Megan

by Iris Noble

Life on a homestead ranch in western Canada proves to be full of surprises for Megan, a 17 year old plucked from a Welsh orphanage to homestead with a kindly farming family. The orphanage in which she grew up did not prepare her for family life - or for a world full of love.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Novels, Canada, Historical Fiction

223 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Born in Canada to American parents, Mrs. Noble grew up on a horse ranch, then reclaimed her American citizenship at eleven when she and her parents moved to Portland, Oregon. After studying English at the University of Oregon, she lived in California and worked as a secretary at a radio station while taking a few graduate classes at Stanford University. In 1941, she married Hollister Noble, also an author, and moved with him to New York City, where she began her free-lance career writing magazine articles and later books.

Although Ms. Noble wrote quite a few novels, she is probably most noted for her biographies for young adults. She was recognized by the Commonwealth of California in 1962 for First Ambulance Surgeon: Emily Barringer (1962). In 1983, Tingambato: Adventure in Archeology (1982) was awarded a silver medal by the New York Academy of Sciences. Another famous biography, Joseph Pulitzer: A Front Page Pioneer (1957), has since been translated into over 5 languages. She died on June 30, 1986 in Patzcuaro, Mexico.

Reviews

[Megan Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I chose this book because the main character shares my name, but I found it to be a warm, funny, and gentle love and adventure story. There's little violence, little or no swearing, nothing really "objectionable," even by modern standards. Just a sweet, wonderful book that made me feel warm and fuzzy to read.

5/5 on here, 10/10 for myself

[AngieA Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second romance novel I ever read. The first was Something Foolish, Something Gay. I bought it with my allowance from Scholastic Book Club in 7th grade. I won't tell you when that was! Megan is a Welsh orphan traveling to Canada with a family who needed a hired girl to help on their homestead. She learns to work, to love, and what it means to be part of a family. She also learns what it means to be part of something larger than herself and how people come together from different backgrounds to form a nation.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about an orphan whose journeys to Canada as a hired girl and finds the love and affection she had always yearned for from a stern Welsh family, not to mention a romantic young man with the lively personality she never had the opportunity to develop. The author devotes time to the concept of a Canadian melting pot, despite the prejudices of the English speaking immigrants towards the more rowdy European families. Disaster brings the groups together in this novel.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple, easy to read book with a valuable message about acceptance of cultural differences.

The setting is a city called Frank in Alberta, Canada during the early 19th Century immigration to the west.

The book's rural setting and conflicts pitting men and the land are reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie. In addition this book contains issues surrounding immigrants and cultural diversity, belonging to a family and community, and learning to love and be loved in return.

[Laurie Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

After seeing a goodreads friend also loved Emmy Keeps a Promise, I decided to add some books I read and loved as a child. This is one of them. I strongly recommend it. I actually hunted down a copy a few years ago and it sits proudly on my bookshelves today.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this tale and wished that it was a series. I would like to read what happened to Megan after she was grown. I liked how differences are set aside in times of emergency and everyone pulls together.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing as she was orphaned at an early age and raised in a very strict Welsh orphanage, Megan's pretty unrealistic; she has no trouble with household tasks and planting a garden, things she's never done before, and little to no problems with social skills. But she's appealing, and the story is good. And the book takes place near the town of Frank in Alberta--if you've read The Moon By Night, you know how this story ends. Or if you know more Canadian history than I do.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has always been one of my favorites. It is a smooth, easy read and keeps the audience engaged. "Megan" is well written and has very descriptive images and chracters. The character of Megan is very well rounded and seems like she could be a real person. She goes through many emotions and is very relatable. I believe that a girl of any age would enjoy this novel.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has always been one of my "classics" of Young Adult Lit. If you or your children are a fan of the Little House series, you'll love this one.

[Bruce M · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this at all. I had to read it for school in Grade 8. It was like pulling teeth. I ended up reading chapters 4 through 7. Somehow I managed a 90% on my book report, though.

[Kidlitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hot title among Canadian girls who bought from the Scholastic Book Service, especially as we rarely got our hands on a book that features such a fetching heroine straight out of a sixties fashion shoot. Megan is actually a turn of the century Welsh orphan hired girl who finds her destiny on the Canadian prairies, in the form of a loving family, hard work, and a dashing Polish boy. Yes, Canada is a mosaic, not a melting pot, and that message comes through but more importantly, that any country can benefit by accepting immigrants with all their customs and differences, still working together.

[Jess Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming book about those settling out west in Canada. Some historic information on the Frank Slide and how settlers pulled together to rebuild. Te heroine of the book is funny and strong willed. One of my favorites and impossible to find any more.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ended up really disliking this because of scenes of animals being slaughtered on the farm. Ended up trading it away when I was done with it.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Heidi and Anne of Green Gables

[Hannah Heatwole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! Wonderfully written, I felt like I was right there with Megan.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet simple story, even though it's dated.