Elsie's Impossible Choice

A Life of Faith: Elsie Dinsmore #2

by Martha Finley, Mission City Press Inc. (Adapter)

Two decades before the Civil War, an eight year- old Southern heiress longs for the love of the father she has never known---but when they meet at last, nothing is as Elsie expects. Can the proud and willful Horace Dinsmore learn to love his only child---a little girl whose first allegiance is to God? Introducing soft cover editions in the Elsie Dinsmore Series with newly designed covers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Childrens, Historical, Middle Grade

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 1999

About the author

Martha Finley was a teacher and author of numerous works, the most well known being the 28 volume Elsie Dinsmore series which was published over a span of 38 years. Finley wrote many of her books under the pseudonym Martha Farquharson.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_F... or, http://marthafinley.wordpress.com/

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.

6/3/2013-
“Poor Elsie...all she wants is her father’s love. Overall very clean (Elsie’s father does get mad at her for choosing God over him and others tell lies about Elsie), but this series isn’t really my cup of tea, so I don’t plan on continuing.”

[Gabriellyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Just didn't like it.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

rered nov 2020 - i actually enjoyed this this time around.

[Daniel Pustynovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this great and adventurous book, Elsie is an eight-year-old heiress who lives in a wealthy southern plantation. Her mother died when Elsie was at a very young age and her father just came from Europe. In this book, Elsie goes through struggles with her dad as it is said in the Bible “Keep the Lord’s day holy.” As her father makes do things to please but is actually hurting her. She doesn't want to break her father’s command but still wants to obey God. In this book, she has big struggles with her dad. I like this book since it is a true story of a devoted Christian and her struggles to obey God.

[Annie Bruza · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the book I remember the most from my childhood. When I first read it, I think I was both curious and attracted to Elsie's principled stand against her father.

First of all, the pacing of this one is weird. Half of the book is Christmas, and the other half is the drama I remembered the most. I'm assuming it's that way because they had to compress the original 28 books into 8, but there is a very dinstinct shift in tone and plot about halfway through the book.


I think the drama is just a little too much in this one, but that is precisely why I loved it as a child. When I was younger I looked at Elsie's character and wondered if I would be willing to suffer for righteouness' sake like she did, and as an adult I wrestled with the question of what to do as a parent if my child has a stronger conviction of something than I do.


Overall, it's fine. Horace is a little crazy with his strict punishments for a child that is obviously desiring to obey. The evil stepmother is a little too evil stepmothery. Elsie is a little too reluctant to go to an authority figure when another child is trying to pay off a gambling debt for fear of tattling. It's a little much, but enjoyable.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book from the perspective of a parent and absolutely bawling my eyes out the entire time.

[Grace Lynch · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I am glad that there was some explanation for Elsie’s misinterpretation of scripture, I wish that the book delved more into it. Especially with this being a children’s book it can be very risky writing a biblical conviction as big as this one. When I read the story as a young girl, the story scared me more than anything as I did not pick up on the brief explanation of Elsie’s misunderstanding in biblical context.

Although the rest of the story was sweet and caused me to feel great emotion for the characters, I feel that the little explanation is what ultimately keeps my overall reading experience of this book at 2 stars as I will never forget the misunderstanding it caused myself as a child reading this series.

[Maria . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsie's Impossible Choice was a wonderful-but sad-book that is character-shaping, ground-breaking, and happiness-making. ( At the end, at least ;), if happiness-making is a word.) Since Elsie's Endless Wait, Elsie has aged a year and spiritually matured a whole lot more than a year. So, the basic plot description here is that Elsie has a very difficult decision to make. Her earthly father, or he Heavenly Father? You may be thinking, just like me, "A no-brainer, huh? C'mon now, Elsie!" But you have to figure in that after (major spoiler ahead) Aunt Chloe gets sent away and her father is at the wonderful mansion The Oaks, Elsie has no one to love her. No one cares about her at her current home, once her only earthly friends are gone. Now, on to the details of the decision she has to make. Elsie refuses to read a worldly newspaper to her sick father on the Sabbath. Her father hates her "obstinate arrogance and disobedience" and separates himself from Elsie. He claims that until Elsie promises to do anything and everything her father says she cannot be with him anymore. Elsie, of course, can't make such a promise if she has to put her father's commands over God's.
So there, peoples, is the power struggle/conflict of this book. I really, really enjoyed this classic and this series has already made a difference in my spiritual life.
I would recommend this to anyone. And, the ending-oh, the ending, reminding me of this line from "White Christmas"...
Now your days be merry and bright (theirs are bound to be with SUCH A SWEET ENDING!)\
And may all your christmases be white.......................

[Chloe H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book so much.

It can be painful to read about in the middle, but knowing what is coming is so worth it.

Even though I disagree with Elsie about reading the newspaper on a Sunday being a sin, I do applaud her for standing on her convictions and promising her father she will obey in all things -- except if it goes against God's Word. I believe that was what Horace and Elsie were truly fighting about.

I also love the Christmas part at the beginning! Though it's not officially the Christmas season yet, it's getting close, and I love reading how people used to celebrate Christmas.

The part at the end always gets me! I don't know why. it's so moving to see Horace's humility and his realization of his need. And God's answer!

Love this series so much, and I'm excited to read the next one!

[Brianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having read and adored the original Elsie books, I was curious about the "revised" versions. Nope. Awful. Why did these books even need revising in the first place? Of course they contain problematic views. They also contain plenty of truth and value. So take the stories; think about them; write about them; have discussions; talk about what's right and what isn't. View them in the context of the TIME PERIOD in which they were written. Tidying them up and pretending the problems never existed isn't a solution. It's a cop-out. These revised versions would be fine simply as extra series BASED on Martha Finley's books, similar to the Portraits of Little Women series. But don't attach Finley's name to them; the text in these books is not Finley's prose.

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this one was really heartbreaking and it made me want to read and find out what happened, hence the 4 stars. I did also appreciate the fact that the author did say that Elsie's interpretation of scripture may have been a little skewed. However, as an adult I can understand that. As a child reading this, I think that fact should have been presented more clearly. I believe that could seriously affect a child's fragile faith. Little minds can come up with all kinds of things that terrify them.

Otherwise, this book was very well written.

[Judine Brey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand Finley wanting to bring Elsie to an ultimate low, but I don't buy her father being so willing to believe others over Elsie when she has always been honest and obedient. The adults being so against Elsie's strict observance of the Sabbath that they want her to change her mind seems unbelievable (but maybe that's my modern perspective taking). I also don't like how two-dimensional the characters are: the good are very good, and the bad are awful.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elsie’s father and family are still incredibly frustrating but hopefully at least some of that is resolved as of the end of this book…and book 3 will be cheerier. Nevertheless, it’s well written and an enjoyable read.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated G.

I loved this entire series as a girl; the story (romanticized as it may be) was highly impactful, exploring the themes of living life faithfully. Highly recommended for all girls.

[Ellen Senechal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally prefer the originals of this series over the "Life of Faith" version.

[Shirley Hartman-Rozee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book, which was in my mom’s bookcase, when I was very young—possibly years of age—along with Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. When I was that young (

[Jessica Hoffpauir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always cry reading this book even if it was my 5th time reading it, little Elsie’s story has my heart ❤️

[Jesus_Lover0421 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sad book but I loved it a lot. Horace makes me so angry sometimes though 😭

[Lena Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child! It’s so sad, and so powerful. Nowadays, Elsie’s devotion to the Sabbath is difficult to understand, but plausible.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end i could not put it down, but it is an amazing story about i girl learning to obey her father and, have died before doing any such sin. I am tying to be just like Elsie.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl who's dad has given her an ultimatum: Choose between your relationship with me or your relationship with God. Who will be first in your heart and who will you obey first. It is quite the story and I love how it turns out, even though the middle is a rough story.
I absolutely love this book and would highly recommend this book to every girl.

I dont think it would be appropriate for me to read this book or keep it in my classroom since it is so strongly christian based.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in a the series. The writer struggles to enter a stride in the beginning and the reprinting has plenty of proofing errors, but that aside, it makes the reader think critically of his/her own convictions and how to "Keep the the Lord's Day Holy".
If you've read the first, there is no reason to stop there. Plenty of adventures keep you intrigued by the young lady and her positively pure spirit.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book addresses the issue of Elsie's interpretation of the Bible and the Sabbath. Again, she has good intentions but her youth and lack of guidance in spiritual matters shows. Chapter 9 especially has a good treatment of this.

Only when Horace also believes will Elsie be able to truly obey him in everything as he desires. However, even humans can fall and God does deal with each of us differently so it will never be perfect.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of suspense, mixed with a little history. The heroine is a delightful, amazing child. Book Two provides a character that kids can look up to, plus insights on this period in southern plantation living (focus on the threats of illness pre-modern medicine). I think I'm enjoying these more than the Little House series. I appreciate the Christian messages.

[Lorraine Groom · Rating 4 out of 5]

this continues the story of Elsie Dinsmore as she matures during the Civil War era. A young Christian girl, she spent the first few years of her life not knowing her parents. The language is a bit pretentious but it is still a great story and gives young readers an interesting look at civil war history.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Elsie Dinsmore series are extremely well-written novels set in the 19th century, and follow the fictional Elsie, a rich plantation girl, from early childhood through adulthood. They are inspiring and very beautiful to read.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2nd book in the Elsie Dinsmore series has Elsie faced with a problem - she has to choose between obeying her father and obeying the commandments. It is a wonderful book, and I especially recommend it to young girls - around 2nd grade and up.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHH! Made me cry.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do recommend this book to everyone, BUT first you should read the first book to this series (this is the second book).

[Grace]

I liked it when I was 6