wasn't slow either. I never really felt bored even though I was anxious for the road trip to happen. I enjoyed every bit of the story but once the road trip did finally come about I didn't even pause my reading. And Donna and Will went through so much. But it was all worth it. And watching them persevere through each obstacle really was amazing and made me really love them both so much more.
I also want to comment on the time period. The book takes place in the 50's and you can definitely tell. From the party line phone calls, to the words used, to the styles and even more so to the small mindedness of the small town folk. They threw a fuss about their being an art teacher, for petes sake. I definitely felt the aura of the time period and it all felt very authentic.
I definitely recommend this book. It's one of those books I would recommend to readers of YA, historical fiction, and women's fiction. It's a mixed bag and kind of has something for everyone.
You can find this review, and others like it, on my blog at http://www.candacesbookblog.com
January 2, 2014
I was expecting a 1950’s coming of age story and I got that but I also got so much more with this great story. Donna a high school senior and her little brother Will live in Ohio their mother is dead and their father has taken up drinking and isolates himself from his children and the world. Donna takes care of everything around the house including cooking and taking care of Will plus going to school, working at her grandmothers diner and doing alterations at a dress shop where she dreams of getting out of Ohio and becoming a seamstress or a designer. Will is trying to win a cereal/TV Show contest eating as much cereal as he can to send in his box tops to win his very own one square inch of Alaska, but Donna starts noticing that Will’s health is deteriorating and so begins their amazing journey.
This book was so much more than I expected it to be, it is about grief and friendship, family, dreams and first loves and this all comes together to become a great story. It is hard to review this book because there is so much going on in Donna’s life and I don’t want to give anything away to harm your enjoyment of how the story unfolds. You will fall in love with Will, with his kind heart and naiveté and his outlook on life even through the difficulties. My other favorite character is MayJune who brings this light and calm to both Donna & Will. There is also the story of Will and the junkyard dog he rescues which is a great story on its own. Least favorite characters would have to be their simpering father, the never happy grandmother and Hank (who I wish we could have found out finally got his in the end!).
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in 2 days it will grab at your heart and make you feel for the characters. This book has a similar feel to books like Saving CeeCee Honeycutt or The Homecoming of Samuel Lake it is very well written and I will be looking for other books this author has written.
I would highly recommend this book to young adult and adults alike and could also see it becoming a bookclub book because it will have some interesting discussions with a myriad of topics this book evokes.
4 ½ Stars
Full Disclosure I received this book from the Librarything Early Reviewer Program and the publisher for a fair and honest review.
February 1, 2013
Donna Lane is a young girl with a vivid dream of becoming a notable designer, a field she ardently loves. Yet she also feels bound to stay home in a small Ohio town with her father, who seems oblivious to everything and everyone and her brother, Will. All seems relatively normal aside from living without the guiding hand of a loving mother. Will is obsessed with a TV Show focusing on its hero, Sergeant Striker, and is determined to collect enough cereal box tops to win ownership of “one square inch of Alaska” and a trip there with his hero.
Life has other plans in a sense. Will becomes very, very ill. Donna is determined for him to have his one big wish granted but finds out that the Alaska game is a big fat scam. However, that doesn’t deter her and she decides to take Will to Alaska and get him his one square inch. The rest of the novel is about their harrowing trip where strangers assist them after falling in love with their dream wish, all of this as Will is becoming weaker and weaker.
An ordinary tale told with extraordinary skill, My Own Square Inch of Alaska is about the special qualities of a brother-sister relationship. It’s also about the hope that must endure no matter what devastating realities occur, whether that be the disappointments from crooked liars who promise large and deliver small or nothing or from the battle between hope and despair in the face of terminal illness – the fact that one is not dying but is fully living until one dies – a phenomenon we often forget applies to all.
Tenderly and humorously told, this is a novel to be cherished by all readers who love any genre! Well done, Ms. Short!
Life has other plans in a sense. Will becomes very, very ill. Donna is determined for him to have his one big wish granted but finds out that the Alaska game is a big fat scam. However, that doesn’t deter her and she decides to take Will to Alaska and get him his one square inch. The rest of the novel is about their harrowing trip where strangers assist them after falling in love with their dream wish, all of this as Will is becoming weaker and weaker.
An ordinary tale told with extraordinary skill, My Own Square Inch of Alaska is about the special qualities of a brother-sister relationship. It’s also about the hope that must endure no matter what devastating realities occur, whether that be the disappointments from crooked liars who promise large and deliver small or nothing or from the battle between hope and despair in the face of terminal illness – the fact that one is not dying but is fully living until one dies – a phenomenon we often forget applies to all.
Tenderly and humorously told, this is a novel to be cherished by all readers who love any genre! Well done, Ms. Short!
October 29, 2014
Es gibt Bücher, die sind spannend und Nervenaufreibend. Bücher, bei denen man mitfiebert und mit großen Augen auf die Seiten starrt. Und dann gibt es Bücher wie dieses, die einfach schön sind. Traurig, voller Liebe und einfach schön.
In Mein kleines Stück Alaska geht es um Donna Lane, die nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter ihren kleinen Bruder groß zieht. Ihr kleiner Bruder Will ist davon besessen die Urkunde für ein kleines Stück Alaska zu gewinnen, indem er 10 Deckel eine Cornflakessorte sammelt. Donna lacht ihren Bruder dafür aus und erlebt selbst ein paar Dinge, ehe man bei Will Leukämie diagnosiziert, was natürlich ihr ganzes Leben verändert und seinen Wunsch Alaska zu sehen viel deutlicher hervorhebt.
Ich habe erwartet ein tieftrauriges Buch über den Tod eines kleinen Jungen zu lesen, aber ich fand einen Roman gefüllt mit Liebe, Sehnsüchten, Träumen, Wünsche, Wahrheiten und einer Hauptfigur, die mir ans Herz gewachsen ist. Ich konnte mich gut in Donna hinein versetzen und ihre Sicht auf die Welt verstehen. Mich hat überrascht, dass einiger politische sowie soziale Probleme des Amerikas der 50er Jahre aufgegriffen wurden. Es war rundum schön, toll... einfach gelungen. Ich bin ganz erfüllt gerade und mein kopf ist ganz leer, was grundsätzlich für ein unglaubliches Buch spricht. 5 Sterne mit dem besten Gewissen.
In Mein kleines Stück Alaska geht es um Donna Lane, die nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter ihren kleinen Bruder groß zieht. Ihr kleiner Bruder Will ist davon besessen die Urkunde für ein kleines Stück Alaska zu gewinnen, indem er 10 Deckel eine Cornflakessorte sammelt. Donna lacht ihren Bruder dafür aus und erlebt selbst ein paar Dinge, ehe man bei Will Leukämie diagnosiziert, was natürlich ihr ganzes Leben verändert und seinen Wunsch Alaska zu sehen viel deutlicher hervorhebt.
Ich habe erwartet ein tieftrauriges Buch über den Tod eines kleinen Jungen zu lesen, aber ich fand einen Roman gefüllt mit Liebe, Sehnsüchten, Träumen, Wünsche, Wahrheiten und einer Hauptfigur, die mir ans Herz gewachsen ist. Ich konnte mich gut in Donna hinein versetzen und ihre Sicht auf die Welt verstehen. Mich hat überrascht, dass einiger politische sowie soziale Probleme des Amerikas der 50er Jahre aufgegriffen wurden. Es war rundum schön, toll... einfach gelungen. Ich bin ganz erfüllt gerade und mein kopf ist ganz leer, was grundsätzlich für ein unglaubliches Buch spricht. 5 Sterne mit dem besten Gewissen.
April 6, 2017
Donna and Will Lane live with their alcoholic father in a small town in Ohio in the 1950's. Their mother is presumed dead from cancer. High school senior Donna has shown her maturity by taking it upon herself to help raise Will. Young Will is obsessed with the idea of Alaska and he has been eating cereal in order to collect ten boxtops that he can send in to claim his one square inch of Alaska. When he receives the deed to his land, he is determined to visit there some day. But Will becomes ill, and on the spur of the moment, Donna decides to take Will and a Siberian husky named Trusty that Will has friended to visit his one square inch of Alaska. They set off in an old convertible using an old road atlas as a guide on a road trip to the Alaskan Territory.
Even though this trip to the Alaskan territory doesn't take place until late in the book, the one square inch of Alaska represents much more than the land itself. It means having goals and a dream to achieve. And it means believing in something enough to make it happen against all odds.
The book is a story of brother and sister love and of courage and determination in spite of many difficulties. It is a quick read that will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. And even though it is considered an adult book, I believe it would be a suitable young adult read.
Even though this trip to the Alaskan territory doesn't take place until late in the book, the one square inch of Alaska represents much more than the land itself. It means having goals and a dream to achieve. And it means believing in something enough to make it happen against all odds.
The book is a story of brother and sister love and of courage and determination in spite of many difficulties. It is a quick read that will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. And even though it is considered an adult book, I believe it would be a suitable young adult read.
May 21, 2013
I'm heading to Alaska soon so I thought I would interlibrary loan some titles that I found on Goodreads.com. This was a book that took me forever to read. Why? Because it wasn't very well written.
Donna is a high school student in the 1950's who takes care of her younger brother because her mom is dead and her dad is a drunk. She dreams of being a fashion designer and re-works her mom's old dresses into clothing items for herself. When her little brother becomes seriously ill, the two take off to find her brother's one square inch of Alaska that he won in a cereal box contest.
The above plot line could be a great novel. Unfortunately, they don't leave on the trip until the very end of the book. Too much of the book is about the boyfriend, the art teacher, and some other minor characters that the reader doesn't really care about. I still feel like I never got to know Donna. She wasn't a consistent character, even though she tells the story in first person. She made strange choices (like the pills) that didn't seem like choices she would make, given that her she didn't respect her best friend or father for making bad choices. Some things just didn't ring true and I found myself rolling my eyes a lot in the middle and end of the book.
Donna is a high school student in the 1950's who takes care of her younger brother because her mom is dead and her dad is a drunk. She dreams of being a fashion designer and re-works her mom's old dresses into clothing items for herself. When her little brother becomes seriously ill, the two take off to find her brother's one square inch of Alaska that he won in a cereal box contest.
The above plot line could be a great novel. Unfortunately, they don't leave on the trip until the very end of the book. Too much of the book is about the boyfriend, the art teacher, and some other minor characters that the reader doesn't really care about. I still feel like I never got to know Donna. She wasn't a consistent character, even though she tells the story in first person. She made strange choices (like the pills) that didn't seem like choices she would make, given that her she didn't respect her best friend or father for making bad choices. Some things just didn't ring true and I found myself rolling my eyes a lot in the middle and end of the book.
August 12, 2013
I'm a bit puzzled at the rave reviews this book is getting. While it wasn't an awful book. It wasn't a great book, either. I almost didn't finish it - it was so slow getting started. The back cover made it sound like it was all about the trip to Alaska, which was misleading at best. The actual trip didn't begin until 78 pages before the end of my copy's page 324.
I didn't get a real sense of Donna, her brother, her Dad or any other characters in the book. They were mostly one dimensional. The way MayJune was described in the very beginning, I thought perhaps her role was going to be larger. But...no. In the end, I wasn't awfully enamored of any of the characters.
To give the author credit, the book was clean. But there was a lot of stuff included that felt like it was just tossed in for effect; didn't really add to the plot/reading enjoyment. My personal opinion is that the writer might do better in a more contemporary time setting. Don't know why I think that, it just didn't have an authentic "feel" to me. (But what do I know? I wasn't that age in the 50's either.)
I wish Ms. Short luck in her future endeavors as an author, but doubt I'll be watching for any future publications of hers to read.
I didn't get a real sense of Donna, her brother, her Dad or any other characters in the book. They were mostly one dimensional. The way MayJune was described in the very beginning, I thought perhaps her role was going to be larger. But...no. In the end, I wasn't awfully enamored of any of the characters.
To give the author credit, the book was clean. But there was a lot of stuff included that felt like it was just tossed in for effect; didn't really add to the plot/reading enjoyment. My personal opinion is that the writer might do better in a more contemporary time setting. Don't know why I think that, it just didn't have an authentic "feel" to me. (But what do I know? I wasn't that age in the 50's either.)
I wish Ms. Short luck in her future endeavors as an author, but doubt I'll be watching for any future publications of hers to read.
February 13, 2013
My Square Inch of Alaska by Sharon Short 9780452298767
Donna grew up in the shadow of an absent woman. Her father drank away his livelihood after his wife left him alone with two small children. Her grandmother looks at Donna, the spitting image of her mother, and sees trouble on the way. She spends her days attending her senior year in high school, working two jobs, and taking care of her sickly brother, Will. Every morning Will gobbles Marvel Puffs for breakfast, a tasteless cereal that he does not enjoy, in a bid to collect sufficient box tops to win his one square inch of Alaska. Will’s other obsession is the mistreated dog of the local junk dealer. When Will’s health takes a turn for the worst, Donna packs up her brother and the stolen dog into her mother’s convertible with a travel trailer hooked to the back and heads to Alaska. This is a grand little story about the bond between a brother and sister, the strength of dreams, and a plucky young woman willing to shoot the moon.
Donna grew up in the shadow of an absent woman. Her father drank away his livelihood after his wife left him alone with two small children. Her grandmother looks at Donna, the spitting image of her mother, and sees trouble on the way. She spends her days attending her senior year in high school, working two jobs, and taking care of her sickly brother, Will. Every morning Will gobbles Marvel Puffs for breakfast, a tasteless cereal that he does not enjoy, in a bid to collect sufficient box tops to win his one square inch of Alaska. Will’s other obsession is the mistreated dog of the local junk dealer. When Will’s health takes a turn for the worst, Donna packs up her brother and the stolen dog into her mother’s convertible with a travel trailer hooked to the back and heads to Alaska. This is a grand little story about the bond between a brother and sister, the strength of dreams, and a plucky young woman willing to shoot the moon.
December 20, 2016
My One Square Inch of Alaska is a touching, heart-warming story about growing up in Ohio during the fifties by Dayton author Sharon Short. The characters are strong and believable, and the story was so compelling I really could not put the book down once I started. Short tells the story of teenager Donna Lane and her difficult responsibility of caring for her younger brother Will and her alcoholic father. She dreams of having more than her small town life offers, yet she never shirks her responsibilities. Both Donna and Will have dreams. Will, infatuated with his favorite television show, Sergeant Striker and the Alaskan Wild, is determined to save enough box tops from Marvel Puffs cereal to receive his certified, official deed to one square inch of Alaska, while Donna dreams of becoming a famous fashion designer in New York. When Will becomes sick, Donna and Will set out for their Alaskan adventure with Trusty, Will’s adopted husky i
n tow. My One Square Inch of Alaska may just leave you with the courage to follow your own dreams wherever they may take you!
n tow. My One Square Inch of Alaska may just leave you with the courage to follow your own dreams wherever they may take you!
September 20, 2013
A sweet story of Donna, a high school senior stuck in a small town with responsibility for a younger brother and a lost soul of a father. She lives with mystery surrounding the death of her mother and strained relationships with her other relatives and neighbors. She hopes to escape to a future of fashion design in New York, but her brother's health, labor relations in the mill based town, and a budding relationship with the new boy in town complicate things. Her brother's obsession with a cereal box prize that deeds one square inch of Alaska to anyone with the right number of box tops eventually leads her to focus on his dreams which eventually bring focus to her past and her future.
I enjoyed this book and its sweet tale of finding the right balance of learning from and respecting the past. The writing was uncomplicated and yet built a clear picture in my mind of the characters and places. Another win from the SL County Reader's Choice.
I enjoyed this book and its sweet tale of finding the right balance of learning from and respecting the past. The writing was uncomplicated and yet built a clear picture in my mind of the characters and places. Another win from the SL County Reader's Choice.
February 6, 2013
A coming of age story that spoke to me as one presumably long past that time of life. My enjoyment of Sharon Short's previous books predisposed me to appreciate this one, but I was not expecting to be drawn into it as emotionally as I was. Tears before work are not good for the professional grooming....
Another major theme is there is hope, even if it isn't what you want it to be.
Although the basic plot might sound facile, she doesn't take the easy, sentimental path so often indicated. Maybe that is why I believed in the characters and liked most of them despite their flaws. Sometimes I wanted to hit Donna upside her head, but I wish I had been far more like her than I was. Or am, for that matter.
As a papermaker's wife, the mill's role interested me, and seemed quite real. As if I didn't already know that Ms Short has lived in a paper town.
Another major theme is there is hope, even if it isn't what you want it to be.
Although the basic plot might sound facile, she doesn't take the easy, sentimental path so often indicated. Maybe that is why I believed in the characters and liked most of them despite their flaws. Sometimes I wanted to hit Donna upside her head, but I wish I had been far more like her than I was. Or am, for that matter.
As a papermaker's wife, the mill's role interested me, and seemed quite real. As if I didn't already know that Ms Short has lived in a paper town.
June 17, 2017
I quite enjoyed this novel, largely because Donna, the main character in this coming of age story, is very likable and mature for her age. Burdened at an early age with a mother who could never handle children and then disappeared from their lives, presumably dead, and a father who sought solace in alcohol, Donna is the loving caretaker of her little brother. Not only does she experience the typical teenage events such as falling in love, working several jobs, finding a mentor and dealing with adult frustrations, she also discovers the truth about her mother, fulfills her brother's dream before he succumbs to an illness and manages to get close to her own goals. Although definitely sad in parts, this is an overall uplifting read.
February 28, 2017
3.5 stars
I don't actually have a problem with this book except for the fact that the road trip part happened about 200+ pages. Being the road trip enthusiast sort of story I was disappointed. So I did get bored at some parts because I was waiting for the road trip part.
I don't really like Donna because I don't think he liked Jimmy that much. Jimmy is the sweetest. I get that she doesn't have to like him but don't lead him on.
Will is freaking adorable and
I love the ending because the author wrapped up everything. I think this is how books should end. Every character gets their own endings. Sad or happy.
It's sad to see characters grow up. But I hope Donna is happy.
I don't actually have a problem with this book except for the fact that the road trip part happened about 200+ pages. Being the road trip enthusiast sort of story I was disappointed. So I did get bored at some parts because I was waiting for the road trip part.
I don't really like Donna because I don't think he liked Jimmy that much. Jimmy is the sweetest. I get that she doesn't have to like him but don't lead him on.
Will is freaking adorable and
I love the ending because the author wrapped up everything. I think this is how books should end. Every character gets their own endings. Sad or happy.
It's sad to see characters grow up. But I hope Donna is happy.
February 12, 2013
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
This book was not quite what I expected but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I thought this would be a road trip of self discovery from the beginning of the novel. It takes almost the entire novel before the road trip begins.
Donna is raising her younger brother Will. They live with their alcoholic father who never got over the death of their mother. She works for her nasty grandmother and saves her money with plans to escape when she graduates. She wants to be a fashion designer. Events unfold that change her plans and set her on the course to visit one square inch of Alaska. It is a very good story.
This book was not quite what I expected but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I thought this would be a road trip of self discovery from the beginning of the novel. It takes almost the entire novel before the road trip begins.
Donna is raising her younger brother Will. They live with their alcoholic father who never got over the death of their mother. She works for her nasty grandmother and saves her money with plans to escape when she graduates. She wants to be a fashion designer. Events unfold that change her plans and set her on the course to visit one square inch of Alaska. It is a very good story.
August 8, 2013
3.75 stars. I found this to be a pretty typical story of breaking through stereotypical expectations and chasing dreams. Plot summary: A small town big sister has to raise little brother because mom is gone and dad is a grieving alcoholic.
Although I feel the plot has been exhausted, I liked the details. I liked how hard working big sister was, so determined. I liked the little brother's integrity and resolve. I liked the slight twists to the story, even the unrealistic adventure that led me to believe in the compassion and kindness of strangers, that seems to be dwindling in real life.
All-around a fast read and a good escape from the series I've been reading :)
Although I feel the plot has been exhausted, I liked the details. I liked how hard working big sister was, so determined. I liked the little brother's integrity and resolve. I liked the slight twists to the story, even the unrealistic adventure that led me to believe in the compassion and kindness of strangers, that seems to be dwindling in real life.
All-around a fast read and a good escape from the series I've been reading :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews