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Wheels of Change
Racial intolerance, social change, and sweeping progress make 1908 Washington, D.C., a turbulent place to grow up in for 12-year-old Emily Soper. For Emily, life in Papa's carriage barn is magic, and she's more at home hearing the symphony of the blacksmith's hammer than trying to conform to the proper expectations of young ladies. When Papa's livelihood is threatened by racist neighbors and horsepower of a different sort, Emily faces changes she'd never imagined. Finding courage and resolve she didn't know she had, Emily strives to save Papa's business, even if it means going all the way to the White House.
197 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2014
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319 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 11, 2014
Wheels of Change is a wonderful, well-written, heartwarming book. I wouldn't be surprised if it won a big children's book award. It take place in Washington DC during 1908, so it is a historical fiction novel and it is filled with vivid details of the time. The main character is Emily Soper who is the twelve year old daughter of a carriage maker is a gusty, quick-thinking young girl. Everything is changing. The industrial revolution has started. Automobiles are replacing the horse and carriage. It's been 40 years since The Civil War, but racial intolerance still looms within the neighborhood. Emily struggles to cope with how the changing times affect the family carriage making business and the bigotry the of the times.
The voice is unique and strong, the characters are relatable and well-defined. The story will grab your heart. Darlene Beck-Jacobson really captured the feel of the times and the angst that surrounded it. It is a great mix of fun, sorrow, angst, and suspense.
The voice is unique and strong, the characters are relatable and well-defined. The story will grab your heart. Darlene Beck-Jacobson really captured the feel of the times and the angst that surrounded it. It is a great mix of fun, sorrow, angst, and suspense.
November 15, 2017
Emily Soper's Papa is a carriage maker, the best carriage maker in all of Washington, DC. He makes carriages for important people, like John Philips Sousa and even President Roosevelt! Emily loves spending time in the barn and hopes her father will one day allow her to help build carriages. Beatrice Peabody, the meanest girl in school, boasts about her uncle's automobile and how thanks to Mr. Ford's assembly line, more people can buy them. Beatrice believes Emily's Papa will soon be out of business! Emily can not let that happen. Why can't everything stay the same? Well, some things can change, like her mother's attempts at making Emily more ladylike and other people's' attitudes towards Henry, her father's "colored" blacksmith, but carriages? They should definitely remain. Emily sets out with a plan to save her father's business. Despite setbacks, she never stops trying to reach her goal. She may even find a new goal along the way.
This is a very carefully written novel about the social changes of the turn-of-the-twentieth-century. In 1908 the social issues involved automobiles, women's rights and racism. I found spunky Emily a character easy to relate to. I really liked her and how she tried to make sense of her changing world. However, as an adult reader, I found the messages in this book WAY too heavy handed. Though I certainly agree with the sentiments expressed by Emily and her family, they're too forced and modern for 1908. The attitudes towards women and African-Americans were either or, making the characters very black and white. Emily is a child so naturally her world is black and white but I was hoping for more nuanced characters. Emily's mother reveals a few surprises and while she is a loving mother, her attempts to make Emily ladylike are so typical of novels for this age group set during this time. The mean girl, Bea, naturally has a reason behind her behavior and naturally, her mother is revealed to show one face to the public and another in private. Again, this plot is very typical of middle grades novels.
Even though I had problems with the book as an adult, I would have loved this when I was 10-12. This book is most definitely recommended for fans of American Girl's Samantha! Meet Samantha: An American Girl
This is a very carefully written novel about the social changes of the turn-of-the-twentieth-century. In 1908 the social issues involved automobiles, women's rights and racism. I found spunky Emily a character easy to relate to. I really liked her and how she tried to make sense of her changing world. However, as an adult reader, I found the messages in this book WAY too heavy handed. Though I certainly agree with the sentiments expressed by Emily and her family, they're too forced and modern for 1908. The attitudes towards women and African-Americans were either or, making the characters very black and white. Emily is a child so naturally her world is black and white but I was hoping for more nuanced characters. Emily's mother reveals a few surprises and while she is a loving mother, her attempts to make Emily ladylike are so typical of novels for this age group set during this time. The mean girl, Bea, naturally has a reason behind her behavior and naturally, her mother is revealed to show one face to the public and another in private. Again, this plot is very typical of middle grades novels.
Even though I had problems with the book as an adult, I would have loved this when I was 10-12. This book is most definitely recommended for fans of American Girl's Samantha! Meet Samantha: An American Girl
January 29, 2022
Twelve year old Emily loves spending time in the carriage-building shop, even though it is not appropriate for young ladies who should be spending their time inside learning how to sew, bake, clean, and care for a house. With a quick mind, sincere heart, and means-well actions, Emily seeks answers to why people act the way they do, often getting herself into trouble.
Set around the turn of the century (1890s to 1900s), Wheels of Change indeed focuses on the changes of that time period. From the plight of being female to the lingering after-effects of the abolition of slavery to the ever-moving-forward march of replacing horse and buggy with motorized vehicles, Jacobson does not shy away from history. The clash of changes factors is faced head-on, all through the eyes of Emily. A few facts are based on personal family history while the rest of the story springs from her creative mind.
I would suggest reading this book for many reasons. History, learning from history, and our proclivity for change. Humans are always facing change, and what better way to facilitate discussions about the changes we face than beginning with the changes people faced in the early 1900s. Very appropriate for middle grade readers.
Set around the turn of the century (1890s to 1900s), Wheels of Change indeed focuses on the changes of that time period. From the plight of being female to the lingering after-effects of the abolition of slavery to the ever-moving-forward march of replacing horse and buggy with motorized vehicles, Jacobson does not shy away from history. The clash of changes factors is faced head-on, all through the eyes of Emily. A few facts are based on personal family history while the rest of the story springs from her creative mind.
I would suggest reading this book for many reasons. History, learning from history, and our proclivity for change. Humans are always facing change, and what better way to facilitate discussions about the changes we face than beginning with the changes people faced in the early 1900s. Very appropriate for middle grade readers.
September 21, 2016
WHEELS OF CHANGE
For me, time to read fiction has become a luxury—a rare occurrence. When I come across a book that makes that experience all I want it to be—that book is a gift. Such a gift was given me when Darlene Beck Jacobson’s book Wheels of Change made its way into my hands. From the steady “buzz” about this book, I was more than eager to read it, yet life continued getting in the way. A week passed when I finally sat to read more than just a few pages I’d snatched in snippets.
Once I began, I found myself swept in by the current of compelling characters, believable setting, beautiful, fresh similes and a story I couldn’t resist. I would’ve read through the night, had my heavy eyelids not won the battle. The following morning, before even setting foot out of bed, I found myself turning pages. The demands of my day pulled me away, but that night I gobbled up nearly the rest of the book, again awakening the next day to finish. What a read!
Having been inspired by a couple of facts and events from the author’s family history, Darlene Beck Jacobson weaves a savory tale told through the eyes of a 12-year-old living at the turn of the 20th century. Emily Soper is a spunky, willful girl, whose heart and mind, at their core, are filled with loyalty, fairness, kindness—and love. Living in Washington, D.C. in 1909, on the cusp of great changes in the United States, Emily struggles with her ambivalence over these changes. She welcomes the possibilities of women expanding their choices and rights, seeing as she herself desires doing what are considered jobs for men—like blacksmithing for her father’s carriage-making company. She is indignant, especially concerning the injustices against people of color, caring so much for the men who work for her father—her friends. She frets over what effect the new-fangled invention of the motor car will have on Soper Carriage Works.
Through her mastery of storytelling, Beck Jacobson takes us along for a breathtaking “carriage ride” as Emily shoulders the weight of these many concerns, driven by the desire to help those she loves. Her actions, though largely intelligent and thoughtful, are often impulsive, having both positive and negative consequences. One of the traits I find most appealing is Emily’s steadfastness about what she considers “right and wrong.” Her determination to right these wrongs knows no bounds, as she goes so far as to attempt contact with the most powerful man in the country: President Theodore Roosevelt.
Obviously, in my having taken the time to share my feelings here with you, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I sincerely hope Wheels of Change finds its way into the hands of many other readers, as it did mine, through schools, libraries and bookstores. This is what great literature is all about. Thank you, Darlene, for gifting me with the kind of book I long for--I was moved and absorbed from beginning to end!
Once I began, I found myself swept in by the current of compelling characters, believable setting, beautiful, fresh similes and a story I couldn’t resist. I would’ve read through the night, had my heavy eyelids not won the battle. The following morning, before even setting foot out of bed, I found myself turning pages. The demands of my day pulled me away, but that night I gobbled up nearly the rest of the book, again awakening the next day to finish. What a read!
Having been inspired by a couple of facts and events from the author’s family history, Darlene Beck Jacobson weaves a savory tale told through the eyes of a 12-year-old living at the turn of the 20th century. Emily Soper is a spunky, willful girl, whose heart and mind, at their core, are filled with loyalty, fairness, kindness—and love. Living in Washington, D.C. in 1909, on the cusp of great changes in the United States, Emily struggles with her ambivalence over these changes. She welcomes the possibilities of women expanding their choices and rights, seeing as she herself desires doing what are considered jobs for men—like blacksmithing for her father’s carriage-making company. She is indignant, especially concerning the injustices against people of color, caring so much for the men who work for her father—her friends. She frets over what effect the new-fangled invention of the motor car will have on Soper Carriage Works.
Through her mastery of storytelling, Beck Jacobson takes us along for a breathtaking “carriage ride” as Emily shoulders the weight of these many concerns, driven by the desire to help those she loves. Her actions, though largely intelligent and thoughtful, are often impulsive, having both positive and negative consequences. One of the traits I find most appealing is Emily’s steadfastness about what she considers “right and wrong.” Her determination to right these wrongs knows no bounds, as she goes so far as to attempt contact with the most powerful man in the country: President Theodore Roosevelt.
Obviously, in my having taken the time to share my feelings here with you, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I sincerely hope Wheels of Change finds its way into the hands of many other readers, as it did mine, through schools, libraries and bookstores. This is what great literature is all about. Thank you, Darlene, for gifting me with the kind of book I long for--I was moved and absorbed from beginning to end!
March 11, 2015
Growing up in a time of change and hardship is never easy, especially when you’re young. Twelve-year-old Emily Soper lives in the early 1900s in Washington, D.C, a time when she was expected to be prim and proper and act accordingly. She witnesses racial and gender mayhem as well as a development of technology and tries her hardest to keep up with all of the changes.
Raised by her hard working father, a carriage maker who manages Soper Carriages, and her mother who stays home to care for the children, she grows up under the rules of the twentieth century that all girls will grow up to work in the kitchen and become proper ladies.
Gutsy and determined, and not at all like the other girls in town, Emily spent much time in her father’s carriage barn where she could get her hands dirty and experience something new and exciting, rather than the run of the mill lessons in the kitchen. Despite her admiration for her father’s work she is scolded and experiences a time when even her parents begin pushing her to follow the crowd and respect the rules of the century.
During this day and age, Emily sees how the world had transformed and witnesses the invention of the automobile, one of the true antagonists of the story and the reason why the public abandons Soper Carriages. It was at this moment when the reader realizes how much change can effect even the smallest and youngest of individuals, and how hard it is to undergo, especially if it simply isn’t one step, but a huge leap forward.
As the reader delves into the story, Emily’s plans to save her father’s business begin brewing. She is tested by many trials of courage and tries her best to save the family business while also learning how truly important it is to grow up.
‘Wheels of Change’ is not only a fabulous and authentic historical read, but also one that had me hooked from the very beginning. The storytelling is strong and vivid and invites the reader in to relate to each of the characters. It’s a classic middle grade novel that children will love reading for years to come and one daring adventure I will never forget.
Raised by her hard working father, a carriage maker who manages Soper Carriages, and her mother who stays home to care for the children, she grows up under the rules of the twentieth century that all girls will grow up to work in the kitchen and become proper ladies.
Gutsy and determined, and not at all like the other girls in town, Emily spent much time in her father’s carriage barn where she could get her hands dirty and experience something new and exciting, rather than the run of the mill lessons in the kitchen. Despite her admiration for her father’s work she is scolded and experiences a time when even her parents begin pushing her to follow the crowd and respect the rules of the century.
During this day and age, Emily sees how the world had transformed and witnesses the invention of the automobile, one of the true antagonists of the story and the reason why the public abandons Soper Carriages. It was at this moment when the reader realizes how much change can effect even the smallest and youngest of individuals, and how hard it is to undergo, especially if it simply isn’t one step, but a huge leap forward.
As the reader delves into the story, Emily’s plans to save her father’s business begin brewing. She is tested by many trials of courage and tries her best to save the family business while also learning how truly important it is to grow up.
‘Wheels of Change’ is not only a fabulous and authentic historical read, but also one that had me hooked from the very beginning. The storytelling is strong and vivid and invites the reader in to relate to each of the characters. It’s a classic middle grade novel that children will love reading for years to come and one daring adventure I will never forget.
August 12, 2014
I love a good historical read, and this one hauled me in from the very beginning. I especially relished the sensory details in the opening pages. I also really enjoyed the family dynamics, and the smaller moments really sparkled in the pages (in one of my favorite scenes, Emily's mother helps her hang a horseshoe for luck). Jacobson smartly juxtaposes the changes in young Emily's personal life (she's slowly leaving behind childhood and making steps toward becoming a young woman) with larger changes in the outside world (racial and gender upheaval as well as technological advancements). Emily can't keep the demands of turn-of-the-twentieth century womanhood at bay, nor can she keep the world from driving automobiles and abandoning her father's glorious carriages. But the reader will absolutely be glad that Jacobson takes us back to revisit this moment in time. A lovely tribute to Jacobson's family (text at the end indicates that the book is partly based on family history). Highly recommended.
~
Side note: Jacobson includes some mouth-water recipes at the end of the novel. Mama's Peach Pie sounds especially delightful, if you happen to be a baker. Every time I try my own hand at baking, I wind up opening the oven door, cocking my head to the side, and saying, "Huh. Wonder why that happened." These recipes look good enough for me to give baking another whirl, and that's saying something, too...
~
Side note: Jacobson includes some mouth-water recipes at the end of the novel. Mama's Peach Pie sounds especially delightful, if you happen to be a baker. Every time I try my own hand at baking, I wind up opening the oven door, cocking my head to the side, and saying, "Huh. Wonder why that happened." These recipes look good enough for me to give baking another whirl, and that's saying something, too...
February 16, 2018
Great cover for a fun book!
Authentic historical details give readers a flavor of a period not often covered in historical fiction for kids, the start of the automobile age. Emily's spunky determination to save her father's business and her easy, comfortable relationship with an African-American blacksmith are endearing. A good read!
Authentic historical details give readers a flavor of a period not often covered in historical fiction for kids, the start of the automobile age. Emily's spunky determination to save her father's business and her easy, comfortable relationship with an African-American blacksmith are endearing. A good read!
November 18, 2019
This is a wonderful book! As a former fourth grade teacher and huge historical fiction fan, I highly recommend it for children of this age group and above to read independently, or as a class study. (So many valuable concepts to think about and discuss.) Younger children would also enjoy it as a read aloud.
January 18, 2018
Though I am not the biggest history buff I felt this novel did a decent job portraying the time period. I do know however it was extremely fictionally based which made the novel seem a bit immature to me.
August 29, 2017
This book is set in 1908 and follows Emily Soper. Her father made carriages and in a world in which "a woman's place was In the home" she didn't feel she had much options.
The story makes you realize all we have now is because of what happened then. With the prejudices and the hardships. It teaches us how change affects everyone whether it is the creation of a motorized carriage or how we treat our neighbors.
The story makes you realize all we have now is because of what happened then. With the prejudices and the hardships. It teaches us how change affects everyone whether it is the creation of a motorized carriage or how we treat our neighbors.
March 15, 2017
Well, thank you, Storm Stella! I hunkered down and read Wheels of Change by Darlene Jacobson. What a beautiful middle-grade historical spun out of family lore. Perfect for those 1900-1919 years when there were so many, many new inventions and contraptions up against age-old conventions.
I hope this author keeps writing. One of my favorite lines from the book, "There's no wrong time to help a friend". (62)
I hope this author keeps writing. One of my favorite lines from the book, "There's no wrong time to help a friend". (62)
November 27, 2018
Simply wonderful! I picked this up on a whim off the used book shelf at our library for my daughter and I to read and we were absolutely entranced. The story took us back in time and really immersed us in Emily's world and issues of the time period. I liked the vocabulary lessons found throughout the book- they just added to the fun of the book for us. We were so sad the book was over!
April 4, 2017
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a good title is worth at least as much.
WHEELS OF CHANGE (Creston Books, 2014), Darlene Beck Jacobson’s debut middle grade novel, is exactly what it purports to be: a novel about change. And of course, about wheels.
The story, based loosely on Jacobson’s grandmother, shows 12-year-old Emily Soper in the middle of personal, family, and societal changes. Set in Washington, D.C. in 1908, WHEELS OF CHANGE is an ideal book for girls who loved the historical American Girl series and are now ready for meatier fare.
Emily loves everything about her father’s carriage shop: the sounds, smells, and even the “pulsing waves of heat [which] make it feel like summer year round.” (p. 2). The following quote not only shows Emily’s affection, but foreshadows troubles to come:
I stare into the fire’s belly, watching it move and change colors as if it were a living thing. Some folks might think the forge is dark and dreary, with only one small window. But the fire is like a beacon that lights up the whole barn and makes it shimmer. Papa’s barn without the forge would be like Mama’s house without the kitchen. The heart would be gone. (p.2)
In truth, Emily wishes she could be a blacksmith—but of course, that’s not a fitting trade for a young woman in the beginning of the twentieth century. As a result of her friendship with Henry, the Negro blacksmith who she enjoys watching, she learns first hand about racism and loyalty.
Whereas impetuous and worry-wart Emily feels more at home in the forge than in her mother's kitchen, her mother has other plans for her. She wants Emily to learn domestic skills including how to host a tea for the neighborhood women. Emily surprises herself by enjoying baking, but the tea proves disastrous when Emily violently disagrees with one of the guests. Without spoiling the book, let's just say that Emily's courage saves the forge when a disgruntled employee, angry over Henry reclaiming his job, attempts to destroy it.
After the tea, her teacher muses,
".....Mr. Lincoln must be rolling over in his grave with grief to think that after all these years since the war, people still act this way. The war was supposed to change things."
There's that word again. Change. Even after a horrible war, people still hold on to their old ideas about folks like Henry. The truth of it makes my insides churn and ache.
Maybe folks can do without physical changes like cars and electricity. But old ideas about colored people and women should change. They must. (pp.153-4).
When her father's business starts failing because more people are buying motorcars, she suggests a new idea to her father:
"All this time, we liked everything to be just as it is. But some changes can bring really good things, Papa. Like colored folks living peacefully next to white folks and women getting to vote. What if you changed carriage making into something else?"
"Like what?"
"Maybe folks still need other things that horses pull. Wagons, carts, surreys, and coaches." My eyes open wider as more ideas pop into my head. "Baby buggies will never need motors. Sleighs and sleds for winter..." (p. 188-9)
And with that, Emily becomes an agent of change.
Grateful American Book Prize
Honorable Mention, 2015
I am giving away my autographed hard cover copy of WHEELS OF CHANGE plus curriculum materials and Jacobson has volunteered to provide a SKYPE visit to the winner. If you are a teacher, media specialist, or home school parent please let me know and I'll enter your name twice. If I don't have your email address make sure you leave it. Giveaway ends on Saturday, April 8, 2017.
WHEELS OF CHANGE (Creston Books, 2014), Darlene Beck Jacobson’s debut middle grade novel, is exactly what it purports to be: a novel about change. And of course, about wheels.
The story, based loosely on Jacobson’s grandmother, shows 12-year-old Emily Soper in the middle of personal, family, and societal changes. Set in Washington, D.C. in 1908, WHEELS OF CHANGE is an ideal book for girls who loved the historical American Girl series and are now ready for meatier fare.
Emily loves everything about her father’s carriage shop: the sounds, smells, and even the “pulsing waves of heat [which] make it feel like summer year round.” (p. 2). The following quote not only shows Emily’s affection, but foreshadows troubles to come:
I stare into the fire’s belly, watching it move and change colors as if it were a living thing. Some folks might think the forge is dark and dreary, with only one small window. But the fire is like a beacon that lights up the whole barn and makes it shimmer. Papa’s barn without the forge would be like Mama’s house without the kitchen. The heart would be gone. (p.2)
In truth, Emily wishes she could be a blacksmith—but of course, that’s not a fitting trade for a young woman in the beginning of the twentieth century. As a result of her friendship with Henry, the Negro blacksmith who she enjoys watching, she learns first hand about racism and loyalty.
Whereas impetuous and worry-wart Emily feels more at home in the forge than in her mother's kitchen, her mother has other plans for her. She wants Emily to learn domestic skills including how to host a tea for the neighborhood women. Emily surprises herself by enjoying baking, but the tea proves disastrous when Emily violently disagrees with one of the guests. Without spoiling the book, let's just say that Emily's courage saves the forge when a disgruntled employee, angry over Henry reclaiming his job, attempts to destroy it.
After the tea, her teacher muses,
".....Mr. Lincoln must be rolling over in his grave with grief to think that after all these years since the war, people still act this way. The war was supposed to change things."
There's that word again. Change. Even after a horrible war, people still hold on to their old ideas about folks like Henry. The truth of it makes my insides churn and ache.
Maybe folks can do without physical changes like cars and electricity. But old ideas about colored people and women should change. They must. (pp.153-4).
When her father's business starts failing because more people are buying motorcars, she suggests a new idea to her father:
"All this time, we liked everything to be just as it is. But some changes can bring really good things, Papa. Like colored folks living peacefully next to white folks and women getting to vote. What if you changed carriage making into something else?"
"Like what?"
"Maybe folks still need other things that horses pull. Wagons, carts, surreys, and coaches." My eyes open wider as more ideas pop into my head. "Baby buggies will never need motors. Sleighs and sleds for winter..." (p. 188-9)
And with that, Emily becomes an agent of change.
Grateful American Book Prize
Honorable Mention, 2015
I am giving away my autographed hard cover copy of WHEELS OF CHANGE plus curriculum materials and Jacobson has volunteered to provide a SKYPE visit to the winner. If you are a teacher, media specialist, or home school parent please let me know and I'll enter your name twice. If I don't have your email address make sure you leave it. Giveaway ends on Saturday, April 8, 2017.
April 9, 2017
Washington, DC is my hometown, so it was exciting to find a book that embraced
the history of this beautiful city! Wheels of Change takes place during Theodore
Roosevelt’s presidency—a time of racial inequality, the suffragette movement,
and new Model T Fords. These new-fangled horseless carriages threaten the
need for traditional horse-drawn carriages, and as a result the Soper Carriage
Works. Twelve-year-old Emily Soper worries for her parents, as well as herself.
I loved this book, because it not only touched on actual historical events, but also
what people then felt about these changes. The story is so immediate and poignant that while reading, I felt I was living back in those times. As a child, historical fiction was my favorite kind of book. And I’m still fascinated to look inside the lives of people from the past.
Emily, with her cheerful, feisty personality, struggles to incorporate the big societal changes going on all around her, all the while making big personal changes of her own. She’ll have you cheering for her to the end! Every child should be inspired by Wheels of Change—and discover why you don’t need wings to fly! A must have for parents, teachers and librarians!
the history of this beautiful city! Wheels of Change takes place during Theodore
Roosevelt’s presidency—a time of racial inequality, the suffragette movement,
and new Model T Fords. These new-fangled horseless carriages threaten the
need for traditional horse-drawn carriages, and as a result the Soper Carriage
Works. Twelve-year-old Emily Soper worries for her parents, as well as herself.
I loved this book, because it not only touched on actual historical events, but also
what people then felt about these changes. The story is so immediate and poignant that while reading, I felt I was living back in those times. As a child, historical fiction was my favorite kind of book. And I’m still fascinated to look inside the lives of people from the past.
Emily, with her cheerful, feisty personality, struggles to incorporate the big societal changes going on all around her, all the while making big personal changes of her own. She’ll have you cheering for her to the end! Every child should be inspired by Wheels of Change—and discover why you don’t need wings to fly! A must have for parents, teachers and librarians!
January 9, 2019
I loved reading the story of Emily Soper and being swept up in her life in the early 1900s. I couldn’t put the book down.
February 17, 2015
Age Recommended: 12 and up
Wheels of Change was an extraordinary book about a family trying to cope with the changing world and the technology revolution of the time. The author developed the main character of the book really well. The book also does a really good job of introducing kids to issues of women’s suffrage and racial discrimination, both of which were prevalent in early 1900s. I did find some parts of the story a little repetitive, but otherwise the book is very well-written.
This book fit my 2015 Reading Challenge category of: “A book you can finish in a day.”
(This was another recommendation from #AMightyGirl reading list.)
Wheels Of Change
——————————————————
Emily Soper is a unique girl who wants to live her dream. However, women in the early 1900s aren’t allowed to pursue their dreams- instead they are taught how to be “lady-like.” Emily loves spending time at her father’s barn which also serves as the workshop for her father’s carriage-making business and nothing can keep Emily away from the forge. There are two other people who work at her father’s business: Henry, an African-American blacksmith, and Sam, their Caucasian neighbor, both of whom are like brothers to Emily. She also has a younger brother, William, who is really very naughty but their mother never says anything to him.
The story is set in a time when automobiles are just starting to be produced, and Emily and her family fear that their business will be shut down due to the decrease in demand for carriages. However, President Roosevelt orders a carriage from Emily’s father which turns out to be one of their biggest projects. This boosts the family’s faith in their business and the Sopers’ start to believe that their luck could take a turn for the better.
However, Henry falls sick with pneumonia and is sent home to his family. The new hire at the forge strongly dislikes African-Americans and believes that African-Americans should not be able to work or mingle with Caucasians. To show his anger, the new hire burns the almost-completed carriage for the President. This puts Emily’s father behind schedule and he doesn’t have time to spare. Emily offers to help but her father declines, saying that it is not proper for young ladies to work in the forge. Now, it will take a miracle to help the Sopers- a miracle that they don’t possess…
Will Emily’s father let her help him? Will the President’s carriage be completed?
—
Wheels of Change was an extraordinary book about a family trying to cope with the changing world and the technology revolution of the time. The author developed the main character of the book really well. The book also does a really good job of introducing kids to issues of women’s suffrage and racial discrimination, both of which were prevalent in early 1900s. I did find some parts of the story a little repetitive, but otherwise the book is very well-written.
This book fit my 2015 Reading Challenge category of: “A book you can finish in a day.”
(This was another recommendation from #AMightyGirl reading list.)
Wheels Of Change
——————————————————
Emily Soper is a unique girl who wants to live her dream. However, women in the early 1900s aren’t allowed to pursue their dreams- instead they are taught how to be “lady-like.” Emily loves spending time at her father’s barn which also serves as the workshop for her father’s carriage-making business and nothing can keep Emily away from the forge. There are two other people who work at her father’s business: Henry, an African-American blacksmith, and Sam, their Caucasian neighbor, both of whom are like brothers to Emily. She also has a younger brother, William, who is really very naughty but their mother never says anything to him.
The story is set in a time when automobiles are just starting to be produced, and Emily and her family fear that their business will be shut down due to the decrease in demand for carriages. However, President Roosevelt orders a carriage from Emily’s father which turns out to be one of their biggest projects. This boosts the family’s faith in their business and the Sopers’ start to believe that their luck could take a turn for the better.
However, Henry falls sick with pneumonia and is sent home to his family. The new hire at the forge strongly dislikes African-Americans and believes that African-Americans should not be able to work or mingle with Caucasians. To show his anger, the new hire burns the almost-completed carriage for the President. This puts Emily’s father behind schedule and he doesn’t have time to spare. Emily offers to help but her father declines, saying that it is not proper for young ladies to work in the forge. Now, it will take a miracle to help the Sopers- a miracle that they don’t possess…
Will Emily’s father let her help him? Will the President’s carriage be completed?
—
October 12, 2014
Emily is a precocious young girl growing up in Washington, D.C., at the turn of the century. The year is 1908, and her Papa is a skilled blacksmith, creating beautiful carriages in his workshop. Emily loves to be there, watching the workmen and helping with small tasks, but her mother is determined to turn her into a lady. She is especially excited when Papa is commissioned to design and build a majestic carriage for none other than President Teddy Roosevelt!
Yet, times are changing. Motor cars are becoming a more frequent site on the streets of the city. Emily can see that her parents are worried about their future. Carriages may not be needed for much longer. On top of all that pressure, some townsfolk have a problem with one of Papa's hired men, who just happens to be a black man. While he is practically family to Emily and her Papa, prejudice rears its ugly head and nearly destroys the family business in the process! The book also touches on the place of women at the dawn of a new century, fighting for their right to vote.
I enjoyed this middle grade story not only because of the skilled storytelling of the author, but also because Emily is a character that kids today can easily relate to. At twelve years old, she is just beginning to realize that the coziness of her happy home life will not necessarily ensure security in the outside world. Circumstances and people run along, out of our control, and to survive we have to learn to adapt and rely on resourcefulness and creativity. I also am always thrilled when a middle grade reader does not talk down to younger readers. Ms. Jacobson kept the dialogue and vocabulary age appropriate yet just challenging enough to stretch the young reader's mind. There are too many middle school level books that oversimplify words and sentence structure.
This wonderful book was just released September 24, 2014 through Creston Books. ISBN 978-1-939547-13-2. Suggested retail price is $12.99, which is fair and well worth it! I hope to read other books by this author in the future. I am studying to teach English to middle grade students, and will definitely keep this to share with my future students!
Yet, times are changing. Motor cars are becoming a more frequent site on the streets of the city. Emily can see that her parents are worried about their future. Carriages may not be needed for much longer. On top of all that pressure, some townsfolk have a problem with one of Papa's hired men, who just happens to be a black man. While he is practically family to Emily and her Papa, prejudice rears its ugly head and nearly destroys the family business in the process! The book also touches on the place of women at the dawn of a new century, fighting for their right to vote.
I enjoyed this middle grade story not only because of the skilled storytelling of the author, but also because Emily is a character that kids today can easily relate to. At twelve years old, she is just beginning to realize that the coziness of her happy home life will not necessarily ensure security in the outside world. Circumstances and people run along, out of our control, and to survive we have to learn to adapt and rely on resourcefulness and creativity. I also am always thrilled when a middle grade reader does not talk down to younger readers. Ms. Jacobson kept the dialogue and vocabulary age appropriate yet just challenging enough to stretch the young reader's mind. There are too many middle school level books that oversimplify words and sentence structure.
This wonderful book was just released September 24, 2014 through Creston Books. ISBN 978-1-939547-13-2. Suggested retail price is $12.99, which is fair and well worth it! I hope to read other books by this author in the future. I am studying to teach English to middle grade students, and will definitely keep this to share with my future students!
March 2, 2017
The best works of historical fiction are the ones that really put you inside the era/people they are trying to describe. "Wheels of Change" by Darlene Beck Jacobson does exactly that, managing to make readers feel as if they are actually living in the Washington D.C. of 1909.
The basic premise of this book centers on young Emily Soper and the struggles of her blooming adolescence and curious mind. When her Papa, an esteemed carriage-maker, begins an order for President Teddy Roosevelt himself, Emily is over-the-moon excited. The problem? All Mama wants to do is turn her into a lady...something Emily desperately wants to avoid! A few other things she can't understand: Why her neighbors are so casually racist, as well as why these newfangled contraptions called "automobiles" may be threatening their entire family's well-being.
The most enjoyable part about reading "Wheels of Change" is that even though it is told from a child's (12-year old) perspective, author Jacobson manages to weave in very mature themes (racism, progress, family, etc.) without alienating adults from enjoying the book. I am 28 years old, and I'm sure I loved this book for many different reasons than, say, a young adult would.
I think that a big part of this success has to be the book's ability to create such a strong sense of family. The family isn't perfect, nor are they dysfunctional. Rather, they live in that grey area that better describes everyday life (whether 1909 or the present). A very Walton-esque feel to the family values, which I consider a badge of honor.
Overall, then, I managed to becoming emotionally invested in the characters/developments of this book. I can only guess that it will have the same effect on its targeted young-adult audience as well. I didn't want to turn the final page on this one, and that is a good judge of how much any book is truly enjoyed!
The basic premise of this book centers on young Emily Soper and the struggles of her blooming adolescence and curious mind. When her Papa, an esteemed carriage-maker, begins an order for President Teddy Roosevelt himself, Emily is over-the-moon excited. The problem? All Mama wants to do is turn her into a lady...something Emily desperately wants to avoid! A few other things she can't understand: Why her neighbors are so casually racist, as well as why these newfangled contraptions called "automobiles" may be threatening their entire family's well-being.
The most enjoyable part about reading "Wheels of Change" is that even though it is told from a child's (12-year old) perspective, author Jacobson manages to weave in very mature themes (racism, progress, family, etc.) without alienating adults from enjoying the book. I am 28 years old, and I'm sure I loved this book for many different reasons than, say, a young adult would.
I think that a big part of this success has to be the book's ability to create such a strong sense of family. The family isn't perfect, nor are they dysfunctional. Rather, they live in that grey area that better describes everyday life (whether 1909 or the present). A very Walton-esque feel to the family values, which I consider a badge of honor.
Overall, then, I managed to becoming emotionally invested in the characters/developments of this book. I can only guess that it will have the same effect on its targeted young-adult audience as well. I didn't want to turn the final page on this one, and that is a good judge of how much any book is truly enjoyed!
September 22, 2016
I love being immersed in the world of a story, and that’s exactly what you get with Wheels of Change. Set in 1908, Emily Soper is a bright young girl who longs for something more than to be a wife and mother. She has a hard time staying out of her father’s blacksmith shop and keeping her dress clean. Emily is an endearing character who is navigating a time of great change in American History. Her personal and family struggles coincide with racial inequality, women’s suffrage, and the birth of a new industrial age. The historical details made it easy to feel transported into the time period, and the characters are fresh and inviting as well as familiar. The book is a great look into history, with topics and issues that still apply in the modern world. This is a great book for middle grade students studying American History. I would especially recommend it for anyone looking for a strong female main character. I also loved that the story was based on the author’s grandmother. You could tell she took great care with telling the story and shaping the world. I really enjoyed this book!
September 4, 2014
This is an outstanding book. I had the great honor to preview it. I had a general idea of the story line beforehand, but was pulled into the book almost instantly. I am very impressed by the depth of characterization for a book written for children. Beck Jacobson manages to cover some very important social and technological changes in the world without making the history laborious. One feels as though he/she is living the experience.
I loved the young heroine - she is very real, Her daily interactions are ones to which children can relate, even though the time is different and her responsibilities in many ways are foreign to today's youngsters. Just enough explanation is given to make it all clear, once again, without interrupting the story.
Most likely the young readers will want more - sequels or other books covering equally important changes.
Bravo!
I loved the young heroine - she is very real, Her daily interactions are ones to which children can relate, even though the time is different and her responsibilities in many ways are foreign to today's youngsters. Just enough explanation is given to make it all clear, once again, without interrupting the story.
Most likely the young readers will want more - sequels or other books covering equally important changes.
Bravo!
March 28, 2020
It’s powerful to fully experience life at moments of great change. The dawning of the Internet Age. America’s Moon Landing. Such times offer opportunities for people with the courage and foresight to embrace change.
“Wheels of Change” plunges readers into the early 1900’s in America, when the automobile first became a popular means of transportation. Emily Soper, who loves to help her father in his carriage-making business, realizes the horseless carriage could put her father out of business unless he adapts to this popular new way to travel, and sets about to convince him to do just that.
That’s a tall order for a 12-year-old tomboy, whose Mother is determined to make a proper young lady out of her. Hence, the Pie-Baking contest at the church fair, and hosting High Tea. And, plenty of heart-warming moments.
“Wheels of Change” plunges readers into the early 1900’s in America, when the automobile first became a popular means of transportation. Emily Soper, who loves to help her father in his carriage-making business, realizes the horseless carriage could put her father out of business unless he adapts to this popular new way to travel, and sets about to convince him to do just that.
That’s a tall order for a 12-year-old tomboy, whose Mother is determined to make a proper young lady out of her. Hence, the Pie-Baking contest at the church fair, and hosting High Tea. And, plenty of heart-warming moments.
August 4, 2014
From the first time I read Darlene Jacobson's manuscript, I knew that her hero, Emily, was a girl we'd all be glad to know. She's a vivid character interested in blacksmithing, baking, and words, and while she's brave and curious, she's also refreshingly imperfect. In the year 1919, Emily faces - and sometimes causes - enormous change in her family's way of life. Jacobson's writing sparkles with clarity and energy and with a first novel this good, I hope we're in for more of Emily, or at least more from her creator. As an artist, I also want to compliment the book's designer(s.) The careful choices of fonts, charming little silhouettes at the chapter headings, cover art, and generous back matter all speak of a publisher who goes the extra mile. This was treat from the first to the last.
November 9, 2014
I devoured this book. Set in historical Washington D.C. when races mixing was still taboo, Emily Soper learns a lot about adapting to the world through events that happen to her family, friends, and herself.
I found the writing to be beautiful yet still realistic. I could picture myself there, peeking through a window, and watching it all unfold.
I can see this book winning awards and someday, rotating through the public school system as reading material. This is a book I will read more than once in my lifetime. It brings to mind some of my favorite books of that era including The Color Purple and Gone With the Wind.
The only bad part? I didn’t have any peach pie while I was reading it! Thankfully, recipes were included at the end!
I found the writing to be beautiful yet still realistic. I could picture myself there, peeking through a window, and watching it all unfold.
I can see this book winning awards and someday, rotating through the public school system as reading material. This is a book I will read more than once in my lifetime. It brings to mind some of my favorite books of that era including The Color Purple and Gone With the Wind.
The only bad part? I didn’t have any peach pie while I was reading it! Thankfully, recipes were included at the end!
April 17, 2016
First of all, what a beautiful cover. Love, love, love it.
This is a sweet, impeccably researched glimpse at early 20th Century Washington DC. It touches on the issues of the times and, yes, the many changes happening -- technology, women's rights and prejudice. It somehow reminded me of Little House on the Prairie, in that the protagonist's voice was similar, Bea Pea reminded me of Nellie, and the vibe the book gave me.
I loved the author's notes about the family connection, and the photos of Mary Emily Soper and the White House invitation. And the recipes in the back! I won't recommend this book to kids who want nonstop action, but it's a great historical fiction pick for those who like quiet, heartwarming stories.
This is a sweet, impeccably researched glimpse at early 20th Century Washington DC. It touches on the issues of the times and, yes, the many changes happening -- technology, women's rights and prejudice. It somehow reminded me of Little House on the Prairie, in that the protagonist's voice was similar, Bea Pea reminded me of Nellie, and the vibe the book gave me.
I loved the author's notes about the family connection, and the photos of Mary Emily Soper and the White House invitation. And the recipes in the back! I won't recommend this book to kids who want nonstop action, but it's a great historical fiction pick for those who like quiet, heartwarming stories.
November 10, 2016
Racial intolerance, social change, and sweeping progress make 1908 Washington, D.C., a turbulent place to grow up in for 12-year-old Emily Soper. For Emily, life in Papa’s carriage barn is magic, and she's more at home hearing the symphony of the blacksmith’s hammer than trying to conform to the proper expectations of young ladies. When Papa’s livelihood is threatened by racist neighbors and horsepower of a different sort, Emily faces changes she'd never imagined. Finding courage and resolve she didn't know she had, Emily strives to save Papa’s business, even if it means going all the way to the White House. This is a Historical Fiction book that I would use in a 7th grade classroom to take a closer look human rights.
October 10, 2014
I loved this novel! Terrifically entertaining and superbly written, twelve-year-old protagonist Emily Soper grabs the reader's heart from the get-go! The story weaves historical fact, the author's family history with a beautifully touching narrative. Turn of the twentieth century Washington, D.C. is rife with change on so many areas: race, gender and technology. Darlene Beck Jacobson showcases the tension through the eyes of Emily in a realistic and engaging way. Yet home remains the heart of the story and love the main impetus for many of Emily's actions. High spirited Emily is a hero everyone will cheer on! Highly recommended!!
September 20, 2015
Once I got used to the historical tone of the novel I liked it a lot. It will be a great book to add to social studies units, introducing students to the industrial revolution and how it affected people. I also like the opportunity it presents for students to discuss the two viewpoints about change in debates or discussions, perfect for the rigors of today's higher order thinking push. I agree with a couple of the reviewers that stated the pacing was uneven. In some ways this is not a criticism, but reflects the slower pace of a by-gone era, when a tea party was an exciting event. So glad the women of Emily's world persevered so I can vote, wear jeans, and choose any career I want.
July 30, 2014
I LOVED this book. It has a timeless feel, akin to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie, and from page 1 you find yourself rooting for 12-year old Emily Soper, who unlike some of the adults in her life, is unafraid to take a stand for what is right. What makes this book even more special is that it was inspired by the real life experiences of the author’s grandmother, Mary Emily Soper. I highly recommend it.
December 20, 2014
This is a great historical fiction novel that takes place during a time not often discussed in elementary or middle school social studies-- early 20th century. The main character is a young girl whose father makes carriages right around the time that Henry Ford and automobiles are threatening this business. The story also touches on racial and gender inequality in a way that makes sense with the story and the characters.
3/3
3/3
December 18, 2017
Wheels of Change transports the reader to the early 1900s in Washington, DC where Emily worries about personal problems (her father’s struggling business, her mother’s insistence on learning proper housekeeping) as well as larger issues (racial tension, women’s inability to vote). Beck Jacobson manages to weave in lots of fascinating details from the time period without weighing down the story. The result is an entertaining book that brings history to life.
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