The Spirit and Gilly Bucket

by Maurine F. Dahlberg

A pre-Civil War novel featuring an indomitable heroine

Not long after her pa goes off to look for gold, Gilly Bucket is transplanted from Missouri to Virginia, to the home of her late mother's sister. Gilly is bewildered by the fancy formality of life at Glencaren, and by the use of slaves to make it possible.
She knows her uncle needs help to run the huge farm, and her aunt to manage the household, especially with cousin Sarah's wedding approaching. But Pa taught her that slavery is wrong.

Although her aunt and uncle don't seem to take to the opinionated, irrepressible Gilly, Sarah is kind, and seven-year-old cousin Neddy is delighted by Gilly's wild stories. Still, it's the slave girl Rissy who saves Gilly from loneliness. Together, the girls learn about the underground railroad, and about the mysterious person, called the Spirit, who helps operate the system that frees slaves. Together, they begin Rissy's journey
to freedom.

This second novel by Maurine F. Dahlberg is an exciting story about the time when the United States of America was hardly united, as seen by an irresistible eleven-year-old whose enthusiasm and confidence may be her greatest liability.

Hardcover

First published October 28, 2002

About the author

MAURINE F. DAHLBERG is the author of Escape to West Berlin, an NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and two other novels for young readers. She lives in Springfield, Virginia.

Reviews

[Hailey Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. The year is 1858 so it is a very old time book you can even tell there is an accent. The book was pretty sad because you find out that her mother died five years ago so she had to live with her grandma who taught her almost everything. Including how to sew and cook and cure ailments with herbs. Then her grandma dies and her neighbors send her to her aunts in Virginia. At her aunts they own a farm and have slaves which was very hard for her to get used to. But her grandpa taught her that slavery is wrong.

[Mika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spanky, noble, loyal gilly moves in with formal uncle and aunt! Heart-warming!

[Queenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how Gilly helps out but I don`t like how people where Gilly's aunt and uncle.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 4-7 233 pgs


1859, Virginia. 11 year old Gilly misses her father when he goes to the Rocky Mountains in search of gold. Life with her aunt, uncle, and cousins couldn't be more different than Missouri. Gilly is horrified to know that not only do her relatives approve of slavery, they own slaves. Gilly finds that Rissy, a new slave near her age, is the only person she feels she can really talk to. When Rissy is threatened with being sold away, Gilly wants to do something to help her friend. She's heard about something called the Spirit who helps slaves escape, but who is this Spirit and can Gilly and Rissy find him in time?

Great story with a surprise ending.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I DO sometimes read "kids" books. My younger sister read this and thought it was cute, so I read it, too. =) It was last winter and I was bored, so what do you expect?! I was pleasantly surprised, though! It's super cute and realllllly well written. Loved it!!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

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