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A Crop Farmer's Daughter
Based on a remarkable true story.
Winter, 1969. Since she was a little girl, Catarina learned not to ask for much. Born to a family of corn farmers in rural south Brazil, she was happiest when she was surrounded by sprawling fields and burly, familial farmhands—until her family was driven out of the land they had worked diligently for years, and Catarina was sent to work for a wealthy family in São Paolo.
Only ten years old, Catarina becomes a housemaid—and the lifeline of her family. Far from everyone and everything she’d ever known, she discovers the shocking gap between her life in the country and the lives of her employers, who enjoy lavish dinners and luxuries while her family huddles for warmth in a crumbling home without running water.
But Catarina would not let it be her fate.
Impoverished yet full of hope, she vows to pursue a better life than what her parents destined for her. She knows the only way out is a proper education, but what school will accept a poor, uneducated girl? And then there is this boy, Rafael, whom she can’t keep out of her mind for long. Can Catarina take her fate into her own hands? Or is there nothing she can do to escape the life of a poor crop farmer’s daughter?
With a uniquely authentic voice, Ioni Goldstein tells a hopeful story of grit and resilience. If you love the works of Rachel Wesson and Delia Owens, you will be glued to this inspiring and unforgettable journey.
Winter, 1969. Since she was a little girl, Catarina learned not to ask for much. Born to a family of corn farmers in rural south Brazil, she was happiest when she was surrounded by sprawling fields and burly, familial farmhands—until her family was driven out of the land they had worked diligently for years, and Catarina was sent to work for a wealthy family in São Paolo.
Only ten years old, Catarina becomes a housemaid—and the lifeline of her family. Far from everyone and everything she’d ever known, she discovers the shocking gap between her life in the country and the lives of her employers, who enjoy lavish dinners and luxuries while her family huddles for warmth in a crumbling home without running water.
But Catarina would not let it be her fate.
Impoverished yet full of hope, she vows to pursue a better life than what her parents destined for her. She knows the only way out is a proper education, but what school will accept a poor, uneducated girl? And then there is this boy, Rafael, whom she can’t keep out of her mind for long. Can Catarina take her fate into her own hands? Or is there nothing she can do to escape the life of a poor crop farmer’s daughter?
With a uniquely authentic voice, Ioni Goldstein tells a hopeful story of grit and resilience. If you love the works of Rachel Wesson and Delia Owens, you will be glued to this inspiring and unforgettable journey.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 7, 2024
Interesting
This book kept my interest all the way through. Amazing details about the authors life from extreme poverty to Brazilian culture as she dug her way to a successful life.
This book kept my interest all the way through. Amazing details about the authors life from extreme poverty to Brazilian culture as she dug her way to a successful life.
Read
August 7, 2026I am not going to rate this book because it is a personal story, but I have some thoughts on it.
The reading process was very slow from my perspective, but I feel like I know everything about her life. It was written by her and her friend, so of course, the sentences were not always clear to me.
I gave myself a mental slap every time I read about her childhood while complaining about my own little problems. I can’t imagine working 14 hours a day at 11–15 years old.
What happened with her boyfriend Rafael quite scared me sometimes—the thought that I might have a last chance to see a person and would miss it just because I was angry. This part made me cry a lot and also made me think a lot about my own behavior. Maybe Rafael was meant to be the one for her?
Because the poor girl suffered with Nezinho afterwards. And the fact that her daughter died...
I was hoping for some kind of happy ending, but for me, it did not come. After so many men she had been with and so many jobs she had done. I get that she now has two beautiful children and lives a better life, just like she promised herself. But to me, even though she is proud of what she accomplished, in the last pages, we never get that phrase about "being happy" or something like that. I just have a feeling that she is still suffering and hasn't found complete peace yet. If that is even possible?
The reading process was very slow from my perspective, but I feel like I know everything about her life. It was written by her and her friend, so of course, the sentences were not always clear to me.
I gave myself a mental slap every time I read about her childhood while complaining about my own little problems. I can’t imagine working 14 hours a day at 11–15 years old.
What happened with her boyfriend Rafael quite scared me sometimes—the thought that I might have a last chance to see a person and would miss it just because I was angry. This part made me cry a lot and also made me think a lot about my own behavior. Maybe Rafael was meant to be the one for her?
Because the poor girl suffered with Nezinho afterwards. And the fact that her daughter died...
I was hoping for some kind of happy ending, but for me, it did not come. After so many men she had been with and so many jobs she had done. I get that she now has two beautiful children and lives a better life, just like she promised herself. But to me, even though she is proud of what she accomplished, in the last pages, we never get that phrase about "being happy" or something like that. I just have a feeling that she is still suffering and hasn't found complete peace yet. If that is even possible?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2024
A Touching Tale of Grit and Growth...
"A Crop Farmer's Daughter" by Ioni Goldstein and Catarina Granater is a poignant, true-life story of young Catarina's transition from rural poverty to urban servitude in 1960s Brazil. The authors effectively juxtapose agricultural life with the wealth of São Paulo, revealing significant socioeconomic differences. Catarina's fortitude shines through as she navigates her new profession as a housemaid at the age of eleven, becoming her family's lifeline. The story delves effectively into themes of family duty, personal development, and education as a tool of social mobility.
The book's sincerity is its most valuable attribute, providing a unique view into an often-overlooked life. Catarina's growing interest in Rafael brings a ray of optimism to her difficult circumstances. This riveting narrative of triumph over hardship is both a tragic depiction of societal inequity and an inspiring testimony to human tenacity. It is a must-read for everyone interested in personal growth stories and late-twentieth-century Brazilian culture. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
"A Crop Farmer's Daughter" by Ioni Goldstein and Catarina Granater is a poignant, true-life story of young Catarina's transition from rural poverty to urban servitude in 1960s Brazil. The authors effectively juxtapose agricultural life with the wealth of São Paulo, revealing significant socioeconomic differences. Catarina's fortitude shines through as she navigates her new profession as a housemaid at the age of eleven, becoming her family's lifeline. The story delves effectively into themes of family duty, personal development, and education as a tool of social mobility.
The book's sincerity is its most valuable attribute, providing a unique view into an often-overlooked life. Catarina's growing interest in Rafael brings a ray of optimism to her difficult circumstances. This riveting narrative of triumph over hardship is both a tragic depiction of societal inequity and an inspiring testimony to human tenacity. It is a must-read for everyone interested in personal growth stories and late-twentieth-century Brazilian culture. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
April 18, 2025
I recently read "The Crop Farmer's Daughter," and I found it to be an engaging experience. Written in simple English, the book was so captivating that I found myself almost unable to put it down. The fact that it’s a true story added an extra layer of intrigue that kept me turning the pages.
Set in Brazil, the setting immediately caught my attention, and the author’s storytelling made the culture come alive.
It has short chapters but many of them, this format made it easy to digest the story in bits and pieces. It kept me engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
I struggle to rate true stories but even so I do recommend this book and give it 4 stars.
Set in Brazil, the setting immediately caught my attention, and the author’s storytelling made the culture come alive.
It has short chapters but many of them, this format made it easy to digest the story in bits and pieces. It kept me engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
I struggle to rate true stories but even so I do recommend this book and give it 4 stars.
February 23, 2025
Amazing Story
Catarina you were so young and so brave ,but was cruelly robbed of your childhood..Your daughter was so beautiful and life was so bad for you both..Fantastic story,one I will always think of be proud of you for climbing out of all the squaller to become who you are today. God has surely look after you and blessed you..
Catarina you were so young and so brave ,but was cruelly robbed of your childhood..Your daughter was so beautiful and life was so bad for you both..Fantastic story,one I will always think of be proud of you for climbing out of all the squaller to become who you are today. God has surely look after you and blessed you..
May 15, 2025
Story of a girl/woman's journey from poverty in Brazil to
ending up in Israel.
PERSEVERANCE would seem to be the theme of this book.
The woman worked hard to overcome her circumstances
working at many demeaning jobs while trying to obtain
an education (mostly at night).
I highly recommend this book.
ending up in Israel.
PERSEVERANCE would seem to be the theme of this book.
The woman worked hard to overcome her circumstances
working at many demeaning jobs while trying to obtain
an education (mostly at night).
I highly recommend this book.
April 16, 2025
good
A great true story of the life of a young, poverty stricken Brazilian girl who grows up to rise above her poverty stricken family. The book started out kind of slow, setting the scene but soon took off where i had trouble putting it down.
A great true story of the life of a young, poverty stricken Brazilian girl who grows up to rise above her poverty stricken family. The book started out kind of slow, setting the scene but soon took off where i had trouble putting it down.
August 3, 2025
A story of survival
As I read this it reminded me of how fortunate I was to be raised in a home with two loving parents, a warm safe home and enough food to eat. The author is an amazing, strong woman and I hope someday she writes a sequel to this.
As I read this it reminded me of how fortunate I was to be raised in a home with two loving parents, a warm safe home and enough food to eat. The author is an amazing, strong woman and I hope someday she writes a sequel to this.
October 2, 2024
I could not put this book down. At the end I wanted more. Thank you Ioni Goldstein for sharing this extraordinary story.
January 8, 2025
A story of resilience
A candid view of a hard life, but definitely a story of resilience and triumph. The picture of Rebeca as well as Catarina’s Mom and Dad took my breath away
A candid view of a hard life, but definitely a story of resilience and triumph. The picture of Rebeca as well as Catarina’s Mom and Dad took my breath away
March 9, 2025
An amazing story about the life of a poor young girl and her struggles throughout her life
March 12, 2025
I don’t know why, but I found this book very slow and hard to get into -it took me nearly 6 weeks to finish it. I found that there’s a lot better books out there to read this.
April 27, 2025
I’m no quitter
This story was too long and had a lot of unnecessary filler…Catarina’s story could have been told with a lot less!
This story was too long and had a lot of unnecessary filler…Catarina’s story could have been told with a lot less!
June 5, 2025
I so wanted to like this but just couldn't get into it. Not sure why.
July 8, 2025
What an amazing true story and how Catarina went on to a very successful life.
Great read.
Great read.
August 16, 2025
very detailed. I'm sure all true
August 25, 2025
The story was fascinating, 3 stars for the writing though
November 8, 2025
Very sad. It just seems she was never quite happy. I hope she finds wholeness.
December 4, 2025
Didn’t really enjoy it. Poorly written in my opinion. Not what I expected.
February 4, 2026
A must read
This book is very good, starts out kinda slow but I feel it picks up. About half way through I couldn’t put it down
This book is very good, starts out kinda slow but I feel it picks up. About half way through I couldn’t put it down
June 9, 2026
Fantastic book!!
What a story I was completely mesmerized!! Couldn’t put it down. What guts and determination can accomplish Wow!!! Absolutely incredible!!
What a story I was completely mesmerized!! Couldn’t put it down. What guts and determination can accomplish Wow!!! Absolutely incredible!!
June 29, 2026
It's a long boring sad story. I can't believe I heard the whole thing. The audio woman is a monotone voice that goes right along with the story. LOL!
August 26, 2025
ON KINDLE
March 30, 2025
Such an incredible story. I really enjoyed this book and hearing about the authors experiences.
April 11, 2025
Good read!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews