The Bread Sister of Sinking Creek: Life on the Pennsylvania Frontier

Bread Sister Trilogy #1

by Robin Moore

A moving saga of youndecg Maggie Callahan, who arrives after a long journey from Philadelphia to live with her Aunt Franny, only to find an empty cabin. Becoming part of a strange family, the courageous Maggie faces difficult choices of life on the frontier. "Vividly portrays the danger and excitement of early America."--Los Angeles Times Book Review.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Juvenile

179 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1990

About the author

Robin Moore has made his living as an children's book author and traveling storyteller for more than thirty years. He grew up in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania, where his Scots-Irish ancestors have lived for more than 200 years. He served as a combat soldier in Vietnam, earned a Journalism Degree from Pennsylvania State University and worked as a newspaper reporter and magazine editor. He was written more than a dozen books, published by the world's largest publishers and was named Author of the Year by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. He was presented more than 5,000 Storytelling programs and workshops and has told stories to more than one million people. He was named National Storyteller of the Year. Robin holds a Masters Degree in Oral Traditions and serves on the faculty of The Graduate Institute.

Reviews

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went on a library tour of Western Pennsylvania so I could reread this guy while home for the holidays. As a 9-year old, this book was peak frontier adventure-story with a bad-a** female lead who not only survives on her own in the wilderness, but also bakes bread for all her friends!

For just over 150 pages, this book is ACTION-packed. Maggie Callahan, a teenager sent to live with her aunt and uncle in central Pennsylvania, arrives to find her family has headed West without her a la Home Alone 1 and 2. At her aunt's abandoned cabin, Maggie meets Jake Logan--regrettably not a hot boy with a promising surf/modeling career--but a grizzly 60-something year old mountain man who is most *definitely* a sexual predator. SOS.

After surviving drowning in a river, being buried alive in snow, and burning to ashes in the fire that destroyed her cabin, Maggie works her way into the hearts and stomachs of her frontier community, but eventually leaves it all to travel West with J-Dawg Logan to find her Aunt Franny after all. Stay tuned for Book 2!

[Emma Grace Blumer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really worth it- there’s better historical fiction out there, in my vain opinion (:

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in jr. high or earlier. I loved it. It even has a recipe for yeast starter, which I made. Very cool book. I want to re-read it sometime soon.

[The Hobbit · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her mother died, Maggie Callahan left her home in Philadelphia and travelled 14 days to live with her Aunt Franny on the frontier in Pennsylvania. It was her aunt who had taught her how to make the bread for which the Callahans were noted. And it was Aunt Franny who had given her the "spook starter" to make her bread, the starter Maggie carried around her neck in a leather pouch. Maggie had been so excited to see Aunt Franny again that she couldn't believe Franny's cabin was abandoned when she reached it. An old hunter told her Franny and her husband had moved farther west to Ohio. Maggie was city girl — what dd she know about living alone in a cabin? It was the Callahan bread who led to her being taken in by a wealthy frontier family as a bound servant. Mr McGrew was friendly, but Mrs McGrew was bitter and secretive. Their daughter Anna had been in "an accident" that left the girl deaf and mute. Their son Lucas was a baby. Since the McGrew's kitchen did not have a bread oven, Maggie hiked to her aunt's cottage once a week to bake bread— first for herself and the McGrews, but then for more and more of the neighbors in the valley. Maggie would trade loaves of bread for food and supplies the McGrews and eventually she needed. After the first winter with the McGrews, Maggie moved into her aunt's cabin. It was not an easy life, but she was a strong girl. The neighbors, especially the McGrews, thought it unseemly for Maggie to be living alone especially when there was a young man who wanted to marry her. When disaster struck and she lost everything, Maggie had to make the biggest decision of her life. A very readable account of frontier life with a spunky main character!

[Rereader · Rating 3 out of 5]

2022 April Its Raining Rereads Challenge
Self-imposed Bonus Prompt: reread a book you read in school you barely remember

Okay, weird bonus prompt but just stick with me. When I was in elementary school, I had to read this book when we were discussing frontiers, pioneers, etc. And I kid you not, the only thing I remembered about this book is that there was bread in it. That's it. So after remembering that I read this book waaay back in the olden days, I decided to give it a reread. And it was pretty good.

While the men were pretty obnoxious for the most part (Jake's the only one that gets any character development and that just amounts to him being less condescending and patronizing), I did like Maggie's character development and growth. Also, I loved the ending. Good for you, Maggie, you strong, independent woman!

The descriptions of life on the frontier were good and concise (something I'm practically ravenous for in this era of overly descriptive language) and while the plot isn't much to speak of, it works well enough. I feel like this is akin to Out of the Dust were it predominantly exists to educate younger readers about growing up in the frontier without reading like a textbook.

Overall, this was a fast and solid read. I don't have any major complaints, but it wasn't the greatest middle grade book ever either. Read it if you're interested.

[PAMpublish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful historical story about a young orphaned lass who traveled from Philadelphia to find her aunt and her husband in the Central Hills of Pennsylvania only to learn they had traveled west. Able to settle in at her old cabin with the help of an ancient mountain man, she endeared the yonder village with her aunt's famous spook bread recipe, thus making a life amongst them. After two years, and several unfortunate incidences in this wild country, she had to make a decision whether to stay and marry or go. (Having kin this area, it has always been of interest to me, recommending it to anyone who has a love of our country's historical beginnings).

[Rick Hribko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the characters of Maggie and Jake in this book so much that even though I read this first one to recommend for my sixth graders, I am ready to read the next books in this trilogy.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit slow sometimes, but it's good.

[Kate Wisniewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite book from fourth grade and it's still just as good as I remembered it being.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 5-8 146 pgs

14 year old orphan Maggie Callahan makes the dangerous journey to the Pennsylvania frontier to live with her aunt, only to discover that her aunt and uncle have moved West. At first, the other settlers insist that Maggie go back to Philadelphia, but Maggie is sure she can find a home here. Maggie is taken in as a servant by the McGrew family and uses her family's secret bread recipe to make a place for herself in town. Maggie can see that the McGrew family has suffered a tragedy, but no one wants to talk about it. Maggie wonders what it could be...

I think this book would appeal to readers who enjoyed "The Bread Winner" by Arvella Whitmore.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago (like in 4th grade) and all I remember was that this book was the one the started my love of reading. I'm sure if I reread it I could find all kinds of things I didn't like, but simply because this is the one that started it all, it gets five stars. I'm forever grateful.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this and the following books when the author came to speak at my elementary school. Distinctly remember liking the books but being frustrated by his comments about writing which directly contradicted everything I, a budding author I was sure, thought to be true about the craft. Oh well.

[Leah Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is about a journey of a girl that travels from Philadelphia to live with her aunt Franny. it counts as one book.

[Jamie Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading and rereading this book after the author came to speak at my elementary school.

[Gogreengirl85 · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Bread Sister of Sinking Creek" is an "eh" book not that good of a book the author needs to add more details about the people.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much

[Michelle]

Listed as Q3 = A good story with some faults, P3 = A booktalk on this title will excite most people’s interest