New Friends

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman #1

by Colleen O'Shaughnessy McKenna

Unable to understand why the troublesome Laura McCoy has been causing problems for her lately, Colleen Cooper tries to keep her distance, until both girls are thrust together in a strange town and forced to stick together.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

A former elementary school teacher, Colleen O'Shaughnessy McKenna lives in Pittsburgh with her family. She is best known for her Murphy series, based on her own family.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with my teeangaed daughter. It was entertaining enough and fun to read about a few characters from the Dr. Quinn television series; however I would've liked a story more about the townspeople and the relationships in town. In this book, Colleen and a new character who was not on the television show go to another town to compete in a spelling bee and it was a fun story, but I read the book hoping for more interplay between the characters from the television show.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

ERMEGERSH! YOU GUYS! There's such a thing as Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman books!

It was a cute little book. The target audience is preteens, and you definitely need to be at least a little familiar with the show. But if you know anyone who fits that description, this is a good book for them.

[Melissa Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The timeline in this book is wrong. The train had already arrived in Colorado when Dr Mike and Sully were married.

[Ev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up, I loved Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman on TV. It was nice to read about those characters in the novelization of the show. Light reading but inspiring as well.

[Amy Brobst · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoilers ahead*. I started reading this book this morning and finished it right after dinner. It was very good. I enjoyed the rivalry between Laura (is she in the tv series, cause I don't remember such a character), and Colleen. And the eventual friendship. I did think Laura was a little mean, saying that Colleen has it easy, and the Reverend (who is their teacher for this book and part of the tv series), treated Colleen nicer because her mom was Dr. Mike and more respected than Maudie McCoy who is Hank's cook at the Saloon (again, I don't think this character was in the tv series). And maybe that is somewhat true, but it was mean for Laura to say things like that instead of showing her own merits as a student and as a person.
I really liked how they switched places when they are around people who don't know them and Laura is basically proved right when the people around them treat Laura kindly when they think she's the daughter of a doctor and Colleen badly because they think she is the daughter/ granddaughter of the saloon's cook. One guy goes so far to treat her as if she is a prostitute herself, which if I was Colleen, I would have slapped him so hard. Unfortunately, this attitude has never changed, because people are still treated like crap when their parents work jobs that are considered lower-class and we still over-idolize people who are born to 'high-class' jobs.
It drives me crazy. Seriously. Don't get me started on a rant about this.
Okay, to continue my review: when Laura first suggested the switch, I thought maybe she was going to play a prank on Colleen of some sort, but I was glad to see that she didn't, she was just trying to get Colleen to walk a mile in her shoes.
Something I would have liked to have seen- Dr. Mike's reaction to Colleen and Laura switching places.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

For you, mom, lol

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love Dr. Quinn. AND Colleen O'Shaughnessy McKenna is from Pittsburgh.