The Middle Sister

by Miriam E. Mason, Grace Paull (Illustrator)

Book by Miriam Mason

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Historical, Young Readers, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Historical Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an old book, left on my shelf from the days when we would order inexpensive paperbacks at school from the Scholastic Press. It was an incredible treat when the packages of books came in.

The story revolves around the second sister in a family of five children who move from their home in Ohio to a large and isolated tract in the new state of Minnesota. Sarah Samantha is a child of eight who is asked to perform the task of collecting apples for her soon to be visiting uncle's apple dumplings, but the animals that she encounters on the way to the apple trees frighten her, and she decides she is not brave. She returns home with an empty basket, and mom can't make the beloved dessert. When Uncle Romeo arrives, she makes a pact with him on how to get over her problem, something she works at throughout the story.

This is a sweet and enjoyable book about recognizing and overcoming obstacles and finding courage. Some comments are outdated, but I take that sort of thing in stride. I had once loved this book, but had completely forgotten the story, so it was an engaging treat to read in a shady spot on a very hot day. I couldn't help but sympathize; I would have been scared too! There is a family of swans near me that tromp through my back yard now and then, and the adults are quite a bit bigger than I am when they stand up. I hide in the shed.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know I've read this before, but I did not remember the story at all. Sarah Samantha is scared of just about anything. But, if she only had a lion's tooth like her uncle, she knew she could be brave. Uncle Romeo proposes a challenge, and to fulfill it Sara Samantha has to stick up for herself, and be brave, without even realizing it. Excellent book for younger children.

[Miss Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a middle sister, passages in this book have lived in my memory since the age of seven. By the end, you'll want to run out and gather some delicious Winesap apples to craft a hearty, fragrant, homemade apple dumpling. Solid little reread as an adult.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I seem to recall reading every book by this author, some of which were related. This was about a frontier family moving from Ohio, and daughter Sarah Samantha is determined to bring an apple tree with her so she can make dumplings when they finally have a new home.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first novels I read as a child. I was sleeping over at my cousin Jill's house in Idaho. We stayed up at least half the night reading. And I could definitely relate to the woes of being the middle sister! ha ha!

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember the cover, I remember the part about everyone getting to bring one precious thing with them on the move, and I remember the part about the unexpected Native American visitors. I don't remember that I read this book more than once.

I think it was old when I read it in the 80s.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book from Auntie Collette when I was younger...one of the few books I have read more than a few times!

[Jennifer Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's my all-time favorite book. My second grade teacher read it to the class, and I've never forgotten it. Forget "goodread" it's a "GREATREAD"

[Amy Zabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re read this book from my childhood- oh my it was the perfect book for me. Sarah just wants to be brave... and this is the perfect coming of age to developing that muscle of fearlessness that I needed. And throw in the horse and the apple dumplings- the best!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this after a Pony Called Lightning, it's a good book.

[Maddi Hausmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few novels I remember reading as a single-digit age child, and it's not the typical book that I usually chose. It was very much a "girls" book, and I tended to find them rather lacking in action or interest. What I liked about this book was the depiction of life in the wilds of Minnesota during the 19th century, and the protagonists' being buffeted about by her older siblings who were sure they knew better than she about, well, everything.

But I really could relate to Sarah Samantha's desire to prove her bravery, so she could win the lion's tooth her uncle carried, and I could relate to her determination to keep an apple tree alive during a multi-day train trip from their old home to their new one (and once they arrived).

This was certainly the first description I had ever read of a locust invasion (or something like locusts, but they did eat apples, whatever they were), not to mention an American Indian showing up in the kitchen (he ate apples, too).

I don't even know if it's in print anymore; I must have gotten this book from Scholastic through school book orders. I know I didn't pick it, but I ended up reading it more than a few times and I still remember the plot quite well mumblety-mumble years later! And the cover pictured above is the same after all these years, whoa.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was young I read this book and loved it - later I decided that I wanted to read it again and had to look for a long time to finally get this book again. When I read it later in life - found it wasn't near as good as I remembered.

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

The morals, etc, are different from today's but this was a sweet, fun, story. She is the middle child and her uncle Romeo makes a deal with her about an apple tree - she helps it grow and learns to find her feet/courage, etc.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in grade school and loved it. Being a middle sister I could relate.

[Elevetha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember liking it and that is it.

[Denisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

i dont know i want to read this book pliss

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book at this level. Great read aloud for little girls.