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Remembrance "Mem" Nye
The Road to Home
Thirteen-year-old Remembrance “Mem” Nye has had much more than her share of responsibility since her mother died. It’s too hard caring for her younger brother and baby sister, and Mem looks forward to returning to the family fold at her grandmother’s house. But their journey back home is delayed when they reach Rome, New York, and Mem’s father joins the crew that is digging the Erie Canal. Mem soon realizes her father isn’t up to providing for them and won’t take them to their grandmother’s. Mem feels her only choice is to pick up and walk with the children all the way to Connecticut. She has faced many challenges. This journey will be the greatest challenge of all.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
122 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Auch
48 books69 followersMary Jane Auch also writes as MJ Auch.
The thought of becoming a writer never occurred to MJ Auch as a child. Her only literary efforts in those days were the plays which she and her girlfriend, Noreen, wrote for their marionettes. They produced these extravaganzas in Noreen’s garage and organized the neighborhood boys into a sales force to sell tickets and refreshments.
Summer visits to both of MJ’s grandmothers led to her fascination with chickens. One grandmother had a small backyard flock and the other grandmother and two bachelor uncles had a large farm that supplied eggs to half of Long Island. MJ learned that a flock of chickens had almost the same range of personalities that could be found in a classroom, from the quiet, shy chicken to the big bully.
MJ loved books and read constantly. She wrote stories, drawn in comic book style with speech balloons for the dialog. Her interest in drawing continued through high school, and she went on to become an art major at Skidmore College. After graduation, MJ headed for New York City to seek fame and fortune, but after a year of designing prints for men's pajamas, she decided she wanted to do something more meaningful with her life. She enrolled in the Occupational Therapy program at Columbia University, which led to some wonderful years of working in a children's hospital near Hartford, Connecticut.
On a brief stop home to visit her parents before transferring to a new job in Denver, she met Herm Auch, a graphic artist and editorial cartoonist for the Rochester newspaper. It was love at first sight, and MJ never made it to Denver. They were married in 1967 and within a few years had produced a daughter, Katrin and a son, Ian. They moved from the city to a small farm, complete with chickens, ducks, and geese. Armed with a huge collection of Mother Earth News and absolutely no practical experience, they tackled farm life with gusto, gaining much comedy material for books MJ’s future books.
As the children grew older, MJ began to look for work in her original field of art. Like Jenna's mother in Mom Is Dating Weird Wayne, she had a brief stint as a “zit zapper” at a school picture factory. Then she started illustrating for Pennywhistle Press, a national children's newspaper, and this sparked her interest in illustrating children’s books.
In the summer of 1984, MJ took a week-long children's writing conference on Cape Cod. She tried to write a picture book manuscript to take to the conference, but instead found herself writing a middle-grade novel. When her instructor, Natalie Babbitt, told of starting out as an artist and finding she could paint better pictures with words, something clicked. MJ finally knew that she wanted to a writer.
She started sending manuscripts to publishers, writing four full-length novels before she sold the first one. Then she sold a second book to another publisher that same week. It had taken two years and thirteen rejections, but MJ had finally reached her goal!mShe continued writing books for older kids and abandoned her dream of illustrating for a while. Then, after nine books, she wrote and illustrated The Easter Egg Farm. This set in motion a series of picture books featuring poultry involved in the arts.
The Auchs have now become a family of artists. Their children are grown and pursuing art careers of their own. Kat, a graphic artist, is now working as Associate Art Director for Scrapbook Answers Magazine in San Francisco. Ian has been a graphic artist and 3-D animator and is now Assistant New Media Editor for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. Ian is also a metal artist and created the chicken-sized beauty parlor chair for [b:Beauty and the Beaks|1918127|Beaut
The thought of becoming a writer never occurred to MJ Auch as a child. Her only literary efforts in those days were the plays which she and her girlfriend, Noreen, wrote for their marionettes. They produced these extravaganzas in Noreen’s garage and organized the neighborhood boys into a sales force to sell tickets and refreshments.
Summer visits to both of MJ’s grandmothers led to her fascination with chickens. One grandmother had a small backyard flock and the other grandmother and two bachelor uncles had a large farm that supplied eggs to half of Long Island. MJ learned that a flock of chickens had almost the same range of personalities that could be found in a classroom, from the quiet, shy chicken to the big bully.
MJ loved books and read constantly. She wrote stories, drawn in comic book style with speech balloons for the dialog. Her interest in drawing continued through high school, and she went on to become an art major at Skidmore College. After graduation, MJ headed for New York City to seek fame and fortune, but after a year of designing prints for men's pajamas, she decided she wanted to do something more meaningful with her life. She enrolled in the Occupational Therapy program at Columbia University, which led to some wonderful years of working in a children's hospital near Hartford, Connecticut.
On a brief stop home to visit her parents before transferring to a new job in Denver, she met Herm Auch, a graphic artist and editorial cartoonist for the Rochester newspaper. It was love at first sight, and MJ never made it to Denver. They were married in 1967 and within a few years had produced a daughter, Katrin and a son, Ian. They moved from the city to a small farm, complete with chickens, ducks, and geese. Armed with a huge collection of Mother Earth News and absolutely no practical experience, they tackled farm life with gusto, gaining much comedy material for books MJ’s future books.
As the children grew older, MJ began to look for work in her original field of art. Like Jenna's mother in Mom Is Dating Weird Wayne, she had a brief stint as a “zit zapper” at a school picture factory. Then she started illustrating for Pennywhistle Press, a national children's newspaper, and this sparked her interest in illustrating children’s books.
In the summer of 1984, MJ took a week-long children's writing conference on Cape Cod. She tried to write a picture book manuscript to take to the conference, but instead found herself writing a middle-grade novel. When her instructor, Natalie Babbitt, told of starting out as an artist and finding she could paint better pictures with words, something clicked. MJ finally knew that she wanted to a writer.
She started sending manuscripts to publishers, writing four full-length novels before she sold the first one. Then she sold a second book to another publisher that same week. It had taken two years and thirteen rejections, but MJ had finally reached her goal!mShe continued writing books for older kids and abandoned her dream of illustrating for a while. Then, after nine books, she wrote and illustrated The Easter Egg Farm. This set in motion a series of picture books featuring poultry involved in the arts.
The Auchs have now become a family of artists. Their children are grown and pursuing art careers of their own. Kat, a graphic artist, is now working as Associate Art Director for Scrapbook Answers Magazine in San Francisco. Ian has been a graphic artist and 3-D animator and is now Assistant New Media Editor for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. Ian is also a metal artist and created the chicken-sized beauty parlor chair for [b:Beauty and the Beaks|1918127|Beaut
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 3, 2016
THE ROAD HOME is a most suitable conclusion to the Remembrance "Mem" Nye Trilogy. Mem turns 13 years of age in this book, and she has her hands full with a difficult younger brother Joshua and 1-year old baby sister Lily. Just when I thought their family couldn't (or shouldn't) unwind further, Mem faces even greater obstacles in the 1817 relative frontier of western New York.
One of the hardest realizations Mem comes to (as well as most human beings) is reconciling the love of a parent with the truth of that parent's failings, faults, and imperfections. Mem's already lost her mother--now her father's signed up to work the Eerie Canal and she's essentially on her own. The story progresses in such a manner that I cared about the children, their needs, their struggles, and found the conclusion to be a surprise and yet most rewarding. True to history, it's the only ending that makes sense. I'm pleased to say I didn't see that ending coming.
This book is appropriate for readers of all ages. It may have been written for youth but I found it entertaining and enjoyable.
One of the hardest realizations Mem comes to (as well as most human beings) is reconciling the love of a parent with the truth of that parent's failings, faults, and imperfections. Mem's already lost her mother--now her father's signed up to work the Eerie Canal and she's essentially on her own. The story progresses in such a manner that I cared about the children, their needs, their struggles, and found the conclusion to be a surprise and yet most rewarding. True to history, it's the only ending that makes sense. I'm pleased to say I didn't see that ending coming.
This book is appropriate for readers of all ages. It may have been written for youth but I found it entertaining and enjoyable.
March 23, 2013
I absolutely love this series. The author does a great job showing how foolish and weak Mem's father is and you can't rely on anyone but yourself. Mem is a great example of a headstrong woman who learns to take care of herself and her family because she's smart enough to realize that her father won't do it. The author clearly did her research and easily includes many facts throughout the book. I'm so sad it's over! After watching Mem grow up, finishing the book was like saying goodbye to a dear friend. Cheers to a job well done =)
May 6, 2008
This is the final book in the series about Mem Nye.
Following the death of her mother, Mem's father tells the kids that they will go back to CT. However, there is always something to keep them from getting started. Finally they head back, but Father gets detained in Rome, NY where he joins in the work of building the Erie Canal. He leaves his three children alone in a tavern room from Monday to Sat night, spends that whole night carousing and then sleeps it off on Sun, then back to work. Mem decides that she will just have to get back to CT without her father's help.
I realize that the author was probably trying to accentuate the strength of the heroine, but in this book as well as the last, she made the parents out to be so irresponsible and selfish and stupid, and of course, the only one with any sense was the teenaged daughter. Does that scenario sound familiar to anyone? Look at any sitcom or 'teen' movie and you'll see the same thing. The prevailing attitude is that parents are stupid and teenagers are much smarter.
I liked the adventure in the book, but disliked the treatment of the parents' characters. Of course they had weaknesses, we all do, but I believe it would have been better to have the father overcome his weakness and take charge of his family again rather than the way the book ending was written.
Following the death of her mother, Mem's father tells the kids that they will go back to CT. However, there is always something to keep them from getting started. Finally they head back, but Father gets detained in Rome, NY where he joins in the work of building the Erie Canal. He leaves his three children alone in a tavern room from Monday to Sat night, spends that whole night carousing and then sleeps it off on Sun, then back to work. Mem decides that she will just have to get back to CT without her father's help.
I realize that the author was probably trying to accentuate the strength of the heroine, but in this book as well as the last, she made the parents out to be so irresponsible and selfish and stupid, and of course, the only one with any sense was the teenaged daughter. Does that scenario sound familiar to anyone? Look at any sitcom or 'teen' movie and you'll see the same thing. The prevailing attitude is that parents are stupid and teenagers are much smarter.
I liked the adventure in the book, but disliked the treatment of the parents' characters. Of course they had weaknesses, we all do, but I believe it would have been better to have the father overcome his weakness and take charge of his family again rather than the way the book ending was written.
August 9, 2017
Remembrance Nye is finally returning to the Connecticut home she loves. Her father agreed to return to the family they left behind, and Mem is overjoyed. She plans to become a schoolteacher. However, she is forced to wait, for her father decided on an alternate route: he would work on the Erie Canal, in the process of being built, until he earned some money to buy land in Connecticut. However, after weeks of staying in a crowded tavern run by a fiery redhead named Maude, it becomes clear that Papa no longer is concerned about the welfare of his children. He often got drunk with his fellow workers, and lived at the workers camps, with little care for Mem, Joshua, or Lily. Mem takes things into her own hands, and decides to use the rent money her father left to walk all the way back to Connecticut and her Grandmother’s home. She walks a good distance, facing many dangers to protect her siblings. She records some in her journal. She only returns when Maude, the tavern keeper, comes after them because she had grown to love them as her own children. At the end, Maude adopts Mem, Joshua, and Lily and takes them out West with her to start anew.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2011
A perfect ending to this trilogy by Mary Jane Auch. I did not expect the turn of events as Mem travels back to Connecticut, but I love the ending. Family is not just blood relatives.
March 23, 2019
Third book in trilogy. Very forthright, honest telling of early 19th century life in central NY. No romanticism here. Thankfully it all ends well with some surprise along the way.
April 25, 2025
I found “Frozen Summer” up in my daughter’s bedroom; it was one of copious books her Grandma bought her as she was growing up. I wanted to know what happened to Mem and family so I quickly bought used copies of the other two books in the trilogy. Although these are designated as children’s literature, I felt the plot and theme were engaging and suitable for adults.
This definitely had an ending that I didn’t expect. I agree with another reviewer about how the parents were made to look terrible and can’t overcome life’s challenges and be there for their children; but there’s so many great stories where such is the case. How many books are about orphans and their mistreatment by adults? Even Jane Eyre…
I felt emotionally attached to Mem throughout my reading of the trilogy. I found the historical information fascinating. My youngest (11 yo) is now reading these books. Be prepared to discuss the themes; a young child with a happy home may not fully understand Mem’s journey and relationship with her parents and all the responsibility such a young girl takes on.
This definitely had an ending that I didn’t expect. I agree with another reviewer about how the parents were made to look terrible and can’t overcome life’s challenges and be there for their children; but there’s so many great stories where such is the case. How many books are about orphans and their mistreatment by adults? Even Jane Eyre…
I felt emotionally attached to Mem throughout my reading of the trilogy. I found the historical information fascinating. My youngest (11 yo) is now reading these books. Be prepared to discuss the themes; a young child with a happy home may not fully understand Mem’s journey and relationship with her parents and all the responsibility such a young girl takes on.
November 6, 2022
Very interesting trilogy. Mem is a pretty remarkable girl adulting when the adults around her fail. Stressful situations handled well for the young reader.
February 29, 2008
This is the final book about Mem Nye and her family. Mem’s dad left Mem in charge of her younger brother, Joshua, and baby Lily while he works in another town digging the Erie Canal. Mem does her best but it is difficult with no money and living in a run down hotel. On top if this Mem is supposed to work in the kitchen to help pay for their food.
Finally Mem has had enough of her father’s neglect and decides to return to Connecticut where her grandmother lives. Mem and her siblings start out on the journey but after several days Mem realizes they will never be able to walk all the way from western New York to Connecticut. They turn around and are soon met by Maude, the owner of the hotel who is on the road looking for them.
Mem and the children return to the hotel with Maude. Their father’s indifference towards the children continues and Mem realizes he is never going to be able to truly provide for them. With the help of Maude, Mem and the children are able to begin a new life.
Finally Mem has had enough of her father’s neglect and decides to return to Connecticut where her grandmother lives. Mem and her siblings start out on the journey but after several days Mem realizes they will never be able to walk all the way from western New York to Connecticut. They turn around and are soon met by Maude, the owner of the hotel who is on the road looking for them.
Mem and the children return to the hotel with Maude. Their father’s indifference towards the children continues and Mem realizes he is never going to be able to truly provide for them. With the help of Maude, Mem and the children are able to begin a new life.
March 27, 2010
Since her mother's descent into madness and eventual death,thirteen-year-old Mem Nye has been the one to care for her two younger siblings, seven-year-old Joshua and one-year-old Lily. When her father finally admits defeat and sells their New York frontier homestead, with the intention of returning to their old home in Connecticut, Mem believes things will finally get easier. But they only get worse. Her father, a reckless dreamer, halts their journey when it has barely started, so that he can take a job working on the Erie Canal. All week long he leaves Mem and her siblings at a tavern; on his one day home, he spends the time drunk. Finally, Mem has had enough. Determined that Joshua and Lily have a better home, she decides to take them back to the relatives in Connecticut on her own. But their journey through the wilderness will be filled with hardship and peril, and will test the limits of Mem's courage, endurance, and love.
Final book in a trilogy that also includes Journey to Nowhere and Frozen Summer.
Final book in a trilogy that also includes Journey to Nowhere and Frozen Summer.
September 9, 2010
I confess that one of the things I like about this book is how pathetic and weak Mem's father proves to be. I had always suspected it in the first two books, but he really shows his true colors here.
Mem's mother has died. They have sold the homestead and are travelling back east, where Mem's father has promised her they would return. They stop in a rough and tumble town, where her father finds "temporary" work on the digging of the Erie Canal. It soon becomes clear that he doesn't intend to leave, and he becomes more concerned with whiskey and his friends than he is for his kids. They are left alone all week, with Mem earning their keep washing dishes in the hotel.
She finally decides that they will return home without their father.
Obviously two kids travelling with a tiny toddler are not going to do very well, but the kind-hearted hotel owner helps them out, and they achieve a happy ending, even if not an ideal one.
This was a good series - kids should enjoy it for it's historical perspectives and it's tough, intelligent main character.
Mem's mother has died. They have sold the homestead and are travelling back east, where Mem's father has promised her they would return. They stop in a rough and tumble town, where her father finds "temporary" work on the digging of the Erie Canal. It soon becomes clear that he doesn't intend to leave, and he becomes more concerned with whiskey and his friends than he is for his kids. They are left alone all week, with Mem earning their keep washing dishes in the hotel.
She finally decides that they will return home without their father.
Obviously two kids travelling with a tiny toddler are not going to do very well, but the kind-hearted hotel owner helps them out, and they achieve a happy ending, even if not an ideal one.
This was a good series - kids should enjoy it for it's historical perspectives and it's tough, intelligent main character.
February 4, 2024
The day Remembrance Nye’s mother died, her father promised he would take them home to Connecticut. Now, that day has come. Unfortunately, the family only makes it few days down the road before Mr. Nye takes a job digging the Erie Canal. He says he’ll be able to make money to buy a farm in Connecticut, but he soon forgets about Connecticut, the farm, and his children. Mem, once again, shoulders complete responsibility for her brother and sister. When she can’t wait one more day for her father to come to his senses, Mem decides to take Joshua and Lily home by herself. They meet scoundrels and benefactors along the way. Then, they learn that their family in Connecticut has moved west. Just as Mem admits defeat, help comes from a completely unexpected source.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
September 13, 2011
The first two books of this series were praised by Booklist and Kirkus, Horn Book and Publisher's Weekly to name a few, for their realism and writing. And I agree except...well, is it just me or is the dialogue entirely too modern? Don't get me wrong, I liked the book a lot and because of the dialogue found it very accessible and I'm certain the targeted audience will as well. That was probably the point. But from time to time when I was reading I would become aware of it. I'll finish this review later.
October 1, 2008
All of these books scared me when I read them... I was only like 9...
January 8, 2015
Awesome book
Want to Read
July 3, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14090814
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14090814
February 1, 2010
great historical fiction
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews