Never Miss A Sunset

Pioneer Family Series #2

by Jeanette Gilge

In the early 1900's thirteen-year-old Ellen, the oldest of ten children, struggles with her family through a bitter winter on their northwoods Wisconsin homestead.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult

218 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Jeanette Gilge
1924- 2002

Place of Birth: Phillips, WI

Award(s):
Triton Summer writer's Workshop award, 1974; David C. Cook juvenile award, 1975, for City-Kid Farmer.

Personal Information:
Family: Surname is pronounced with two hard "g"s; born March 31, 1924, in Phillips, WI; daughter of Edward and Emma (Meier) Kudrna; married Kenneth Gilge, September 26, 1942; children: Donna (Mrs. Ron Childress), Kent, Karl, Dean; (foster children) Janice (Mrs. Paul Stevko), Dennis. Education: Attended Triton College, 1971-74. Religion: Christian. Avocational Interests: Nature and the out-of-doors, reading, hiking, bicycle riding. Memberships: Children's Reading Round Table (Chicago), Off Campus Writers (Winnetka, IL), Penhandlers. Addresses: Home: 1010 North Seventh Ave., Maywood, IL 60153.


Career: Writer. Lecturer; Christian broadcasting volunteer worker.

WRITINGS BY THE AUTHOR:

Never Miss a Sunset (adult), David Cook, 1975.

City-Kid Farmer (juvenile), David Cook, 1975.

Growing-Up Summer, David Cook (Elgin, IL), 1976.

All Things Heal in Time, LifeJourney Books (Elgin, IL), 1988.

A Winter's Promise, LifeJourney Books (Elgin, IL), 1988.

Best of Intentions, LifeJourney Books (Elgin, IL), 1990.

Satin in the Snow, WinePress (Mukilteo, WA), 1997.


"Sidelights"
Jeanette Gilge writes: "I believe the battle between good and evil is intensifying and that we will see swift and terrible changes on this earth as God makes a last attempt to warn mankind that growing disregard of Him and of His statutes is intolerable to Him."

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has special meaning for me, as Emma is my great great grandmother.

[Cindy Adkins]

I LOVED this series! It took me back in time. I so enjoyed comparing my 'simple' life to the hard work of these young wives. A simple thing like sleeping in and letting the fire go out was a MAJOR thing! This book has me baking bread from scratch and making a patchwork quilt. I loved the fact that it dealt with relationships, but it was not just a historical fiction book ALL ABOUT the love story. It was like a diary from the lives of these women. I would love to find MANY more books like this!!

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad gave me this book when I was a young teen, and it has always stayed with me as a realistic depiction of rural turn-of-the -century homesteading. What I remember most about it was the deep guilt the daughter felt and how she was delivered from it. I remember vividly the metaphor of the black shadow of a bird of prey swooping over her when she woke in the morning and the guilt washed over her again. I had no idea this was one of a series. I will enjoy reading the others.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, but her mom was a WRECK!

[Kelly McGillis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating inflated for the nostalgia factor - recommended by Grandma Barb.

[Elfrieda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in the fourth month of lockdown, without a lot of anticipation but I got it in a "here's a box of books randomly pulled from the shelves of the church library" delivery from my cousin, so after a few weeks I started reading it.

I enjoyed it! I didn't expect to, but it was a really good view from a 13yo girl, with the over-the-top dramatic thinking and so many feelings that is so characteristic of that age, and I enjoyed learning about what life was like for them. The main thing that I loved about it was how crazy and mean the mother was, and they all still loved her and felt like she loved them. It's been constant togetherness for my three children and I, and it isn't really fun anymore, especially since I'm supposed to be online-schooling them with one computer and slow internet. Blah. And I'm feeling pretty much like a failure as a mother, but reading this, and how the mom in that story managed, has been really encouraging!

Because, yes, she was acting crazy from time to time. Yes, she was unfair and mean occasionally. However, she did her best and everyone survived and felt loved. So, that's overall a win!

And you know, I've often given myself pep talks about how pioneer women were able to do ALL the things with MILLIONS of children, so surely I am capable of doing a few things with only three children!

But she was very relatable. Not that I have ever gone to those extremes with screaming at the kids and whacking the mouthy boys with kindling, etc, but if I had 10 children and was alone with them for many months at a time with all the barn chores and other household responsibilities... yeah, I can see myself having moments like that. But history shows that she was a good mom. So maybe I'm okay, too.

[E Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was especially interesting to me because it takes place in Northern Wisconsin not far from where I was born. Tomahawk and Rib Lake are familiar places. Also, it's based on
the true life of the author's aunt.

Ellen is not the oldest of 10 children. She is the oldest girl in a family of 10 children.
As the oldest daughter, she is expected to help her mother with all the household chores. Ellen
resents her mother's short temper and critical demeanor. She feels unappreciated.
When her mother is critically ill, she has to become the woman of the house. This means staying
home from school to fix the meals, bake bread, take care of the younger children and clean.

Although the book is set in the early 1900's, many of the experiences of country
life in Wisconsin are familiar, the excitement of the Christmas program at school, sledding,
new baby animals in the spring, and getting to go shopping in town.

[Darla Horst Brubacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something so satisfying about old style writing...

[Katie Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty well-written book with a very interesting setting - a large family on a Wisconsin homestead. I enjoyed the dialogue, how the story ended, the honest portrayal of a girl's thought life.
I guess it is a kids book - it did feel a bit juvenile in some ways. But mostly I was bothered by the repeated emotions as the main plot line. Very real-life, to have the same silly thoughts over and over, but I got tired of reading about it! Still with the resolution at the end it felt like a worthwhile read.

[Yeslech · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is described as "heartwarming", but I didn't find that to be true. It was a negative book overall although it had an interesting log run storyline towards the end of the book.

[Dru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok but a little slow moving.

[Kristen Hungness Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author's books. They are so well written. You can picture everything as you read it. This book is an entertaining read and I would high recommend it.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet yet realistic pioneer story. Good descriptions of emotions and family relationships. From my Mom’s bookshelf.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1903, and thirteen year old Ellen Verleger lives with her Papa Al, Mama Emma, older brothers Al and Fred, and younger siblings Minnie, Ed, Len, George, John, Gertie, and baby Roy, on their homestead at the German settlement near Tomahawk in the north woods of Wisconsin. The family is struggling through a bitter winter. Mama is having another baby, and Ellen is so worn out helping her take care of the house and the other children that she secretly wishes something would happen to the baby. Then the baby is stillborn, Mama becomes very ill, and Ellen feels guilty in thinking that she caused it all. What will happen to Mama? Can Ellen tell anyone what she was thinking? And will she ever find a way to ease her guilt?

Never Miss a Sunset is generally a wholesome book with a good story. There are a couple of warnings. As to language, a number of common euphemisms (darn, gosh, heck, gee, danged, and golly) occur, and on one occasion brother Al uses the “h” word but is reprimanded for it. A few references to smoking a pipe, dancing, and drinking beer are found. And while the book is subtitled “A Heartwarming Story for the Entire Family,” parents with small children might want to be cautious with one scene. Ellen is visiting a friend’s house even though she has been told never to go there, for reasons that will become obvious. While waiting for the friend to get dressed to go out sledding, Ellen gets a mere glimpse of a man in bed with her friend’s mother. After the two girls go out, the friend says that her papa is away for the day, and Ellen now understands what she has seen and why she has been told to stay away. The event is not told in detail and in fact is presented as being wrong, but it is there nonetheless.

The book beautifully depicts the era in which it is set and does a wonderful job of picturing the ordinary life of a teenage girl in the early 1900s as a back drop to her extraordinary experiences and feelings. From a positive standpoint, the Verleger family is very religious, has faith in God, goes to church services when the weather conditions permit, and prays. The portrayal of family relationships is realistic with the usual annoyances yet filled with love and affection. Ellen learns important lessons from her parents. Her mother unknowingly helps Ellen with her guilt by telling her, “What I’m trying to say is—we can’t help what we feel—but we can help what we do.” And her father teaches her to appreciate the good things while they last by encouraging her to "never miss a sunset." Author Jeanette Gilge based the story on the early life of her Aunt Ellen Rhody. It is Book 2 in the “Never Miss a Sunset Pioneer Family Series.” Book 1 is A Winter's Promise, and Books 3 and 4 are All Things Heal in Time and Best of Intentions.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book just came back to me when I was looking at sunset photos! I read this back when I was nine or so, and I recall liking it, but not finding it as exciting as I would wish. I might like it better today than I did then. It reminded me somewhat of the Little House books, which I like. I wish we still had it so I could reread it.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really great, I love reading stories about pioneers and what they had to go through. This book, along with all of the others, tought me many life-long lessons. I found it in a box in the attick and I am so glad I did.

[Cws]

JF-YAGil

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book growing up....I was around 12 I think when I read it and still have it today. I love Emma!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember really enjoying this book and it was one of the first books to make me cry. I also think of this book whenever I see a magnificent sunset!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a bit of trouble getting into the book at first, but once I did, I enjoyed it. Great for fans of Janette Oke.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has special meaning for me, as Emma is my great great grandmother.