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May Amelia #2
The Trouble with May Amelia
The long-awaited and highly anticipated sequel to the Newbery Honor winner Our Only May Amelia , by the bestselling and cherished author Jennifer Holm.
May Amelia Jackson captured readers’ hearts in the Newbery Honor Book Our Only May Amelia. Now, after more than ten years, Jennifer Holm is bringing this beloved character back in a beautifully written story that’s both heartbreaking and hilarious.
May Amelia lives with her pioneer family on a farm in 1900, but she just can’t act the part of a proper young lady—and it doesn’t help that she has seven brothers and a Pappa who proclaim that Girls Are Useless. May Amelia jumps at the chance to earn her father’s respect when he asks her to translate for a gentleman who’s interested in buying their land and making them rich. But when the deal turns out to be a scam, Pappa places all the blame on May. It’s going to take a lot of sisu— that’s Finnish for guts—to make things right.
May Amelia Jackson captured readers’ hearts in the Newbery Honor Book Our Only May Amelia. Now, after more than ten years, Jennifer Holm is bringing this beloved character back in a beautifully written story that’s both heartbreaking and hilarious.
May Amelia lives with her pioneer family on a farm in 1900, but she just can’t act the part of a proper young lady—and it doesn’t help that she has seven brothers and a Pappa who proclaim that Girls Are Useless. May Amelia jumps at the chance to earn her father’s respect when he asks her to translate for a gentleman who’s interested in buying their land and making them rich. But when the deal turns out to be a scam, Pappa places all the blame on May. It’s going to take a lot of sisu— that’s Finnish for guts—to make things right.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2011
29 people are currently reading
1677 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer L. Holm
121 books1,722 followersJennifer L. Holm is a USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author with more than 9.8 million books in print She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
October 1, 2011
I’m one of those annoying people who, when someone else waxes nostalgic about a previous decade or century, is always like, “sexist, racist, no hot running water, cobble stones are annoying, smelly, wild animals, Hitler, and no zippers.” I dig simplicity, but that’s pretty much in the eye of the beholder, you know? For example, I could run around town, trying to find somebody who wanted to listen to my opinion about this book, or I could just post it on the internet, and see if anyone cares. The latter option seems much more simple to me. When people say they’re abandoning technology to simplify, I feel suspicious. I do not think life is simpler without technology. But, maybe they are not trying to be fashionably retro-counter-culture, and they just mean that they love enough people who they see in person that it is overwhelming to look beyond that. That seems nice.
Anyway, this book is a beautiful story that illustrates what I think about the “simple life” not being all it’s cracked up to be. It starts out like a funny, silly chapter-book experience. Like, Oh no! They fell in a river! Mamma, what are cow pies?! That kind of thing. Then, it goes pretty seriously into . . . well, life. It goes into how people suck and growing up sucks. It doesn’t do that in a whiny way, but it does do it in a somewhat adult way. The kids buy a dead man’s hand. There is swindling and rejection and murrrderrr. This is such a good book.
I think Holm does an excellent job at maintaining the Voice of May Amelia, while she obviously grows and changes. Her voice stays the same, but it grows with her. And it does that thing that old documents do, where they capitalize the first letter of words that seem Important. A friend of mine in law school always nerdily laugh about that. Like, whaaa, James Madison? Do you want us to notice the word Jurisdiction there? May Amelia does that, too. At first, it wasn’t my favorite, but it really grew on me.
I don’t know if I would have liked this when I was young. I think I would have. But, I like it now. It was a really simple, beautiful way to talk about being a girl in a world that doesn’t always love girls.
________________________
I received a free copy of this book from a book fairy. Thank you!!
Anyway, this book is a beautiful story that illustrates what I think about the “simple life” not being all it’s cracked up to be. It starts out like a funny, silly chapter-book experience. Like, Oh no! They fell in a river! Mamma, what are cow pies?! That kind of thing. Then, it goes pretty seriously into . . . well, life. It goes into how people suck and growing up sucks. It doesn’t do that in a whiny way, but it does do it in a somewhat adult way. The kids buy a dead man’s hand. There is swindling and rejection and murrrderrr. This is such a good book.
I think Holm does an excellent job at maintaining the Voice of May Amelia, while she obviously grows and changes. Her voice stays the same, but it grows with her. And it does that thing that old documents do, where they capitalize the first letter of words that seem Important. A friend of mine in law school always nerdily laugh about that. Like, whaaa, James Madison? Do you want us to notice the word Jurisdiction there? May Amelia does that, too. At first, it wasn’t my favorite, but it really grew on me.
I don’t know if I would have liked this when I was young. I think I would have. But, I like it now. It was a really simple, beautiful way to talk about being a girl in a world that doesn’t always love girls.
________________________
I received a free copy of this book from a book fairy. Thank you!!
August 15, 2011
Can I just say my 11 year old self would not like this book as much because it was so sad? There are of course more precocious kids than me (I've seen kids read classic Jane Austen stuff) but I was never okay with too sad of stuff as a kid, and I don't think I'm alone in this. This is not to deter anyone from reading it because the book is not exceedingly sad, just kind of.
The book is similar to the first if I remember correctly in that it starts out innocent enough. First, there are day to day events that happen but the then things start falling apart. The day to day events were just as entertaining as the more dramatic events that happen. It shows the struggles and pleasures of immigrant farmers who are settled in Washington State during the early 1900s. This one has some Finnish roots to it that I might’ve missed in the first.
The Trouble with May Amelia is that she is a girl. Whenever people hear how my brother lives with a bunch of girls they always feel sorry for him but I think the other way around is just as hard. I think this is a perfect example of that. May Amelia is always being teased about being a girl and not being good enough at it either. It’s a lose lose situation.
I couldn't get enough of May; I felt her story. I could believe her anger, jealousy, despair, as well as joy and hope. I understood her as a character even if she is so young. I could care about her family and feel sympathy for her brothers as well as annoyance.
If there would be a sequel to this book I'd defiantly read it; I want so much to know what happens to May Amelia and her family. The ending is fine and has finality to it that was hopeful just like Our Only May Amelia but just like last time I wanted to know more. But if it takes as long to get to it as this one then most likely I'll miss it- it was just by chance that I found out about this book. I could keep an eye out for a sequel I guess but it might come to not.
The book is similar to the first if I remember correctly in that it starts out innocent enough. First, there are day to day events that happen but the then things start falling apart. The day to day events were just as entertaining as the more dramatic events that happen. It shows the struggles and pleasures of immigrant farmers who are settled in Washington State during the early 1900s. This one has some Finnish roots to it that I might’ve missed in the first.
The Trouble with May Amelia is that she is a girl. Whenever people hear how my brother lives with a bunch of girls they always feel sorry for him but I think the other way around is just as hard. I think this is a perfect example of that. May Amelia is always being teased about being a girl and not being good enough at it either. It’s a lose lose situation.
I couldn't get enough of May; I felt her story. I could believe her anger, jealousy, despair, as well as joy and hope. I understood her as a character even if she is so young. I could care about her family and feel sympathy for her brothers as well as annoyance.
If there would be a sequel to this book I'd defiantly read it; I want so much to know what happens to May Amelia and her family. The ending is fine and has finality to it that was hopeful just like Our Only May Amelia but just like last time I wanted to know more. But if it takes as long to get to it as this one then most likely I'll miss it- it was just by chance that I found out about this book. I could keep an eye out for a sequel I guess but it might come to not.
November 19, 2024
Anytime there is a sequel to a book as beloved as Our Only May Amelia, as much a classic as anything published in recent memory upon its arrival in 1999, one has to wonder if the author has bitten off more than they can chew. It's tempting to return to the scene of one's greatest triumph, as Our Only May Amelia is for Jennifer L. Holm, but following in one's own footsteps is a tricky business. When a novel is written with the intention of being a completely self-contained story, there's always a risk in revisiting the same narrative and set of characters that was so successful before. What if the magic simply proves too elusive to capture again? What if readers aren't feeling the new plot and characters like they did the last time, and the intrusion into their memories of the previous story tarnishes what had been a fond memory? When an author decides the story he or she has in mind is a worthy followup to its predecessor, that the harrowing risks of going to the well once more are outweighed by the benefits of a book the author has full confidence will do justice to the original while being good enough on its own to merit awakening dormant beloved characters to live it, nervous readers are asked to put aside their reservations and place faith in a writer who has come through gloriously in the past, as is the case with Jennifer L. Holm. Our Only May Amelia is a book of such emotionally profound resonance and powerful grace that I can hardly imagine the world did not always have it. Few authors ever ascend to such heights of greatness even in careers full of excellence and acclaim, but Jennifer L. Holm did so with this book, and in The Trouble with May Amelia we have, twelve years after the debut of Our Only May Amelia, a sequel to this fine classic that offers to take us once again into the Finnish colony by the Nasel River where May Amelia Jackson and her family (minus one) live. And so, trusting in the greatness of an author who has done the seemingly impossible before, we extend our hand in faith to Jennifer L. Holm and ask her once again to be our guide.
If we thought life was going to be any easier for May Amelia now that the baby sister she wished for has come and gone and all of the Jacksons have had a taste of what it's like living with a baby girl around the house again, we thought wrong. Money is tight, as always, and May Amelia's father still doesn't see much sense in having a girl around complicating matters in the family. There don't seem to be any major lifestyle changes coming up in the near future for those living along the Nasel, but that's before a certain investor comes calling to talk to the Finnish settlers. The land they've made their homes on by the river is quite valuable, he contends, and there just might be a few land developers willing to lay out big money in exchange for their properties. Presented with an offer of a mind-boggling sum in exchange for the family's land, May Amelia's father is suddenly given reason to expect a whole lot more for their future than a dangerous, uncomfortable life by the river. If this deal goes through, the Jacksons will be wealthy enough to do just about anything they wish, and retire to a much more luxurious piece of land where it wouldn't be unpleasant at all to imagine spending the rest of their days. For Amelia, the part she plays in the initial transaction is of huge significance. Going to school in America has finally done something practical for her, as she was the only one available who was fluent enough in English to help translate the conversation between the businessman making the proposal and her father, who primarily speaks Finnish and isn't familiar enough with English to be able to transact business in it. The complicated girl seemingly always underfoot of her father has at last done something to catch his attention, operating as the catalyst for the biggest break of his life after decades of struggle just to keep his family fed.
Ah, but actual circumstances couldn't just be that easy, could they? There remain many difficulties to traverse as the Jacksons wait for their ship to arrive, not the least of which are the open-ended issues held over from Our Only May Amelia. What has happened to May Amelia's oldest brother, Matty, who was reported shanghaied off to the Orient when in fact he had only eloped with an Irish girl against his father's expressed (and quite furious) wishes? May Amelia's father thinks Matty is probably dead, but what if he were to find out the truth? Or what if Matty were to return to the Nasel region with his Irish wife in tow? The drama continues, as well, at the schoolhouse, where May Amelia and the other students apprehensively hope their teacher, Miss McEwing, doesn't fall for any one of the stream of suitors vying for her hand in marriage. The rule, after all, is that a teacher must be unmarried, and who might end up being next in line for the teaching position if Miss McEwing were to leave? Along with all of this, May Amelia's memories of the baby sister she cradled in her arms for such a short while rise up often like floodwaters, leading her at times to retreat to the island where her only sister is interred and remind the buried infant that she isn't forgotten, that no matter for how short a time she graced our planet in terms of hours and days, Amy is still remembered, by May Amelia more than anybody else. There never will be anybody to take her place. There never could be, because she was their only Amy.
Nothing is ever easy for May Amelia. Look at the way she lived for so many years along the Nasel as the only girl born in the whole colony amidst a boom of baby boys. May Amelia wasn't appreciated for any girly thoughts or behaviors she might exhibit, but her willingness to blend in and act like a boy wasn't really accepted, either. As a girl, she was subject to ridicule any way she went about her business, and there weren't many people around who had understanding words for the local tomboy. When she was finally granted her most enduring wish, the object of her hopes and dreams was lost to her within a matter of days, and no one else could understand how that felt. Even a Best Brother like Wilbert, a godsend without whom May Amelia's existence would have been an utterly sad and lonely one, couldn't fully understand what was lost when May Amelia's one chance at a baby sister passed on into the cold ground.
As May Amelia does her best to come to terms with the new wave of griefs and calamities she experiences in The Trouble with May Amelia, her harried attempts to orient herself in the sea of madness her life has become finally locate their north star in the true meaning of the Finnish word sisu, which refers to a certain quality of inner courage. "And that's when I know. Sisu isn't about scaring bears out of hollowed-out trees. It's keeping going when everything looks hopeless and sad. I may be a Useless Girl, but I have finally found my sisu, and I have enough for everyone." It is her current batch of troubles, always seeming to heap onto the last with no sign of slowing down to let her catch up, that gives May Amelia her moment of clarity to see that the sisu her father and brothers value so highly isn't a trait with which one is born. It's the realization and acceptance that bad things can happen and there's nothing regulating the amount or severity of them, but having sisu means trudging forward through catastrophe to whatever safe harbor one might happen upon next, even if it means walking away from a hope or dream or even a home. It's standing tall before disaster even when it seems unendurable, and the idea of another tomorrow feels like nothing but a fantasy. Sisu, May Amelia finally sees, is a virtue she was earning all along, and no one could have a higher grade of it than she.
What's the final verdict on The Trouble with May Amelia? Is it good enough to justify the author's reprisal of the classic story? Does it live up to the magnificence of the original novel? To me, Our Only May Amelia is one of those rare books that even a brilliant writer has no guarantee of ever producing in his or her career, a work of surpassing greatness the likes of which the author will probably never fully duplicate again. Therefore, it would be unfair to expect The Trouble with May Amelia to match the overwhelming power of its predecessor. I do, however, feel confident in saying that this book is easily good enough to justify its existence as a sequel to the original. The story is emotional and volatile, much like Our Only May Amelia, and leaves one with the thought that The Trouble with May Amelia, too, must have been a top candidate for the 2012 Newbery awards. I would definitely give three and a half stars to this book, and I was close to rounding my rating up instead of down. Jennifer L. Holm has shown again that at her best as a writer there aren't many who can touch her, and the world of literature for kids is lucky to have her contributing to its ever-growing pool of great reading.
If we thought life was going to be any easier for May Amelia now that the baby sister she wished for has come and gone and all of the Jacksons have had a taste of what it's like living with a baby girl around the house again, we thought wrong. Money is tight, as always, and May Amelia's father still doesn't see much sense in having a girl around complicating matters in the family. There don't seem to be any major lifestyle changes coming up in the near future for those living along the Nasel, but that's before a certain investor comes calling to talk to the Finnish settlers. The land they've made their homes on by the river is quite valuable, he contends, and there just might be a few land developers willing to lay out big money in exchange for their properties. Presented with an offer of a mind-boggling sum in exchange for the family's land, May Amelia's father is suddenly given reason to expect a whole lot more for their future than a dangerous, uncomfortable life by the river. If this deal goes through, the Jacksons will be wealthy enough to do just about anything they wish, and retire to a much more luxurious piece of land where it wouldn't be unpleasant at all to imagine spending the rest of their days. For Amelia, the part she plays in the initial transaction is of huge significance. Going to school in America has finally done something practical for her, as she was the only one available who was fluent enough in English to help translate the conversation between the businessman making the proposal and her father, who primarily speaks Finnish and isn't familiar enough with English to be able to transact business in it. The complicated girl seemingly always underfoot of her father has at last done something to catch his attention, operating as the catalyst for the biggest break of his life after decades of struggle just to keep his family fed.
Ah, but actual circumstances couldn't just be that easy, could they? There remain many difficulties to traverse as the Jacksons wait for their ship to arrive, not the least of which are the open-ended issues held over from Our Only May Amelia. What has happened to May Amelia's oldest brother, Matty, who was reported shanghaied off to the Orient when in fact he had only eloped with an Irish girl against his father's expressed (and quite furious) wishes? May Amelia's father thinks Matty is probably dead, but what if he were to find out the truth? Or what if Matty were to return to the Nasel region with his Irish wife in tow? The drama continues, as well, at the schoolhouse, where May Amelia and the other students apprehensively hope their teacher, Miss McEwing, doesn't fall for any one of the stream of suitors vying for her hand in marriage. The rule, after all, is that a teacher must be unmarried, and who might end up being next in line for the teaching position if Miss McEwing were to leave? Along with all of this, May Amelia's memories of the baby sister she cradled in her arms for such a short while rise up often like floodwaters, leading her at times to retreat to the island where her only sister is interred and remind the buried infant that she isn't forgotten, that no matter for how short a time she graced our planet in terms of hours and days, Amy is still remembered, by May Amelia more than anybody else. There never will be anybody to take her place. There never could be, because she was their only Amy.
Nothing is ever easy for May Amelia. Look at the way she lived for so many years along the Nasel as the only girl born in the whole colony amidst a boom of baby boys. May Amelia wasn't appreciated for any girly thoughts or behaviors she might exhibit, but her willingness to blend in and act like a boy wasn't really accepted, either. As a girl, she was subject to ridicule any way she went about her business, and there weren't many people around who had understanding words for the local tomboy. When she was finally granted her most enduring wish, the object of her hopes and dreams was lost to her within a matter of days, and no one else could understand how that felt. Even a Best Brother like Wilbert, a godsend without whom May Amelia's existence would have been an utterly sad and lonely one, couldn't fully understand what was lost when May Amelia's one chance at a baby sister passed on into the cold ground.
As May Amelia does her best to come to terms with the new wave of griefs and calamities she experiences in The Trouble with May Amelia, her harried attempts to orient herself in the sea of madness her life has become finally locate their north star in the true meaning of the Finnish word sisu, which refers to a certain quality of inner courage. "And that's when I know. Sisu isn't about scaring bears out of hollowed-out trees. It's keeping going when everything looks hopeless and sad. I may be a Useless Girl, but I have finally found my sisu, and I have enough for everyone." It is her current batch of troubles, always seeming to heap onto the last with no sign of slowing down to let her catch up, that gives May Amelia her moment of clarity to see that the sisu her father and brothers value so highly isn't a trait with which one is born. It's the realization and acceptance that bad things can happen and there's nothing regulating the amount or severity of them, but having sisu means trudging forward through catastrophe to whatever safe harbor one might happen upon next, even if it means walking away from a hope or dream or even a home. It's standing tall before disaster even when it seems unendurable, and the idea of another tomorrow feels like nothing but a fantasy. Sisu, May Amelia finally sees, is a virtue she was earning all along, and no one could have a higher grade of it than she.
What's the final verdict on The Trouble with May Amelia? Is it good enough to justify the author's reprisal of the classic story? Does it live up to the magnificence of the original novel? To me, Our Only May Amelia is one of those rare books that even a brilliant writer has no guarantee of ever producing in his or her career, a work of surpassing greatness the likes of which the author will probably never fully duplicate again. Therefore, it would be unfair to expect The Trouble with May Amelia to match the overwhelming power of its predecessor. I do, however, feel confident in saying that this book is easily good enough to justify its existence as a sequel to the original. The story is emotional and volatile, much like Our Only May Amelia, and leaves one with the thought that The Trouble with May Amelia, too, must have been a top candidate for the 2012 Newbery awards. I would definitely give three and a half stars to this book, and I was close to rounding my rating up instead of down. Jennifer L. Holm has shown again that at her best as a writer there aren't many who can touch her, and the world of literature for kids is lucky to have her contributing to its ever-growing pool of great reading.
May 31, 2011
I liked this, as I like all of Jennifer Holm's books, because she's an excellent writer who just doesn't seem to make missteps. But (as usual) I didn't feel a strong connection to her main character here.
The book almost seems to be written with the Newbery criteria in mind, because there's excellence in the delineation of setting (sneaks up on you, rather than knocks you over the head), and development of plot (early themes all get explored, even if you think they're just one-off comments at the time), and characters (so many effective brief character studies here--most of the brothers, the two teachers, the parents, the neighbor children and cousins).
So, basically, I can't GET EXCITED about this book--I don't think there's anything new and different here; I don't feel like I need to recommend it to all my friends because they've all read similar things of equal or near excellence in the past--there's no reason it SHOULDN'T get a medal this year, and it would definitely be a worthy addition.
HATE the cover, though. The cover model looks more like a modern 30-year-old in a catalog than a 1900s 12-year-old. And I thought both this book and the first one gave the appearance of books that were more light-hearted and geared toward younger children than they really are.
And I did think too many sad things happened, one after another. (The thing about the brother's accident, though? Beautifully handled from start to finish. With HUMOR, even, amid the sadness. Which is exactly how I've seen similar accidents/recoveries go in the hospital. How did she do it?) Even in real life, as briefly sketched in the author's note, all those bad things didn't happen to the same family in one year. Especially there were too many dramatically sad/awful things. This isn't the Oregon Trail computer game, yo.
The book almost seems to be written with the Newbery criteria in mind, because there's excellence in the delineation of setting (sneaks up on you, rather than knocks you over the head), and development of plot (early themes all get explored, even if you think they're just one-off comments at the time), and characters (so many effective brief character studies here--most of the brothers, the two teachers, the parents, the neighbor children and cousins).
So, basically, I can't GET EXCITED about this book--I don't think there's anything new and different here; I don't feel like I need to recommend it to all my friends because they've all read similar things of equal or near excellence in the past--there's no reason it SHOULDN'T get a medal this year, and it would definitely be a worthy addition.
HATE the cover, though. The cover model looks more like a modern 30-year-old in a catalog than a 1900s 12-year-old. And I thought both this book and the first one gave the appearance of books that were more light-hearted and geared toward younger children than they really are.
And I did think too many sad things happened, one after another. (The thing about the brother's accident, though? Beautifully handled from start to finish. With HUMOR, even, amid the sadness. Which is exactly how I've seen similar accidents/recoveries go in the hospital. How did she do it?) Even in real life, as briefly sketched in the author's note, all those bad things didn't happen to the same family in one year. Especially there were too many dramatically sad/awful things. This isn't the Oregon Trail computer game, yo.
December 3, 2011
So let me just get this off my chest. I have not read Our Only May Amelia. *ducks head in shame* In my defense it was released in my first year of teaching in my current school. I was trying desperately to stay afloat. Somehow that beautiful book passed me by. Fast forward to the present. After attending NCTE with all of my friends telling me I HAD to read this, I quickly purchased it. Add that to the wonderful opportunity to meet the amazing Jenni Holm, and this book moved to the top of my to read stack.
May Amelia reminds me of another character from one of my favorite books of this year, Doug Swieteck. Both characters have a clear "voice". May Amelia is a character I cannot soon forget. Life isn't easy for her - from being surrounded by boys both at home and school, a teacher that seems determined to get married, a brother who has run off, a crisis with their family farm, and a father who doesn't seem to appreciate having a daughter - May Amelia has many reasons to give up. But even with those strikes against her, May Amelia rises up against the odds. She is full of sisu, which - according to Wikipedia - is Finnish for strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. May Amelia will join the ranks of the characters I love. She is one to admire.
Jenni Holm's writing amazes me. How she can create one book after another full of characters that you can connect to, awesome. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for my students and I next.
May Amelia reminds me of another character from one of my favorite books of this year, Doug Swieteck. Both characters have a clear "voice". May Amelia is a character I cannot soon forget. Life isn't easy for her - from being surrounded by boys both at home and school, a teacher that seems determined to get married, a brother who has run off, a crisis with their family farm, and a father who doesn't seem to appreciate having a daughter - May Amelia has many reasons to give up. But even with those strikes against her, May Amelia rises up against the odds. She is full of sisu, which - according to Wikipedia - is Finnish for strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. May Amelia will join the ranks of the characters I love. She is one to admire.
Jenni Holm's writing amazes me. How she can create one book after another full of characters that you can connect to, awesome. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for my students and I next.
March 14, 2011
If this book does not win a Newbery Medal, I will be shocked. Nevermind that I would then have to cross Jennifer Holm off my Christmas card list -- after all, she already has three Newbery honors! But this compelling and powerful story is perfect in my mind. There is not one missed step in this historical novel set in southwestern Washington state, revisiting a beloved character, May Amelia. Even though her father thinks girls are a nuisance, underneath his crusty exterior, there is still a modicum of concern and care for his only daughter. I loved that she completely ignores her six brothers' hints that she doesn't smell very good! There is humor on every page and it is that humor that allows us to bear the pain and sorrow of this story.
If you only have time for one historical novel this year, make it The Trouble with May Amelia.
If you only have time for one historical novel this year, make it The Trouble with May Amelia.
November 25, 2011
Jennifer Holm is the master of historical fiction. Do yourself a favor and add this must-read title to your to-read list. The cover would look better with a shiny sticker. I know which one I want to place above the title.
November 22, 2011
Reviewing a Jennifer L. Holm book is a bit redundant. Telling anyone that the woman can write is like pointing out that the sky is blue. It's self-evident. Using that logic, the only reason to ever write a review of a Holm title would be to do so when she writes a dud. Yet thus far Ms. Holm has remained fairly dud-resistant. There's a level of quality to her writing that pleases consistently. In fact she's so consistently good that I put off even reading her latest novel The Trouble with May Amelia for that very reason. If it's great, why bother reading it? Yeah, it didn't make a lot of sense to me either when I sat down and thought it through. Still, I hadn't read Our Only May Amelia, this book's predecessor, and I wasn't sure that this sequel would make sense otherwise. To my infinite surprise, and none too small delight, what we have here is an honest-to-goodness stand alone novel. One that's not afraid to make its adults wrong more often than they're right.
Having seven nasty older brothers is tough enough if you're a boy, but as the sole girl in her family it's May Amelia who has to put up with them. Not that having a father who wishes you were a boy helps. In May Amelia's Finn-descended family it's her father who has the final word, so when a man comes to the area with plans to make everyone rich all the neighbors look to see what May Amelia's Pappa does first. With May Amelia as his translator, her father determines that the deal is good, effectively cooking the goose of all his neighbors when the no goodnik takes off with all their dough. Now Amelia is bearing the brunt of the blame, her family is in tatters, and things could simply not get worse. That is, until she comes up with a beautiful notion that might be the saving of them all.
My husband has a theory that if you ever want to make a character sympathetic in a book or a movie, be they hero or villain, just make sure they have a disapproving parent. For some reason, there's something inside the average human psyche that understands this deep seated need to prove yourself to your parents. Holm's novels starring May Amelia may be the only ones I can think of where it is the father who acts disproportionately annoyed and disappointed in his own daughter. Of course it's taken to a rather far extreme in this book, but I think the shock of that will do child readers a world of good. Sympathetic parents are a dime a dozen and ridiculously villainous ones in the Roald Dahl vein also abound. The realistically callous, not evil, parent who is not addicted to a substance of any kind and does not have any kind of a disease is so rare that I can count the few that come to mind on one hand.
Another way to make a character sympathetic is to make their life entirely unfair. Students of writing should just sit down and examine the first chapter of this book then. It sets up the time period, the personality of almost every important character, the setting, the tensions, and the problem that will ultimately be the ruin of them all. In short, it's pretty much one of the most perfect little first chapters I ever did read. It does, however, contain certain phrases and sentences that use capital letters to make their points. I'm not sure why the use of capital letters in this book doesn't bug me, but it doesn't. By rights it should. It should feel precious or ridiculous. I think coupling it alongside the sheer nastiness of May Amelia's life goes a long ways. Cuteness is cut in half when you've got the kind of father that makes fun of you when your brothers rub manure into your hair.
If one was feeling snarky you could say that Ms. Holm has written two books in a row where smooth talking con men bamboozle people and get away with it. Not that this book and Turtle in Paradise have all that much in common beyond that. Some authors find a tone to work with and just stick with that same tone for all their natural born days. Holm switches tones every other minute. The voice in this book is unlike any other you'll encounter in your travels. Both put upon and spunky, May Amelia has a way of garnering the sympathy of all readers (even those who might be nasty older brothers themselves). If you've a temptation to read something that will make you indignant on behalf of the heroine, seek ye no further than this. A right ribald little novel sure to gain new fans and to appeal mightily to the May Amelias of the world.
For ages 9-12.
Having seven nasty older brothers is tough enough if you're a boy, but as the sole girl in her family it's May Amelia who has to put up with them. Not that having a father who wishes you were a boy helps. In May Amelia's Finn-descended family it's her father who has the final word, so when a man comes to the area with plans to make everyone rich all the neighbors look to see what May Amelia's Pappa does first. With May Amelia as his translator, her father determines that the deal is good, effectively cooking the goose of all his neighbors when the no goodnik takes off with all their dough. Now Amelia is bearing the brunt of the blame, her family is in tatters, and things could simply not get worse. That is, until she comes up with a beautiful notion that might be the saving of them all.
My husband has a theory that if you ever want to make a character sympathetic in a book or a movie, be they hero or villain, just make sure they have a disapproving parent. For some reason, there's something inside the average human psyche that understands this deep seated need to prove yourself to your parents. Holm's novels starring May Amelia may be the only ones I can think of where it is the father who acts disproportionately annoyed and disappointed in his own daughter. Of course it's taken to a rather far extreme in this book, but I think the shock of that will do child readers a world of good. Sympathetic parents are a dime a dozen and ridiculously villainous ones in the Roald Dahl vein also abound. The realistically callous, not evil, parent who is not addicted to a substance of any kind and does not have any kind of a disease is so rare that I can count the few that come to mind on one hand.
Another way to make a character sympathetic is to make their life entirely unfair. Students of writing should just sit down and examine the first chapter of this book then. It sets up the time period, the personality of almost every important character, the setting, the tensions, and the problem that will ultimately be the ruin of them all. In short, it's pretty much one of the most perfect little first chapters I ever did read. It does, however, contain certain phrases and sentences that use capital letters to make their points. I'm not sure why the use of capital letters in this book doesn't bug me, but it doesn't. By rights it should. It should feel precious or ridiculous. I think coupling it alongside the sheer nastiness of May Amelia's life goes a long ways. Cuteness is cut in half when you've got the kind of father that makes fun of you when your brothers rub manure into your hair.
If one was feeling snarky you could say that Ms. Holm has written two books in a row where smooth talking con men bamboozle people and get away with it. Not that this book and Turtle in Paradise have all that much in common beyond that. Some authors find a tone to work with and just stick with that same tone for all their natural born days. Holm switches tones every other minute. The voice in this book is unlike any other you'll encounter in your travels. Both put upon and spunky, May Amelia has a way of garnering the sympathy of all readers (even those who might be nasty older brothers themselves). If you've a temptation to read something that will make you indignant on behalf of the heroine, seek ye no further than this. A right ribald little novel sure to gain new fans and to appeal mightily to the May Amelias of the world.
For ages 9-12.
May 17, 2025
2.5 stars
The Trouble with May Amelia is a decently entertaining book on its own, but as a continuation of Our Only May Amelia, I found it failed to break the mold. The atmosphere is consistent between both books, but Trouble reads more like a series of vignettes. There are good moments, and the events sometimes turned into dark comedy(the hand funeral is the gruesome highlight). But there is too much going on in this sequel. I could have done without the subplots of the traumatized little cousins and the marauding bull. I would have rather seen May's friend Emma appear again, or have more character development for Mariah and Otto.
May's father is needlessly mean to her in this book, despite seemingly learning to appreciate her more in Book 1. Here, he is nasty to her at almost every turn, lavishing affection on little Helmi at May's expense and blaming her for his . There was also a scene that missed the comedic mark, when the Jacksons' barn is engulfed in flame. May is distraught that the barn cat and her kittens are trapped inside. Her schoolmate Berle consoles her by suggesting that they roast some snacks in the fire from the barn. A distasteful attempt at comedy, and I don't believe for a second this would make anyone feel better in real life.
I wouldn't say this sequel is a must-read for fans of Our Only May Amelia. It's in the same spirit, but lacks cohesion and character growth.
The Trouble with May Amelia is a decently entertaining book on its own, but as a continuation of Our Only May Amelia, I found it failed to break the mold. The atmosphere is consistent between both books, but Trouble reads more like a series of vignettes. There are good moments, and the events sometimes turned into dark comedy(the hand funeral is the gruesome highlight). But there is too much going on in this sequel. I could have done without the subplots of the traumatized little cousins and the marauding bull. I would have rather seen May's friend Emma appear again, or have more character development for Mariah and Otto.
May's father is needlessly mean to her in this book, despite seemingly learning to appreciate her more in Book 1. Here, he is nasty to her at almost every turn, lavishing affection on little Helmi at May's expense and blaming her for his . There was also a scene that missed the comedic mark, when the Jacksons' barn is engulfed in flame. May is distraught that the barn cat and her kittens are trapped inside. Her schoolmate Berle consoles her by suggesting that they roast some snacks in the fire from the barn. A distasteful attempt at comedy, and I don't believe for a second this would make anyone feel better in real life.
I wouldn't say this sequel is a must-read for fans of Our Only May Amelia. It's in the same spirit, but lacks cohesion and character growth.
May 13, 2017
May Amelia is a girl you have to love, for her courage, her feistiness, and her endearing use of the English language, which after all is her second language after the Finnish she has heard at home. In this sequel to Our Only May Amelia, tragedy upon tragedy happens, as was so often the case in the setting of 1890's rural Washington along the lower Columbia River. School becomes a special case for May Amelia with the arrival of Miss McEwing, and at home two cousins arrive from Finland after their mother is murdered. I would gladly read more about this family.
August 26, 2017
A great book! I hope to read more books by this author. I would definitely recommend it!
March 20, 2019
“Papa says I need to find my Sisu - guts and courage.”
“The Trouble with May Amelia” is about a 12 year old Finnish girl who lives in Washington state in 1900. She is the only girl out of 7 brothers and is treated like a boy throughout the story. May Amelia is given the task of translating a document from a company who wants to commercialize her family’s farm land which will pay them a great deal of money.
Her father expresses his distasteful feelings toward May Amelia by calling her “useless” and wishes he had another son. He blames her for incorrectly translating the document even though it was not her fault.
Will May Amelia ever receive her family’s approval?
I listened to this as an audiobook. Although I was listening, it displayed the front cover of the book. May Amelia looks much older than a 12 year old girl. This threw me off and made it more difficult to picture her as a character. Aside from that, I thought the narrator did a nice job of using expression.
I would recommend this book for older students - grades 5th-7th - as there is some violence in the story including a man shooting himself, her brother’s hand getting cut off, and a murder. Activities could include story sequencing, identifying key details, and character development.
“The Trouble with May Amelia” has won the ALA Notable Children’s Book 2012. The prequel, “Only our May Amelia” won the Newberry Medal in 2000.
“The Trouble with May Amelia” is about a 12 year old Finnish girl who lives in Washington state in 1900. She is the only girl out of 7 brothers and is treated like a boy throughout the story. May Amelia is given the task of translating a document from a company who wants to commercialize her family’s farm land which will pay them a great deal of money.
Her father expresses his distasteful feelings toward May Amelia by calling her “useless” and wishes he had another son. He blames her for incorrectly translating the document even though it was not her fault.
Will May Amelia ever receive her family’s approval?
I listened to this as an audiobook. Although I was listening, it displayed the front cover of the book. May Amelia looks much older than a 12 year old girl. This threw me off and made it more difficult to picture her as a character. Aside from that, I thought the narrator did a nice job of using expression.
I would recommend this book for older students - grades 5th-7th - as there is some violence in the story including a man shooting himself, her brother’s hand getting cut off, and a murder. Activities could include story sequencing, identifying key details, and character development.
“The Trouble with May Amelia” has won the ALA Notable Children’s Book 2012. The prequel, “Only our May Amelia” won the Newberry Medal in 2000.
December 14, 2011
In Jennifer L. Holm’s sequel to Our Only May Amelia, our heroine is back and causing as much trouble for her family as she ever has. Fending for herself with 6 older brothers and a mean old Papa in rural Washington state during the turn of the century, has never been fun for the precocious tomboy. This causes her to question their approval and love. When a family investment turns sour, all eyes and blame turn to May Amelia. Yet, she charms us with her candid child-like understanding from the perspective of a 2nd generation Finnish immigrant, using both humor and pathos. Holms’ narrative believably and accurately reflects the realities of the time, which she drew from stories of her own ancestors. Her gift for balancing the harsh realities of death and loss with tender understanding and even humor are unique. The voice of May Amelia is clear and believably crafted within the context of the setting. Her voice echoes long after the book is finished. Holms’ nuance and subtlety in writing has appeal for children and adults alike.
October 25, 2010
I was very lucky to get an advance copy of this for review. I loved My Only May Amelia and was delighted to see a sequel. May Amelia's voice is still very unique and takes some getting used to, but personally I like it. She sounds a lot like many of the kids I work with who have recently learned english and like May serve as translators for their parents.
In My Only May Amelia, May Amelia and her family dealt with losing her sister. In Trouble, they get on with life and deal with more problems. Much is made of a business deal and May's translating for her father. While that is a large part of the end of the novel, there is a ton of life that happens in the first 2/3s of the book. May is forced to grow up and face some harsh realities including that life isn't fair, big brothers and parents are just human and sometimes they will disappoint you.
Give this one to readers who loved Little House or any girl who has a passel of older brothers.
In My Only May Amelia, May Amelia and her family dealt with losing her sister. In Trouble, they get on with life and deal with more problems. Much is made of a business deal and May's translating for her father. While that is a large part of the end of the novel, there is a ton of life that happens in the first 2/3s of the book. May is forced to grow up and face some harsh realities including that life isn't fair, big brothers and parents are just human and sometimes they will disappoint you.
Give this one to readers who loved Little House or any girl who has a passel of older brothers.
November 29, 2012
Why I picked it up: I enjoyed Our Only May Amelia.
This book starts not too long after Our Only May Amelia ends. Still the only girl in the household and in the Nasel River community in Washington state, May Amelia continues to get into trouble. The book is fairly day-in-the-life of a certain time period, and while it seems a little episodic, there is an over-all plot.
May Amelia continues to be a really fun character and I was right about her voice being particularly memorable on audio. I was surprised at how harsh the father is toward his daughter and how derogatory he feels toward girls; if that element was a part of the first book, I don’t remember it.
The cover feels to modern to me for a book set in 1900.
Contains: a pretty horrific accident that happens to a child
This book starts not too long after Our Only May Amelia ends. Still the only girl in the household and in the Nasel River community in Washington state, May Amelia continues to get into trouble. The book is fairly day-in-the-life of a certain time period, and while it seems a little episodic, there is an over-all plot.
May Amelia continues to be a really fun character and I was right about her voice being particularly memorable on audio. I was surprised at how harsh the father is toward his daughter and how derogatory he feels toward girls; if that element was a part of the first book, I don’t remember it.
The cover feels to modern to me for a book set in 1900.
Contains: a pretty horrific accident that happens to a child
May 5, 2019
A frontier story about Finnish Americans. I got some enjoyment out of reading the book, but I got significantly more from reading out bits to my Finnish girlfriend and watching her cross reactions to inaccurate Finnish and elements she considered "falski." The author's great grandfather was a Finnish settler of America, so she has a connection to the settlement and the time period, and I appreciate the fact that there's an English-language book about Finns at all, but apparently it was not all there in terms of accuracy when it came to Finnish culture and language (at one point, a character says the word for Grandfather is "faari." It's "vaari.") I haven't read the first one of the series, and I didn't mind this book, but it wasn't particularly special.
May 25, 2014
What I think? Jennifer Holm is a fantastic writer. She writes right into the soul of May Amelia and conveys her deepest feelings. She also portrays May Amelia's family in such detail inside and out that you can literally see them and hear their voices. Living on the Nasal isn't easy and May Amelia's family and especially May Amelia, the one and only daughter out of 8 children and the youngest. A wonderful read, even for adults who like children's books, an especially great "read aloud" to your children or your class if you're a teacher. I'm hoping they'll be yet another in the series, please :O)
December 23, 2011
Without a doubt, Jenni Holm is a great writer. The characters in The Trouble with May Amelia are well-drawn and readers will sympathize with their circumstances.
I thought the plot pacing was off, though. Dramatic moments seemed rushed and the ending was resolved too neatly. It also bothered me that this is Holm's second novel in a row with plots about con men (Turtle in Paradise).
Many readers I respect have loved this book and put it on their Newbery shortlists, but I just don't see it.
I will share this book with my students and see what they make of it.
I thought the plot pacing was off, though. Dramatic moments seemed rushed and the ending was resolved too neatly. It also bothered me that this is Holm's second novel in a row with plots about con men (Turtle in Paradise).
Many readers I respect have loved this book and put it on their Newbery shortlists, but I just don't see it.
I will share this book with my students and see what they make of it.
June 21, 2012
Once again I was pulled happily back to the Nasel River into May Amelia's world. I was worried that a sequel would feel contrived, but this natural continuation was not that way at all. Holm picked up her voice again with no hiccups or hesitation, no Trouble at all. Recommended for ages 8-12, or anyone with sisu.
February 20, 2018
I enjoyed the story, based on Swedish immigrant history in western Washington. It rings true from my own Norwegian family, making a go at farming in Washington State, and surviving some tough times. The style of writing is a little choppy, with short sentences, and the story ends abruptly, but overall a worthwhile book. I'd give it 3.5 stars.
April 26, 2011
Delightful! Love the dialogue and relationships.
Longer review at ICPL Staff Picks blog.
Longer review at ICPL Staff Picks blog.
March 20, 2012
Although the first May Amelia book was very good, I found this one to be even better. I love me a female protagonist with sisu.
November 28, 2024
My family loved these two books. This second one contains some more challenging topics. Great one for discussion.
November 15, 2011
Originally posted here.
I am clearly missing something here. Jennifer Holm has been honored by three different Newbery committees for her novels Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. Despite never getting past the first third of Our Only May Amelia and pretty much detesting every moment I spent reading Turtle in Paradise, I dutifully checked out a copy of her latest novel, The Trouble with May Amelia, as soon as my library received its copies. It is, of course, generating some award buzz this year. Honestly I just don't get it. If you enjoy historical fiction from the point of view of plucky young girls then there is much to enjoy here. I certainly liked it far more than I have the other works I have tried by this author, but there were still a multitude of things that annoyed me about it.
This novel does a pretty good job accurately depicting life in a logging/farming community in the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the 20th century. Life for the Jackson family is difficult and there are many terrible things that befall them and their neighbors. It was a precarious way to live and that was conveyed well, as was the close knit community of immigrants from the same country and the attitude toward schooling. I did find it a stretch to think that May Amelia had at some point befriended a Chinese boy and a lady who ran a tavern in Astoria. (Maybe this is because I haven't read the first book?) The book,while having a main plot thread of the land deal running through it, is mostly snap shots of what life was like for the people in such a community.
As for the character of May Amelia herself, she is certainly sympathetic. I did feel for her and her situation(s) as the story unfolded. This is a first person narrative and I felt that her character was remote and rather bland for that format. She only identifies herself as the people around her identify her, which is true to life for children in many ways, however by the age of 12 most children start to question who they are in relation to those around them and May Amelia never does that. Her family say she is "irritating" and she repeats it like a mantra, but nothing in the book gives evidence that this is the case. She works her little tail off for her brothers, mostly without complaining.
What I found the most vexing about the book is one of the things that irritated me about Turtle in Paradise as well. May Amelia's parents and brothers act like petulant children. They storm around and make the strangest decisions while the heroine stands there in bewilderment and lands wherever the turbulent adult whims blow her. Until the end when suddenly she's a hero. For the life of me I can't figure out why the adults in the books act the way they do (almost as if their parents were first cousins-I don't know. Maybe they were?).
The books style further irritated me in that there was an Excessive and Unnecessary use of Capital Letters, and a complete lack of quotation marks. Some people find this quirky and artistic. I just find it annoying.
I admit I began the book with a prejudice against it. Being aware of that I really wanted to give it as fair a chance I could. There were scenes I enjoyed, lines that made me laugh. I could certainly see myself recommending this book to certain children I know. It was just not my cup of tea.
I am clearly missing something here. Jennifer Holm has been honored by three different Newbery committees for her novels Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. Despite never getting past the first third of Our Only May Amelia and pretty much detesting every moment I spent reading Turtle in Paradise, I dutifully checked out a copy of her latest novel, The Trouble with May Amelia, as soon as my library received its copies. It is, of course, generating some award buzz this year. Honestly I just don't get it. If you enjoy historical fiction from the point of view of plucky young girls then there is much to enjoy here. I certainly liked it far more than I have the other works I have tried by this author, but there were still a multitude of things that annoyed me about it.
This novel does a pretty good job accurately depicting life in a logging/farming community in the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the 20th century. Life for the Jackson family is difficult and there are many terrible things that befall them and their neighbors. It was a precarious way to live and that was conveyed well, as was the close knit community of immigrants from the same country and the attitude toward schooling. I did find it a stretch to think that May Amelia had at some point befriended a Chinese boy and a lady who ran a tavern in Astoria. (Maybe this is because I haven't read the first book?) The book,while having a main plot thread of the land deal running through it, is mostly snap shots of what life was like for the people in such a community.
As for the character of May Amelia herself, she is certainly sympathetic. I did feel for her and her situation(s) as the story unfolded. This is a first person narrative and I felt that her character was remote and rather bland for that format. She only identifies herself as the people around her identify her, which is true to life for children in many ways, however by the age of 12 most children start to question who they are in relation to those around them and May Amelia never does that. Her family say she is "irritating" and she repeats it like a mantra, but nothing in the book gives evidence that this is the case. She works her little tail off for her brothers, mostly without complaining.
What I found the most vexing about the book is one of the things that irritated me about Turtle in Paradise as well. May Amelia's parents and brothers act like petulant children. They storm around and make the strangest decisions while the heroine stands there in bewilderment and lands wherever the turbulent adult whims blow her. Until the end when suddenly she's a hero. For the life of me I can't figure out why the adults in the books act the way they do (almost as if their parents were first cousins-I don't know. Maybe they were?).
The books style further irritated me in that there was an Excessive and Unnecessary use of Capital Letters, and a complete lack of quotation marks. Some people find this quirky and artistic. I just find it annoying.
I admit I began the book with a prejudice against it. Being aware of that I really wanted to give it as fair a chance I could. There were scenes I enjoyed, lines that made me laugh. I could certainly see myself recommending this book to certain children I know. It was just not my cup of tea.
April 26, 2012
After reading an especially good book, I am often left wanting more...a sequel. However, more often than not, the sequel is disappointing- it doesn't hold the same magic as the first book. That is not the case with The Trouble with May Amelia- the sequel to Our Only May Amelia.
Amelia is a character easy to feel for- you sense her longing to be loved by her Pappa- to be good in his eyes. You feel her jealousy that the boys can do things that she can't. The compassion she has for Lonny, the desire to fix the "problems" she has created, the lonliness of being away from her family... all of these aspects of May Amelia are palpable.
I loved how Jennifer Holm weaved Finnish tradition and culture into her story, like she did in the first book. I loved how Sisu (translated as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity) is a theme of the book. Sisu is the kind of courage that is not just momentary- but overtime sticking with it. I think it is especially appropiate for the era in which this story was written. May Amelia, her family, and her community- all had to have sisu to perserve through many hardships and adversities.
The ending of this book, like the first, was hopeful. Though there were still hurdles in front of May Amelia and her family, you were left with hope that it would work out. It is not a typical happy ever after ending, but I think that is appropriate given it took place in an era that didn't have a lot of happily ever after endings.
Amelia is a character easy to feel for- you sense her longing to be loved by her Pappa- to be good in his eyes. You feel her jealousy that the boys can do things that she can't. The compassion she has for Lonny, the desire to fix the "problems" she has created, the lonliness of being away from her family... all of these aspects of May Amelia are palpable.
I loved how Jennifer Holm weaved Finnish tradition and culture into her story, like she did in the first book. I loved how Sisu (translated as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity) is a theme of the book. Sisu is the kind of courage that is not just momentary- but overtime sticking with it. I think it is especially appropiate for the era in which this story was written. May Amelia, her family, and her community- all had to have sisu to perserve through many hardships and adversities.
The ending of this book, like the first, was hopeful. Though there were still hurdles in front of May Amelia and her family, you were left with hope that it would work out. It is not a typical happy ever after ending, but I think that is appropriate given it took place in an era that didn't have a lot of happily ever after endings.
November 28, 2013
5 HEARTBREAKING STARS.
Normally I don't capitalise or wage a capitalised letter war. However, this is an exception. Maybe it's because of the way I process or perceive things, or maybe it's due to the emotion I feel.
This story wasn't meant to be finished today... But I did. Thus neglecting my homework. And I don't regret it either.
Though it doesn't puzzle me as to why some might give it 1 or 2 or even zero stars. At times, the writing can be overly simplistic, or at best, annoying. Don't expect anything too fanciful from this book; it's geared towards younger readers, so vocabulary is kept at a lower level. Furthermore, words are constantly being capitalised - perhaps for further emphasis, but I feel that it's more due to the author attempting to portray things from a child's point of view (y'know, all those wonky capitalised words that make things out to be so much bigger than they actually are).
The biggest draw, and also the biggest drawback, is the writing. It uses straightforward language that younger readers might find comfort in, but older readers might hate. It is in this that its quiet strength is found - the ability to enable the reader to visualise the scenario/situation at hand, but all without the use of imagery to depict it.
Perhaps this isn't meant for younger readers as they might not fully appreciate it or the author's intentions behind the entire backbone of the story. As to why I typed such a title: it's the events that are this book's selling point. (Mostly) simple things, but they depict so much tragedy. So much pain and loss and sorrow that I nearly cannot stand it. Before touching this book, I would still recommend that the prequel (Our Only May Amelia) be read first in order to give a clearer picture of what happens later on in here.
And this is the longest Goodreads review I have ever written/typed out.
To end off, there's this (spoilery) chunk from the novel which I think is genius:
"He's walking straight toward us and he looks thinner than the last time I saw him. There's a packet of letters in his hand and I don't need to read them to know what they say. He walks right by me, like I am not even there, like I am a ghost. My father passes so close that for a moment I can smell his tobacco.
Now I know why the ghosts howl and haunt the tidelands. It's not because they want to scare you or steal your soul.
They just want to be Seen."
- May Amelia upon seeing her father again in town, after quite some time when he disowns her and throws her out of the house.
Deep, isn't it.
Excuse me while I go drown in a bucket of my literary feels right now.
Normally I don't capitalise or wage a capitalised letter war. However, this is an exception. Maybe it's because of the way I process or perceive things, or maybe it's due to the emotion I feel.
This story wasn't meant to be finished today... But I did. Thus neglecting my homework. And I don't regret it either.
Though it doesn't puzzle me as to why some might give it 1 or 2 or even zero stars. At times, the writing can be overly simplistic, or at best, annoying. Don't expect anything too fanciful from this book; it's geared towards younger readers, so vocabulary is kept at a lower level. Furthermore, words are constantly being capitalised - perhaps for further emphasis, but I feel that it's more due to the author attempting to portray things from a child's point of view (y'know, all those wonky capitalised words that make things out to be so much bigger than they actually are).
The biggest draw, and also the biggest drawback, is the writing. It uses straightforward language that younger readers might find comfort in, but older readers might hate. It is in this that its quiet strength is found - the ability to enable the reader to visualise the scenario/situation at hand, but all without the use of imagery to depict it.
Perhaps this isn't meant for younger readers as they might not fully appreciate it or the author's intentions behind the entire backbone of the story. As to why I typed such a title: it's the events that are this book's selling point. (Mostly) simple things, but they depict so much tragedy. So much pain and loss and sorrow that I nearly cannot stand it. Before touching this book, I would still recommend that the prequel (Our Only May Amelia) be read first in order to give a clearer picture of what happens later on in here.
And this is the longest Goodreads review I have ever written/typed out.
To end off, there's this (spoilery) chunk from the novel which I think is genius:
"He's walking straight toward us and he looks thinner than the last time I saw him. There's a packet of letters in his hand and I don't need to read them to know what they say. He walks right by me, like I am not even there, like I am a ghost. My father passes so close that for a moment I can smell his tobacco.
Now I know why the ghosts howl and haunt the tidelands. It's not because they want to scare you or steal your soul.
They just want to be Seen."
- May Amelia upon seeing her father again in town, after quite some time when he disowns her and throws her out of the house.
Deep, isn't it.
Excuse me while I go drown in a bucket of my literary feels right now.
January 6, 2012
I had several epiphanies while reading this book (after all, it is January 6). Just knowing that I would write a review for it changed the way I read a bit. I take a few notes, but really do reflect more on what I've read if I plan to share it with others. My recent experiences with "The Nerdy Book Club" have had such an inspiring effect on my reading. I keep wanting to try to duplicate the experience for the students at my schools. Too often we bog them down with vocabulary, insignificant details and questions, and overlook the big picture. Because I will have written this review, I know that I will better remember the book and some of its features; don't we wish the same for our students?
Now, for the book itself: I had not read Our Only May Amelia before, so I read it right before I read this one. I do agree that you do not have to have read the first book, but it does help. I like the matter-of-fact way this is written, as if, "This is my life, and that's that." While adults may find part of the book to be predictable, I think fewer and fewer things are predictable in today's world for our students. Holm doesn't try to hit you over the head with all the repercussions of the plot elements, she just moves on. There were laugh-out-loud parts (Friendly and the outhouse immediately come to mind), as well as several sad moments, but I believe this is an accurate picture of what life must have been like. I find it very inspiring that several real life events were included in the book.
I did miss having the map that was included in OOMA and found myself referring back to it a few times, and the lack of quotation marks does still get me at times, but I like May Amelia's strong voice and the manner of storytelling.
Being a librarian and book lover, of course I approved of the fact that the man who finally "wins" the teacher is the man who proclaims his love of books. There really is never proof that he's read them, is there? I guess Miss McEwing eventually would be able to determine that.
The fact that May Amelia has an important part in the resolution is very satisfying; her continued problems with acceptance by her father may really resonate with some readers. The injustice when she is blamed for things that are not her fault are frustrating but realistic. And, count me among those who would be glad to read an additional sequel! I don't know if I will try to use cobwebs to stop bleeding the next time that happens, but I will still be favorably affected by reading this book.
Now, for the book itself: I had not read Our Only May Amelia before, so I read it right before I read this one. I do agree that you do not have to have read the first book, but it does help. I like the matter-of-fact way this is written, as if, "This is my life, and that's that." While adults may find part of the book to be predictable, I think fewer and fewer things are predictable in today's world for our students. Holm doesn't try to hit you over the head with all the repercussions of the plot elements, she just moves on. There were laugh-out-loud parts (Friendly and the outhouse immediately come to mind), as well as several sad moments, but I believe this is an accurate picture of what life must have been like. I find it very inspiring that several real life events were included in the book.
I did miss having the map that was included in OOMA and found myself referring back to it a few times, and the lack of quotation marks does still get me at times, but I like May Amelia's strong voice and the manner of storytelling.
Being a librarian and book lover, of course I approved of the fact that the man who finally "wins" the teacher is the man who proclaims his love of books. There really is never proof that he's read them, is there? I guess Miss McEwing eventually would be able to determine that.
The fact that May Amelia has an important part in the resolution is very satisfying; her continued problems with acceptance by her father may really resonate with some readers. The injustice when she is blamed for things that are not her fault are frustrating but realistic. And, count me among those who would be glad to read an additional sequel! I don't know if I will try to use cobwebs to stop bleeding the next time that happens, but I will still be favorably affected by reading this book.
May 28, 2011
Jennifer Holm's 1999 novel Our Only May Amelia (which received a Newbery Honor in 2000) is one of my all-time favorite historical novels for kids, and I was eager to read the sequel which has just been released this spring. If you haven't read the first book, May Amelia is the only girl in a large family of Finn immigrants living in a remote area of Washington State around 1900. Amelia fits into the tradition of feisty tomboy frontier girls like Laura Ingalls, and her first story both made me laugh and made me sob (no spoilers, for those who haven't read it).
While the sequel doesn't quite pack the emotional wallop of the first book, I greatly enjoyed this book as well. In fact, I felt like I was visiting an old friend whom I hadn't seen in quite some time, one I was glad to catch up with. How to describe 12-year old May Amelia? Holm opens the book with the following description: "My brother Wilbert tells me I'm like the grain of sand in an oyster. Someday I will be a Pearl, but I will nag and irritate the poor oyster and everyone else until then." Her Pappa tells her "he would rather have one boy than a dozen May Amelias because Girls Are Useless." She lives in the middle of nowhere with no girls to keep her company, and she's always being teased by her seven older brothers. Her father not only runs the family farm but also works at a nearby logging camp for extra cash.
When a quick-talking stranger comes to town, May Amelia finally proves useful to interpret for her father from English to Finnish. The stranger's looking for investors to develop the land around the Nasel river, and assures Pappa he has powerful supporters. Pappa would have to mortgage the farm, but is this a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring the family out of poverty and into prosperity? And will May Amelia finally demonstrate to her father that she has "sisu", or guts?
This story is based on the author's own family history, in particular that of her great-grandfather, who settled on the Nasel River in 1871. But it is young May Amelia who's the star of this funny but also moving tale of the Western frontier. She's one of those characters who stays with you long after you've finished her story. I'd love to see Jennifer Holm continue with more stories about May Amelia as she grows up. But I hope we won't have to wait twelve years for the next installment!
While the sequel doesn't quite pack the emotional wallop of the first book, I greatly enjoyed this book as well. In fact, I felt like I was visiting an old friend whom I hadn't seen in quite some time, one I was glad to catch up with. How to describe 12-year old May Amelia? Holm opens the book with the following description: "My brother Wilbert tells me I'm like the grain of sand in an oyster. Someday I will be a Pearl, but I will nag and irritate the poor oyster and everyone else until then." Her Pappa tells her "he would rather have one boy than a dozen May Amelias because Girls Are Useless." She lives in the middle of nowhere with no girls to keep her company, and she's always being teased by her seven older brothers. Her father not only runs the family farm but also works at a nearby logging camp for extra cash.
When a quick-talking stranger comes to town, May Amelia finally proves useful to interpret for her father from English to Finnish. The stranger's looking for investors to develop the land around the Nasel river, and assures Pappa he has powerful supporters. Pappa would have to mortgage the farm, but is this a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring the family out of poverty and into prosperity? And will May Amelia finally demonstrate to her father that she has "sisu", or guts?
This story is based on the author's own family history, in particular that of her great-grandfather, who settled on the Nasel River in 1871. But it is young May Amelia who's the star of this funny but also moving tale of the Western frontier. She's one of those characters who stays with you long after you've finished her story. I'd love to see Jennifer Holm continue with more stories about May Amelia as she grows up. But I hope we won't have to wait twelve years for the next installment!
June 25, 2019
I realize this was based on true events, but it is really depressing, and I would have a hard time giving this to a middle-schooler. I also really don’t like the way the father talks to May Amelia and don’t feel like this is resolved enough at the end. For a YA book meant for younger kids, this is pretty heavy.
April 3, 2011
When I was a kid, I loved reading about girls who went against the grain and weren't "good little girls," wearing dresses and doing what everyone expected of them. I think that's one of the lasting appeals of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She had spunk and a sparkle in her eye. Jennifer Holm has created a wonderful character May Amelia with this same appeal. Living with a pack of brothers, May Amelia wants to do all the exciting, brave things her brothers do - swimming in the Nasel River, working with the animals, helping run the family farm. But living in the Washington state frontier wilderness in 1900 isn't easy - especially when her father declares that Girls Are Useless. This wonderful historical fiction will appeal to 4th and 5th graders who love characters with heart, courage and spunk.
The Jackson family lives in logging country in rural Washington State in 1900, in a community settled by many Finnish immigrants. It's a hard life, with rain, mud and work; but it's also a life full of family and community, traditions and adventure. This is a sequel to Holm's Newbery honor book Our Only May Amelia, but The Trouble with May Amelia can be read on its own since Holm introduces each character nicely.
May Amelia certainly has courage and guts, or Sisu as the Finns call it. As the only girl in a family with seven brothers, she must carry the weight of cooking and cleaning when her mother goes to help catch babies as the local midwife. While her father continually criticizes her as a useless girl, she thinks she may have won his respect when she helps her Finnish-speaking father by translating for a gentleman who asks them to invest in a new company establishing a local harbor for the logging business. But when the man turns out to be a fraud and the family loses everything, everyone blames May Amelia.
May Amelia's spirit and voice shines through on every page. I loved the first person narrative that Holm created - this reads aloud in my head just as if May Amelia is talking right to me. Holm takes you into really hard times for the family and despair for May Amelia, but the family's love and humor pulls through. This powerful, compelling novel will reach your heart and make you laugh.
The Jackson family lives in logging country in rural Washington State in 1900, in a community settled by many Finnish immigrants. It's a hard life, with rain, mud and work; but it's also a life full of family and community, traditions and adventure. This is a sequel to Holm's Newbery honor book Our Only May Amelia, but The Trouble with May Amelia can be read on its own since Holm introduces each character nicely.
May Amelia certainly has courage and guts, or Sisu as the Finns call it. As the only girl in a family with seven brothers, she must carry the weight of cooking and cleaning when her mother goes to help catch babies as the local midwife. While her father continually criticizes her as a useless girl, she thinks she may have won his respect when she helps her Finnish-speaking father by translating for a gentleman who asks them to invest in a new company establishing a local harbor for the logging business. But when the man turns out to be a fraud and the family loses everything, everyone blames May Amelia.
May Amelia's spirit and voice shines through on every page. I loved the first person narrative that Holm created - this reads aloud in my head just as if May Amelia is talking right to me. Holm takes you into really hard times for the family and despair for May Amelia, but the family's love and humor pulls through. This powerful, compelling novel will reach your heart and make you laugh.
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