Shoo Fly Girl

American Regional

by Lois Lenski

Suzanna belonged to a big Amish family of nine children. They lived on a farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Suzanna got her nickname because one morning before breakfast she ate a whole shoo-fly pie that she had dropped on the floor. Although Suzanna does not dress like most children, although her family has few of the things that other families consider essential, she is a happy child and her life is a gay and lively one. Her steadfast love for her older brother, Jonas, helps to bring him through a difficult time of crisis. Through it all, she enjoys the sense of love and security that a closely knit family can give to each other.

Genres: Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Amish, Classics, Geography, Young Adult

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Lenski

Many of Lenski's books can be collated into 'series' - but since they don't have to be read in order, you may be better off just looking for more information here: http://library.illinoisstate.edu/uniq...

Probably her most famous set is the following:
American Regional Series

Beginning with Bayou Suzette in 1943, Lois Lenski began writing a series of books which would become known as her "regional series." In the early 1940s Lenski, who suffered from periodic bouts of ill-health, was told by her doctor that she needed to spend the winter months in a warmer climate than her Connecticut home. As a result, Lenski and her husband Arthur Covey traveled south each fall. Lenski wrote in her autobiography, "On my trips south I saw the real America for the first time. I saw and learned what the word region meant as I witnessed firsthand different ways of life unlike my own. What interested me most was the way children were living" (183).
In Journey Into Childhood, Lenski wrote that she was struck by the fact that there were "plenty of books that tell how children live in Alaska, Holland, China, and Mexico, but no books at all telling about the many ways children live here in the United States"

Bayou Suzette.
Strawberry Girl.
Blue Ridge Billy.
Judy's Journey.
Boom Town Boy.
Cotton in My Sack.
Texas Tomboy.
Prairie School.
Corn-Farm Boy.
San Francisco Boy.
Flood Friday.
Houseboat Girl.
Coal Camp Girl.
Shoo-Fly Girl.
To Be a Logger.
Deer Valley Girl.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanna, better known as Shoo-fly, is the spunky middle child in her large Amish family. The family loves nicknames so each child is affectionately known by a suitable moniker instead of their given name. Shoo-fly earns her nickname in the first chapter so you won’t have to wait long to see just how that came to be her new name.

Shoo-fly doesn’t feel like she quite fits in anywhere as she’s too young for her older siblings, and too old for her younger siblings. She finds herself alone most times with no close sibling to pair up with, yet she still manages to insert herself into playful situations. She prefers to fill her days with fun and leisure which often puts her at odds with the Amish lifestyle of hard work, submission, and steadfast faith. Most of her antics come about as a result of her strenuous efforts to avoid chores and work of any kind.

But as the days pass, there is a gentle and steady maturation happening. Both love and loss help shape Shoo-fly from a young, impulsive child into a secure and settled girl on the cusp of womanhood. She finds her place within her family and in the end decides that “Home was a good place after all. Home was peace and love.” (p. 176)

I enjoyed the broad perspective that I got to see of Shoo-fly. As the book starts out with her entertaining antics, it sets a tone and pace for the story that led me to believe I’d be enjoying a fun and humorous look at one child’s life among the Amish. But Shoo-fly is a multi-dimensional character and that is shown clearly through her internal conflict over the possible losses of that which she loves most in her life. Lenski has done an excellent job of enabling the reader to empathize with Shoo-fly as she matures and gains wisdom from her experiences. So while this is a fun and playful read at times, in the end I was left with heartwarming feelings of joy, love, and peace.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book; so far, it's my favorite of the Lenski regionals.

I learned a lot about the Amish culture and it made me curious to learn more. The illustrations are precious and so loving. In Lenski's introduction, she discusses her love of the Amish families she stayed with as she studied their culture and gained inspirations for her characters and it's very evident in her illustrations and the story lines.

I identified a lot with the little Shoo Fly Girl because she is very literal and when people say things to her, she takes them at their word even if they are being dramatic or sarcastic or what have you. Poor little Shoo Fly Girl experienced a lot of anxiety due to her sweet innocent gullibility followed by surprise and relief when she discovers things weren't meant to be taken literally. I saw so much of myself as a little girl in Shoo Fly Girl!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read much children's literature lately so this was a nice change. Lois Lenski wrote many books for children as well as doing her own illustrations. I loved her American Regional Series and read many of them as a child. I have re-read them over the past few years. Each book tells the story of a child and family in a different region of the United States back when regions were actually regional.

Shoo-Fly Girl is Suzanna growing up in an Amish family on a farm in Lancaster County, PA. Other families have cars, television, and ready made clothes. Suzanna and her siblings ride in horse-drawn buggies, wear clothes made by their mother, and do not even use electricity, though it is the early 1960s.

Suzanna got the nickname Shoo-Fly because one day she ate an entire shoo-fly pie, in secret. There is even a recipe! Her family gives everyone a nickname. It is hard to keep secrets in a family with nine children, though Suzanna and her adored older brother manage to keep quite a few.

The secrets and the experiences of these two children interacting with non-Amish friends are the heart of the story. Do they want to break away and live like their friends do or will they choose to remain Amish and live by the old ways? "We are Amish. We do not change." Those are the words they hear whenever they question the ways of their people.

It is a lovely story. As always, Lois Lenski did her research first, spending several weeks living with the Amish before writing her book. She brings it all to life: the strict but loving parents, the long hard days of chores, the deep underlying closeness and happiness in the family, and the stresses on the children who must come to terms with being different.

In this day and age, it feels a bit cultish though there is no evidence of any psycho, charismatic leader. Just a way of life being handed down for generations, very Bible based. According to what I could find on the internet, they are still going strong in Pennsylvania.

[Rachel B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

I had a hard time getting into this one.

The story in general was a bit disjointed. Then, too, many of the characters were rude or mean, something I really dislike seeing in children's books, particularly if those traits aren't addressed appropriately, and I didn't think Lenski did a great job of that in this book.

In the end, of course, everything works out and the last third of the story is probably the best part.

I can't remember if I read this book as a kid or not. Parts of it seemed familiar, but other parts didn't... so maybe I'm mixing it up with other books.

[Stasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel that this was probably the closest portrayal of the Amish that I have ever read, and probably that's due to the time of its writing. Having lived in Amish country my whole life, worked with and seen the Amish up close and first hand, I can tell you, they are NOT all that people make them out to be. This book really does a job of getting across the fact of just how self righteous the Amish are, and how it affects their relationship with others.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book, I learned a few things about the Amish that I didn't know (such as the fact that they don't worship in a church, but take turns meeting each week in different homes). I was also left with quite a few questions I might try to research later. I am probably guilty of stereotyping them into a grim lifestyle like the Puritans, and that's apparently not the case at all. Don't dismiss children's books. They can surprise you by being educational as well as entertaining.

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't remember if I read this one as a child--only Strawberry Girl, Prairie School and Blue Ridge Billy made an impression when I would have been the appropriate age.

Today they all would be as much a period piece for kids who might want to read them, though Shoo-fly Girl might be the closest still to describing its original subjects: the Old Order Amish in Pennsylvania are (IIRC) still pretty nearly as conservative as they are in this group. Though fifty years may have made a change or two in the Amish herein--they certainly have in the outside world--I have to wonder if even this most conservative group is so isolated as all that.

For those who weren't paying attention, related groups have spread out through Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and points west, all conservative, though none so much so as this. I've seen similarly attired family groups to Susanna's in the train station in Chicago, and even the airport in South Bend; they very calmly explain, to anyone who inquires, that some technology may be used for Godly purposes. Trains, automobiles and even airplanes are OK but not, say, a candy apple red little sports car.

[Donna Gabbard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one book that I will not be able to recommend to parents to let their child read. I see all of the 4 and 5 star reviews but I am just unable to give this book a high rating. There was so much disobedience among the children, especially Shoo-Fly and Jonas. Grandma has a serious accident, a cousin has a serious accident, a strange man (whom Shoo-Fly says she "hates") keeps showing up. When he finally "explains himself", he tells of being so interested in the Amish simple life because his children have wasted his money and that his wife and family have left him. I found this to be a very dark and disturbing book. I have several other Lois Lenski books that I have not read yet.......maybe they get better.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a favorite "feel good" book from my childhood. It is no longer in print, but a dear friend searched online and found a used coopy for me for my birthday. I have just finished reading it again, and it was as good as it was when I read it at age 9.

I love reading about the amish, and have continued to enjoy stories portraying them. This book is what started my fascination! I tried the shoo-fly pie recipe included, and it was great! All of my family (except 1) loved it!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this sweet little chapter book about the life of an Amish girl in Pennsylvania. Lois Lenski has always been a favorite of mine for her ability to capture the cultural differences throughout the United States, while also showing the universal struggles of growing up, no matter where one finds oneself.

[Jennifer Heise]

One of Lenski's series of books set around the country, this somewhat dated/classic book appears (from my Lancaster County experiences) to be a good depiction of Plain (Amish) life in early 20th century America. Suzanna is the middle child in her large Amish family, nicknamed Shoo Fly because of an incident with the regional delicacy. The story follows her life both in school and at home in the Amish community. It is set in the first half of the twentieth century but because of the nature of Plain (Amish) life, that hasn't aged it as much as you would think. Through Suzanna's eyes we are introduced to various parts of Amish life and customs, as well as her experiences growing up on the farm.

It is quite sympathetic to folks who remain in the Plain church and lifestyle, and to their parenting practices. Little Suzanna gets up to some trouble (especially in regards to her pet crow Jackie) and worries a lot about her brother; she also experiences two serious illnesses in the relatively short book. However, she is, as the author likes to think of the Amish children, relatively lighthearted except when struggling with the outside world. There is a saccharine plotline regarding a"English" (non-Amish) visitor to the community, and there is a relatively shocking incidence of violent pet death.

But it is overall a nice, quiet, nostalgic story, as the author I believe intended. (The mixing of English and Plain students in the school is the most dated part; Amish children, except those with special needs, generally don't attend English schools nowadays. I think the author's depiction of the town of New Holland may have been embroidered a little; I grew up near there and I doubt it was ever as large a commercial center as the author depicts it.)

Better than I would have expected, if quite nostalgic and childish. Those with Lancaster backgrounds and those looking for 'clean' middle grade readers may enjoy it most.

[Liza Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet book for young girls. I grew up reading this in elementary school and when I married the librarian gave me the exact copy I loved all those years. This book transports you to the world of the Amish and reminds you to slow down and enjoy the world and people around you.

[Quinn Swartzendruber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was much better than Strawberry Girl which won the Newberry. Maybe I’m partial because I have ancestors in the Amish/Mennonite tradition.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely story to introduce children to the Amish way of life. The author lived with the Amish in Lancaster County, PA for many months to get acquainted with them for this book.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend brought shoo-fly pie to our Pi(e) Day Party, which made me think of this book, so I tracked it down through the interlibrary loan system in our state in order to read it again. It is a cozy story, insights into every day life with a tiny bit of danger and worry to keep it interesting. But at the same time, it felt kind of disjointed - something I might not have noticed so much if I were in the target age group? I know I read many Lois Lenski books as a child and enjoyed them at the time. Despite being written in the 1960s, it doesn't feel very dated - although perhaps these days Jonas would be listening to hip-hop instead of jazz on the illicit radio :^)

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one we've been able to find; and I think the recipe in the back worked for us, unlike the one my mom already had (from a Pennsylvanian!)

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of Suzanna nicknamed Shoo Fly Girl and life in the Amish country.

[Jen Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a kid and loved it. Still haven't gotten my Shoo Fly pie though...

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember liking.

[Kathy Orr]

All lois Lensk's regional boos are awesome.