Stink Alley

by Jamie Gilson

The year is 1614. Recently orphaned Lizzy Tinker has lived half of her twelve years in Holland, but she does not feel at home there. Lizzy belongs to a small congregation of religious refugees who have fled England in order to worship as they choose. The Dutch people enjoy a free and easy lifestyle that Master William Brewster constantly admonishes his austere English Pilgrims to resist.

Many find this difficult, including Lizzy. Although the Brewsters took her in when her father died, she doesn't feel at home with them either. Her undisciplined tongue always seems to get her in trouble. What is more, Lizzy has a talent for cooking, and she loves making sinfully delicious Dutch cookies and cakes. Her kitchen craft has landed her a job cooking for a Dutch family whose precocious eight-year-old son has a stubborn nature, artistic talent, and nose for trouble even greater than Lizzy's own. Heaven help her now!

With meticulous research and great imagination, Jamie Gilson has created an authentic, entertaining story that brings to life seventeenth- century Holland and the unique culture that fostered both the Mayflower Pilgrims and master painters such as Rembrandt.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Read For School, School, Middle Grade, Childrens, Young Adult

183 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Fun* historical fiction! Omg, I just had the best time w/ a Juv. HF that I can recall. Sure, I learned a lot. Especially because it's a period and place I knew almost nothing about before. And sure, Lizzie had a tough life, so the book wasn't all giggles. But it was well-written, interesting, and heartwarming, and I fell in love with all three principal children, and want to know more about them (between the end of the book and the epilogue). I will absolutely look for more by the author. Highly recommended.

[mairiachi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a little bit boring, didn't end very well, was kind of anticlimactic, and I hated how the author portrays the Puritans. People always think of the Puritans as being stodgy, uptight, and down on laughter and fun and love. But if you read their letters, they were happy, had strong families, cared about each other, laughed and had good times. They weren't so mean as Mr. Brewster is portrayed. It makes me mad when people wrote books with Puritans in them and they're stereotypical Puritans. It's like saying that trees have yellow leaves. Right, once in a while they have yellow leaves, but most of the time, when you think of trees you think of them with green leaves, because that's what they normally look like. Puritans were normally happy, just like everyone else. So I didn't like that.

I also didn't like how she was portrayed as a good person for being mad at someone who's being nice to her by letting her stay there.

I didn't like how flyaway she was and how wild she seemed to be.

I thought it was dumb who the boy turned out to be because of course it's going to be someone famous, it's not going to be just any old boy-with-a-weird-name. And of course he's going to tell her in the end.

It was tedious and I didn't like any of the characters. I wouldn't waste my time reading it, if I were you. Thanks but no thanks for recommending it, JJ. I need to stop listening to you lol (jk, you have had good suggestions).

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What was life like in Holland for the Pilgrims before they left for the New World? This book tells you. The painter Rembrandt shows up as well.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not excellent :( It was entertaining though; a nice twist to the historical setting and outline, and there quite a few parts when I felt excited and felt the story was moving along better. Still, I kept wishing Lizzy was older! Then Will and Jan would have been older; so I just would have liked to see more of the romance side of things for her. Coupled with more action and danger, perhaps to do with the spies, I would have found it thoroughly enjoyable. And I would have preferred to see her and Will together, not Jan.
Also, I would never have actually bought a copy of Stink Alley; I had this for school so I had to read it. It was easy reading though :)

(I don't like the cover at all, hehehe)

[Jenna Marie ~Scheming Scribbler~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute and eye opening to what the Puritans lived through. There is very little plot, but the characters are well developed and amusing. I have a hard time deciding what to rate this book; parts I really liked, and others I didn't like at all. I would probably give it about 3.5 stars in all, because it was a quick, pleasant read, but not very substantial beyond that. It would probably be more fitting for younger audiences (under 10), but I wouldn't exactly recommend it.

[Charsia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a good mix between a child's mind when faced with hard situations and a good insight to what was happening around the time of the 1610s, in England.
I was reading this book while studying American history, and how the Separatists fled to Holland so they could worship their own religion freely, since back then, a church like that was the kind King James didn't approve of.

It was fun to read about a kid who I felt like I could get along with, while reading about one of (in my opinion) the most interesting time in history- or part of it, anyways.

[The other John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stink Alley is the tale of Lizzy Tinker, an orphaned Puritan girl living in Holland in 1614 with the rest of the Puritan exiles from England. It's not an easy life. Not only is there the challenge to live up to the expectations of the Puritan leaders, but as refugees, the Puritans are stuck working lousy, low paying jobs. Lizzy manages to land a temporary job with a Dutch family, and intertwined with her interactions with the family's obnoxious 8-year-old son, Lizzy shares the story of the Puritan group's difficult journey from England. The theme of the book--a spunky, young girl straining against a repressive culture--is all too common, but this peek into the lives of the Pilgrims before they sailed on the Mayflower is different. Ms. Gilson does do a nice job of conveying life in 17th Century Holland without hitting the reader over the head with factoids. Reading Stink Alley wouldn't be a bad way to spend the afternoon, but it's not good enough to make me want to rush out and buy a copy.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 4-6 180 pgs

1614, Leyden, Holland. 12 year old orphan Lizzy misses her father and the way he always seemed to understand her. On her own, Lizzy is taken in by William Brewster, the head of the Pilgrim group, but William Brewster disapproves of Lizzy and feels she's a bad influence on his children. Trying to earn her keep, Lizzie finds a job baking for a Dutch family and caring for their little boy (who would one day grow up to be Rembrandt). Like Lizzie, the little boy has a habit of getting into trouble...

Good read. Interesting to read this book after reading Monjo's "The House on Stink Alley".

[AnnaScott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet book. I loved Lizzy and her fun personality, but William Brewster really bothered me. He took Lizzy in after her father died, but blamed everything that went wrong in his house on her, and just overall was not a likable character. Rembrandt (van Rijn) was adorable, and it was cool to see the famous artist as a child. I was sad that Will left and never came back, but the ending did turn out well. Overall it was a very interesting peek into the Pilgrims' lives before they set sail on the Mayflower, with all of their challenges and trials.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful story for young children about the American Pilgrims' initial stay in Leiden, Holland in 1614 before coming to America to found the Plymouth colony. Rembrandt himself also makes an appearance as a mischievous 8-year-old boy who loves drawing and hates going to school. Gilson paints an insightful picture of life for the pilgrims and their families in freedom-loving Holland where they had fled to escape religious oppression in England.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun look at what the lives of the pilgrims were like. A lot of books about the pilgrims don't talk much about their personal lives and seem kind of dry and detail-oriented, but this one is a glimpse of their traditions, what they believed, the kind of "fun" they allowed, and what the lives of their children were like.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute historical fiction for kids set in the early 1600s. Lizzy and her family move to Holland to freely practice their religion because of persecution in England. However, Lizzy is left an orphan and lives with one of the religious leaders. She tries to earn a living by finding a job as a cook's helper. This book is full of humor and situations that cause reflection.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good historical fiction book because it teaches its readers about an interesting culture most people would not know about. It is also told in an entertaining way. I like how realistic the historic event is. I think the main character is relate-able too. I would add this book to me classroom library.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read it for school. It was an easy read, I read it in 2 days. Compared to all the other books i've had to read for school it was pretty good. It didn't feel like I was reading Historical Fiction at all.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

not exactly my type of story, but i htought it was pretty good.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that revealed a different perspective of the Seperatists. It was easy to connect with the main character.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story, I was just disappointed that Will didn't stay.

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! Couldn't put it down, it has good insight from before the pilgrims came to America.

[LiterarySparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is rather off-putting to me, and I didn't expect to finish this book, but once I started I decided to devote a couple of hours to finishing it, if for no other reason than to be able to count it toward my 2024 total.

It's better than the title suggested. The story is straightforward and straightforwardly told. There is nothing notable about the prose, which draws no attention to itself either through extraordinary sensitivity of expression or through dreadful errors. The plot moves along at a steady clip, and the setting is drawn with great attention to accurate details of daily life. (Sometimes a little too much detail for my squeamish, pampered modern stomach.) The protagonist Lizzie is engaging. The little boy she encounters repeatedly is annoying and endearing by turns, which is exactly as he should be since that is how Lizzie experiences him.

The Separatist adults, particularly William Brewster, do not particularly endear themselves to the modern reader, and this is not helped by Lizzie's coming of age story. It is a historical fact that the Separatists believed the Dutch to be insufficiently pious and eventually left Leiden for the New World because many of their young people were leaving their community. In that respect, Lizzie represents a historical reality. I do wonder whether the Separatists truly were as grim and humorless as their contemporaries outside their community painted them. That is not, I suppose, a question that a book such as this can either wrestle with or answer.

In my opinion, this is a book to read for brief immersion in the culture of the early 17th century and perhaps to raise discussion about what it means for a child to honor her parents/elders while discovering her own place in the world. Overall, it is a decent story, reasonably well told.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I had the time to pick up this book, I read chapters at a time and was curious as to what would happen next. It wasn't a glorious read. It definitely isn't a favorite read. Many characters made me emotional, but I think it was a valuable read and I'm glad that it was in the listing for my daughter's reading this year. Most of the Puritan tales I have experienced have started on the ship or after landing on American shores. This was a Dutch hiatus that I had never given much thought toward. I cannot fully imagine the time and the trials that people had to endure because our world has changed so much, stories that incorporate the harshnesses of history almost seem on the line of fantasy. I hope people can remember history so they can strive to make the future better, but we shall see, as evil still lingers everywhere as well as God's grace.

I bought this in a set from Sonlight Curriculum. They have a referral program with rewards. "Refer a friend to Sonlight and earn $10 when they make their first purchase. They’ll get $10 off their first purchase too. New customers only. $100.00 order Minimum." Here's my link: https://www.sonlight.com/?awraf=7584E...

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot and the story felt so lifelike. As a non-denominational Christian the legalistic Puritanism drove me bonkers but it was necessary for the story and historically accurate. One of my favorite things was how the author worked Rembrandt into the story line AND made him comical. And also... WILL WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BACK! At least in my mind. I still liked the way it ended though.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5 stars. This quick read depicts life in Leiden from the eyes of a young English orphan girl, one of the Separatists living there in 1614. She lives with the Brewster family, but is not entirely happy there, since she often finds their beliefs somewhat repressive. This is really a coming-of-age story, as Lizzie begins to believe in herself, and that maybe, just maybe, she should be allowed to make her own decisions about her life. Recommended.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the wincing title and the overly whimsical cover art, this book was much more interesting than I expected. I honestly don't see how these people (who fled the Church of England and relocated in Holland) stood the oppressively dogmatic leaders and their constant barraging about sin. There's a neat little twist at the end I didn't see coming regarding one of the characters--and Lilly is a good protagonist who learns to sort through all she's told and think for herself.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventuresome and feisty 12-year-old Lizzy Tinker has to learn how to fit in with her community, 17th century Puritans in Holland, William Brewster, head of the separatist movement, takes in the orphan as his own and encourages her to work hard and resist temptation. Lizzy struggles to do what is right. Candace read 2/09.

[Chris Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is it called Stink alley??
My mom keeps calling it Stinky alley-it’s so weird.
I feel like they needed more of Patience and Fear Brewster in the story. Mr Brewster would be better if he wasn’t so strict. But overall it’s okay.

[Janneke]

A lovely story about Pilgrim life in Holland before the departure of the Mayflower.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Lizzy's spirited approach to life and her independent thinking, even as she wrestles with being good.

[Becky Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable historical fiction for middle schoolers. A fun-loving 12-year-old has been forced to flee England with very strict Puritans and take on adult responsibilities in order to survive.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictional account of a young girl who could have been one of the separatists when they moved to Holland and the decisions she made for her own life.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for our homeschool: This was a really good book about some of the people who were fleeing England to have religious freedom. In the case of this book it was to Netherlands which is different than the typical story of the Pilgrims. A very fun read!