Nellie Bishop

by Clara Gillow Clark, Andrea Shine (Illustrator)

In a tough Pennsylvania canal town in the late 1800s, thirteen-year-old Nellie Bishop faces an overwhelming struggle for freedom and dignity as she confronts an abusive mother, a drunken father, and an unwanted marriage

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

The youngest child in a family who came from "a long line of farmers and readers," Clara Gillow Clark began school in a one-room schoolhouse and-when she wasn't wanting to be an inventor, archaeologist, geologist, missionary, or solo violinist-grew increasingly drawn to writing. After marrying and having a son, she read a magazine article on children's author Judy Blume, who, like her, was a stay-at-home wife who sold her own crafts before starting her writing career. Inspired, Clara Gillow Clark began commuting to writing classes in New York City, while juggling jobs ranging from teacher's aide to store manager.


Her long efforts paid off. "Now I work at home,"she says, happily. When she's not writing--or reading, or teaching writing, or talking shop with other writers--she enjoys baking, gardening, and walking the dirt roads bordering her little red house, surrounded by her own meadows, woods, and lake. "Walking," she says, "is a love I learned from my father, who took his sprawling brood on nature walks and taught us to stop long enough to really see things."


Clara Gillow Clark lives in Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense, fast read. Found it in a 3rd grade library I have recently inherited and decided I should read it before recommending it. Good thing because this is definitely NOT a 3rd grade book! The themes and content are not for the little ones. Nellie lives with her little brother, Willie, her abusive mother, and alcoholic, gambling father. Ma and pa conspire to sell her now that she is 13 and old enough to be married. Nellie and Willie have a couple of adventures and get rescued in spite of themselves. Shocking to find out at the end that this is essentially a true story! Authentic, fast-paced, and imminently readable.

[Siosifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is this girl named Nellie Bishop and she is the main character in the book. Her mom wants to marry her away so she can get money doing that to her. The only thing is that Nellie doesn’t want to get married away yet. She meets someone who’s name is Daniel Martin. They get married on August 31,1886.

The theme in this book is to let your daughter choose her husband. Don’t try to be greedy and marry your daughter even though she wants to get married later in life. Let your daughter live her life.

I thought that this book was a good book and it is also so funny. She is hilarious throughout the book and makes the book really funny. I suggest that everyone should read this. This book is a very good book for everyone to read.

[Daryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story.

[Bish Denham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little novels tells the story of Clark's own great-grandmother, a child of destitute Irish parents in a Pennsylvania canal town. Nellie's will to improve the life of herself and younger brother, Willie, is both tragic and inspiring. As her parent's conspire to marry her off - at the tender age of 14 - Nellie struggles to make other plans, everything from running away to finding a job.

But when her parents sell her to the highest bidder, Nellie must decide whether to take the risk of accepting what has happened, or facing the world on her own.

It's so hard to imagine what Nellie's life must have been like, but Ms. Clark gives the reader a good look into some very harsh conditions while at the same time showing Nellie's love, determination, and courage.

[Ellen L. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating historical novel with a plucky heroine. Set in 1886, Nellie faces a grim future—her mother is determined to marry her off to a man who is an obnoxious drunkard, but he’s willing to pay. Nellie wants an education and a better future for herself and opportunities for her brother who wants to become a newspaper man. Nellie’s escape from the fate her mother has planned for her makes an intriguing story. It’s interesting to know the background of the book—Nellie’s story is based on the life of the author’s great-grandmother.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical fiction based on the life of the author's great-grandmother. It takes place in Pennsylvania in 1886. Nellie was a 13-year old living in terrible circumstances. Her father was alcoholic and a gambler and had lost everything they had ever had. Many times there was no food in the house. Her mother was abusive and angry at the world. Her mother had previously sold four daughters to canal workers. Now it was Nellie's turn. Nellie knows she must escape, but she knows she can't leave her 10-year old brother.