For the Child Who Feels Everything: Sensitivity, PEI, and The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane

 

Were you a child who felt everything deeply? Or do you have one of those children in your family now? I was—and still am. As a child, hearing bad news often felt like it were happening to me. And I have a son the same way. We walked out of many cartoons near the climactic point. It was just too much.  

At first, I was excited about Erin Stewart’s The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane because of the setting—Prince Edward Island—one of my favorite places to read about. But I ended up falling in love with Lucy, who reminded me a lot of my younger self.

If you love Prince Edward Island, gentle mysteries, and stories about children learning to live with big feelings, this is a lovely choice.

 

MMGM: Finding Kindred Spirits in the San: A Review of Light and Air

 

Are you looking for a book to tuck into your book basket for a study of the 1930s? Or perhaps you have a child who’s fascinated by medicine or medical history—but you’re hoping for a story that feels gentle and hope-filled, without lingering in the heaviness of illness.

Today I’m featuring Light and Air by Mindy Nichols Wendell. At first, although I heard wonderful reviews of this book, I was a little afraid to take it on. I am a sensitive reader, and I was afraid a book about tuberculosis might be depressing. But when Dr. Kate Scarth, Chair of LM Montgomery Studies at UPEI, mentioned that there were references to Anne in this book, I knew I had to dive right in.

Summary: 

When Halle (short for Hallelujah)’s mama is sent to J.N. Adam Tuberculosis Hospital for a rest cure, Halle is shunned by her classmates. Children are not allowed to visit patients, but she’s determined to find a way to see her mama, convinced that she can help her get better. Her attempt to run away to the hospital causes her to get sick and be admitted herself. But despite sickness, rules, and her father’s disapproval, Halle’s determined to help her mama get well. 

This is a story of courage in small places, and of the quiet ways love endures, even in uncertain seasons. 

Why this story stays with me

1.    Real relationships between parents and children. Halle’s relationship with her mother is deep and profound. She is such a comfort to Halle. But even though her relationship with her father is strained, he is never portrayed as an ogre, but as someone carrying his own sorrow. I loved how family was so central to this novel, not just for Halle, but for the children she meets at the “San.”

2.    An insight into the tuberculosis in the 1930s. There are a lot of books about the Great Depression, but this is the first time I’ve read a middle-grade book about tuberculosis and what it was like living in a sanatorium. It made my heart glad to see that spending time outside was emphasized. Despite our advances in medicine, fresh air is still important for good health. It offers a living glimpse into a chapter of history that often goes unmentioned and would make a wonderful addition to any study of that era.

3.    Friendships! Halle had many dear friends. Thelma was like her Diana, a bosom friend from childhood. I also loved Flossie, the patient she meets later. Flossie is black, but the hospital admitted all people regardless of race. And this was dealt with in a sensitive and realistic way. 

4.    Faith was an integral part of Halle’s family life. It was refreshing to see that Halle prayed and that she found comfort in things her mother taught and lines from old hymns. To me, this gave the novel depth and hope despite its hard themes of sickness.

5.    Nods to classic novels and a writing style like them. Halle loves to read, and it was great fun seeing some of my favorites like the Anne of Green Gables series, Little Princess, and Royal Velvet mentioned. This was keeping with the time period and gave the book a vintage feel. Due to Wendell’s beautiful writing style, I felt like I was reading how Montgomery would’ve written about these kindred spirit friendships in a hospital setting.

Reading Guide: This book would appeal to 8-12 year olds as a Morning Time read-aloud and independent readers at the 4th-5th grade reading level and above. A gentle note for parents and teachers: this story touches on the realities of serious illness, including loss, handled with great tenderness and hope.

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. Mindy Nichols Wendell’s second novel, California or Dust, is set in 1939 and follows a girl relocating with her family to California during the Dust Bowl. It releases on August 25, 2026, and sounds like another thoughtful, heart-filled story from the Great Depression era.

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

No dogs again! Ugh! But the book was short, and I liked that they had school outside. My kind of place!  

 

 

Notes from the Front Porch

 

What books set in the 1930s have you and your family enjoyed?
If you love Anne and tender, heart-filled stories, you’re always welcome here.

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

If you love Anne and tender, heart-filled stories, you’re always welcome here. Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

MMGM: The Magic of a Drawn World: From Harold to Henry

 

Today I’m opening the door to a fresh voice. A true kindred spirit and fan of cozy stories, Lizzy B is an up-and-coming authoress, the daughter of a dear friend, a recent homeschool graduate, and one of my fabulous beta readers. She is currently writing The Conspirator’s Crown, a whimsical retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in space. (Can you imagine a more delightful combination?) On Lizzy and Crown, she features book reviews of her favorite books, so I invited her and her cat, Faith, to join me on the front porch to share her latest read.

If you love imaginative stories like Harold and the Purple Crayon, but for an older audience, Henry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton and illustrated by Benjamin Schipper sounds fantastic. The premise of this book reminds me of one of my favorite Anne quotes:

“It's delightful when your imaginations come true, isn't it?”

--L.M. Montgomery 

 Synopsis

In the town of Squashbuckle, just about anything can happen, and when Henry Penwhistle draws a mighty Chalk Dragon on his door, the dragon does what Henry least expects--it runs away. Now Henry's art is out in the world for everyone to see, and it's causing trouble for him and his schoolmates Oscar and Jade. If they don't stop it, the entire town could be doomed! To vanquish the threat of a rampaging Chalk Dragon, Sir Henry Penwhistle, Knight of La Muncha Elementary School, is going to have to do more than just catch his art--he's going to have to let his imagination run wild. And THAT takes bravery. (from Amazon)

Reading Guide: This book would appeal to 6-12-year-olds as a read-aloud and independent readers at the 4th-grade reading level and above. 

Lizzy B.'s Thoughts

Summary: Henry keeps his Art tucked safely away...until a chalk dragon breaks free and takes the other drawings with it!

Notes: Imagine "Harold's Purple Crayon" but a chapter book. And with chalk. Mostly. This book explores what happens when your Art breaks loose, the good, the bad, and the unusual. When your imagination is too big to stay in one place, you have to be careful that it doesn't carry you away. Scattered throughout this book are also many references to other famous - and not so famous - books.  After reading this, I made a list of all the books I wanted to read, all of which were mentioned in this book's pages.

Violence: None...unless you count an indoor flood.
Romance: None
Scary themes: Not really...unless you count a green dragon, a robotic-ish Abe Lincon, or a very slimy slug.

Faith the Cat's thoughts 

Faith the Cat sporting her favorite hat

There are no cats. There is an excessive amount of water and vegetables. However, it is a very nice size for me to rest my head on. I give it a two out of five. 🧶🧶

 

 Your Turn: 

Which stories have been traveling with your family lately? Do you remember the first time you read Harold and the Purple Crayon? Do you have a favorite story that makes you feel like anything is possible with just a bit of imagination?

I’d love to hear about the stories that are lighting up your living room these days.

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle! 

 

  

If you love Anne and tender, heart-filled stories, you’re always welcome here. Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

If you enjoyed Lizzy’s thoughts, you can find more of her writing over on Lizzy and Crown, where she shares reviews and glimpses of her world-building research. You’re also welcome to join her newsletter if you’d like to follow along as her series takes shape.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Photo credits: Photo of Faith by Lizzy B., Front porch from Canva

MMGM: Small Stakes, Big Heart: A 'Quiet Stories' Review of 'Honey and Me

 

One of the many books I discovered while homeschooling was All of a Kind Family. This beautiful book tells the story of five Jewish sisters who grew up in 1912. I loved all the details of their life, especially how they left a place for Elijah at the Passover seder. It was these simple, low-stakes moments that drew me to this story.

 

It reminded me of a project I did in college for my education degree. I visited a synagogue to immerse myself in that culture. The ladies let me join them in making hamantaschen for Purim. When they were explaining about the holiday, I said, “Oh, that’s the book of Esther!” 

What I found interesting when I read the back matter for Honey and Me was that Meira Drazin was inspired to write a book like Ballet Shoes, Anne of Green Gables, and The Penderwicks, but about a Jewish family:

 “I wondered if I could do what these writers all do so beautifully—show the importance and magnitude of small dramas in everyday life—but with contemporary Jewish characters.”--Meira Drazin

Synopsis: 

Milla and Honey have been best friends since forever.

Milla envies Honey’s confidence, her charisma, and her big, chaotic family―especially when they provide a welcome escape from Milla’s own small family and quiet house. In their close-knit Jewish community, the two girls do everything together, from delivering meals to an ill-tempered elderly neighbor to shopping at a local thrift store, celebrating the holidays, and going to their first bat mitzvahs while studying for their own.

So when Honey joins Milla’s school for sixth grade, why is it not as great as Milla expected? Can their friendship survive all the ups and downs the year has in store for them? And will Milla ever find the courage to step out of Honey’s shadow and into her own spotlight?

Charming, authentic, and wise, Honey and Me is a classic coming-of-age story filled with relatable middle school struggles, keen insight, and sparkling humor. (from Amazon)

 

Why This Book Stays With Me:

1.    A friendship that feels real. I loved how Milla and Honey have their ups and downs, although they are always loyal to each other. Drazin did such a marvelous job of creating a real friendship, where a good friend tells the truth, sometimes gets jealous, and doesn't always understand you perfectly.

2.    An insight into Orthodox Judaism. Other than All of a Kind Family and some Chaim Potok, I know very little about Orthodox Judaism. I appreciated that Drazin has a glossary in the back for readers who might be unfamiliar with phrases and practices of Orthodox Judaism. As a person whose Christian faith is central to my life, I enjoyed seeing this tight-knit culture portrayed warmly and respectfully. 

3.    The mother-daughter relationship with Milla. Milla's relationship with her mother and her tendency to put Honey’s family on a pedestal are very real and relatable. How she and her mother worked through this was also beautifully depicted. 

4.    Small stakes that were engaging. Like The Penderwicks series and other “small stakes” novels, I kept reading because Drazin shows us that even these small things have meaning. Winning a speech contest might not feel as significant as traveling the world or stopping a nefarious bad guy, but it feels real to Honey and Milla, so it did to me, too. And I was reminded that the small moments in my life are important.

5.    Incredible secondary characters. This book had a huge cast, but two characters really stood out to me: Ageneni, a grandma-like figure who reads children’s books and speaks her mind, and Mr. Sandler, a very special English teacher.

Reading Guide: This book would appeal to 8-12-year-olds as a Morning Time read-aloud and independent readers at the 5th-grade reading level and above. A small note for sensitive readers: there is the loss of a beloved adult near the end of the story. It is handled with great heart, but it may be a moment you'll want to walk through together.

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴

No dogs again! Ugh! And Mom was reading for a long time. 

Notes from the Front Porch:

What slice-of-life, low stakes books have you enjoyed?

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

MMGM: How to Celebrate an Author’s Birthday: Ideas Inspired by L.M. Montgomery

Have you ever celebrated your favorite author’s birthday? On Sunday, November 30th, it’s L.M. Montgomery's  (author of Anne of Green Gables, Emily of New Moon, Pat of Silver Bush, and many others) birthday. I thought it’d be fun to share some ideas on how to celebrate if you’re an Anne fan (like me)!

Party Food

For any party, you must have food. For Anne, I would use recipes from the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook by Maud’s granddaughter, Kate McDonald. Complete with quotes and explanations from the books and photos from Prince Edward Island, The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook’s recipes are simple to prepare. A middle grade reader could make most of the recipes with a little help if using the stove or oven is required.

Raspberry cordial (photo by Jenni Enzor)

Here are a few recipes I’ve tried that would be perfect for a birthday party:

Diana Barry’s Raspberry Cordial
Tantalizing Raspberry Tarts
Coconut Macaroons

If you’d like birthday cake, Anne’s Liniment Cake (no actual liniment included) would be perfect, and Poetical Egg salad sandwiches would be great to balance out all the sweet.

Imagine how you could adapt this to your favorite author:

Homemade butter and pig skins for Little House in the Big Woods
Willy Wonka chocolates and blueberries for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Turkish Delights for The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe 
Lush Berry Juice for Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger (MMGM's founder!)

Crafts/Activities

 

Now, every party must have some kind of entertainment. The Anne of Green Gables Treasury, published in 1991, is a wealth of information about what life was during the time period of the books. I heard one of the authors, Carolyn Strom Collins, speak at the LMM Days. (Yes, I’m such a fangirl I attended the virtual version of this conference all about Montgomery!) The authors initially wrote it for their daughters to explain the backgrounds of the books. I enjoyed seeing maps of Avonlea (Anne’s made-up village), actual maps of Prince Edward Island, a timeline of world events and their correspondence to the Anne books, recipes, and ideas for crafts.

For example, one fun craft was making a straw hat like Anne’s. I got the supplies from my craft store so I could make a mini one and use it as an ornament on my tree this year.

Anne of Green Gables Treasury, p. 97 (photo by Jenni Enzor)

 

Books and Films

For entertainment, you could watch the Anne of Green Gables miniseries or films. My favorite is the one by Sullivan Entertainment with Megan Follows, but then, you are always partial to the adaption you watched first.

 

Recently, I also reread Rilla of Ingleside, the last of the Anne books, about her youngest daughter. Fourteen-year-old Rilla isn’t ambitious, doesn't want to go to college, and only cares about dressing up and going to parties. But when World War I is announced at her first party, her world changes. She ends up adopting a war baby and must endure her brothers’ enlistment in the war. 

 

As an American, I really enjoyed reading about World War I from the Canadian perspective. There is so much that I don’t know about this period that I spent a lot of time looking up famous people and events as I read. If you want to learn more about this time period, start with this book. Although it is fictional, the author lived during this time period.

Although Rilla starts out at fourteen, the book covers four years, so it definitely leans more YA in parts. I don’t think it would be inaccessible to a middle grade reader if perhaps used as a read aloud. 

Max’s take (out of a 5 bone scale)

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

 

 

 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Dog Monday (from Rilla) is my favorite literary hero! After Rilla’s oldest brother, Jem, leaves for the front, he spends the  war at the railway station waiting for him to return. He is fiercely loyal like me.  

Your Turn: 

 

Have you ever celebrated a favorite’s author’s birthday? How would you celebrate?

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

MMGM: Vintage Children's Books for Modern Readers: Anna Rose Johnson

Do you like vintage children’s books? You know the books you or perhaps your grandmother grew up with (or were written about your great grandmother’s time) like Betsy-Tacy, The Secret Garden, or Anne of Green Gables. These were the books I lived in as a child, where the characters became as dear to me as real friends. I was so excited to discover a new-to-me author, Anna Rose Johnson, who shares this love and has written some beautiful modern books in this vintage style.

Today I’m featuring the two I’ve read, but Faith Hough, another MMGM blogger, recently featured an interview with Anna Rose about her latest book, The Blossoming Summer. 

If you like nostalgic reads like The Penderwicks or The Vanderbeekers series, but set in the early 1900s, you will love these books!

Synopsis for A Star That Always Stays:

 
Growing up on Beaver Island, Grand-père told Norvia stories—stories about her ancestor Migizi, about Biboonke-o-nini the Wintermaker, about the Crane Clan and the Reindeer Clan. He sang her songs in the old language, and her grandmothers taught her to make story quilts and maple candy. On the island, Norvia was proud of her Ojibwe heritage. 

Things are different in the city. Here, Norvia’s mother forces her to pretend she’s not Native at all—even to Mr. Ward, Ma’s new husband, and to Vernon, Norvia’s irritating new stepbrother. In fact, there are a lot of changes in the city: ten-cent movies, gleaming soda shops, speedy automobiles, ninth grade. It’s dizzying for a girl who grew up on the forested shores of Lake Michigan.

Despite the move, the upheaval, and the looming threat of world war, Norvia and her siblings—all five of them—are determined to make 1914 their best year ever. Norvia is certain that her future depends upon it... and upon her discretion. 

But how can she have the best year ever if she has to hide who she truly is?

 

My Take:

 
The writing style and the focus on the everyday elements of life reminded me so much of Maud Lovelace’s high school Betsy books. Norvia was an interesting heroine, because she was so shy, but I loved that because that was me as a young teen as well. I also loved how her heritage was natural to the story and though she encountered prejudice, the story showed who Norvia's true friends were. Faith was woven in as a natural part of life. I really enjoyed the chapters about the two Ojibwe grandmothers and their steadfast encouragement in Norvia's life. And although I am from a small family myself, I love reading about big families, and Norvia’s drama-loving sister, Dicta, steals every scene she’s in. There were a few minor things, like how divorce was handled for that period that didn’t ring true for me, and I wished we could have seen more of her dad and hear his side of the story. But overall, a lovely read. And Mr. Bingley, the family dog, was a delight!

Synopsis for The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry:

Lucy, a spirited French-Ojibwe orphan, is sent to the stormy waters of Lake Superior to live with a mysterious family of lighthouse-keepers—and, she hopes, to find the legendary necklace her father spent his life seeking…

Selena Lucy Landry (named for a ship, as every sailor’s child should be) has been frightened of the water ever since she lost her father at sea. But with no one else to care for her, she’s sent to foster with the Martins—a large Anishinaabe family living on a lighthouse in the middle of stormy Lake Superior. 

The Martin family is big, hard-working, and close, and Lucy—who has always been a dreamer—struggles to fit in. Can she go one day without ruining the laundry or forgetting the sweeping? Will she ever be less afraid of the lake?

My Take:

 
While A Star reminded me of Betsy-Tacy, The Luminous Life reminded me of Anne of Green Gables and The Little Princess. The set up is similar about a spirited, imaginative orphan girl who goes to live with a family, but what I loved is that Anna Rose brings her own spin on the story. Lucy is imaginative and gets into trouble because she’s daydreaming, but one of my favorite parts of the book was how she often imagines herself as a Princess or a waif depending on her mood. Unlike the Little Princess, imagining herself as a princess doesn’t make Lucy a better person, although sometimes it does. She’s proud of her heritage and her Papa who died in a shipwreck. I loved the beautiful large family dynamics. It is difficult to have a large cast and keep each character distinct. But Anna Rose does it well. I also enjoyed the mystery of the necklace and the shipwreck which added a lot of peril, especially toward the end.

This is a much shorter read than A Star and would be wonderful for advanced readers who are ready to move up to middle grade, but not ready for any dark themes. 

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

 

 

Max’s Take on a 5 bone scale: 

A Star: Mr. Bingley! I love a dog that’s named after a book character, especially if it’s from my mom’s favorite book (Pride and Prejudice).

 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴

Lucy Landry had some gulls, but no dogs. And lots of water! I do not like boats or water. 🦴

Your turn:

Do you like vintage reads? What books did you love as a child?  

 

 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

 

ISWG: What I've Learned from My Favorite Childhood Authors

Often, I get asked by other writers why I write for kids. My standard answer is that deep down I still feel twelve (or sixteen if the YA mood strikes me). Seriously, my best ideas are often based on my own or my sons’ childhood experiences. 

As Flannery O’Connor said, “Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.”

This month’s question was relatively easy for me. These are books that not only impacted me as a person, but as a writer. When I think about what kind of writer I want to be, I think of a long list of authors who wrote so well for children that I still feel like these characters are my best friends. These are just some highlights.

What I learned from my childhood friends books:

 

Description/Characters

Description has always been a challenge for me. My drafts are usually very sparse, just dialogue, action, and inner thoughts. I usually add description as layers in later drafts. But maybe because it doesn’t come naturally to me, I love reading authors who do lush description well. And many older books do. 

What I learned from Wilder and Mongomery and Lovelace:

• People will stay with a well-rounded interesting character, even if there’s not a lot of action.

• Everyday life is beautiful and full of drama and joy.

• To capture characters and description well, pay attention to the people around you.

• Women from the past wanted to be writers too!

Humor

 

I went through a serious Roald Dahl kick as a child. I loved his smarter-than-the-adults characters, and I delighted in how the awful adults always got their comeuppance. Recently, I got to see Willy Wonka the musical, and it brought back so many fond memories. Writing humorously is something I’ve had to work on, but it comes more naturally as I learn to take myself less seriously.

 

 

What I learned from Roald Dahl:

• Humor points out the truth but in a subtle way.

• It appeals to kids.

• It is good for the soul. (And there is a lot of research that it is good for our health, too.)

 

Imagination/Fantasy:

 

 

I loved the Narnia series as a kid, but I thought I didn't like other fantasy until I started writing it. My biggest struggle with fantasy is world-building and internal logic. My first attempt at a novel was a portal fantasy, and although it is littered with issues, I still want to go back and revise it. And then because of Gail Carson Levine, I have a soft spot for fairy tale re-imaginings. Someday!

 

 What I learned from C.S. Lewis and Gail Carson Levine (whom I discovered as adult):

• I like fantasy grounded in reality.

• Fantasy can be a portal (pun intended!) for teaching truth about the real world/life.

• The best fantasies have incredible characters, world-building, and all the other elements of a good novel.

What about you? What books inspired you as a child or a teen? 

If you'd like to read more ISWG posts or sign up, please go HERE. You won't be disappointed.

 

MMGM: If You Loved Anne of Green Gables… Meet Pat Of Silver Bush

 

Are you an Anne fan? From the moment I discovered her in my teens, that little red headed character has seemed more like a best friend than a character in a book. Like Anne, I write and often misuse big words. And my oldest friend (we’ve been friends since we were six) call each other bosom friends.

Although I’ve always loved Anne, I haven’t ventured to read L.M. Montgomery’s other work until recently. A few years ago, I read The Blue Castle, and while it isn’t as sparklingly perfect as Anne, it was a delightful read with all of the stock Montgomery characters: well-meaning, but strict (without imagination) relatives and a sweet love story.

More recently, I heard of Pat of Silver Bush on Faith E. Hough’s blog. It was the first I’d heard of this book, and I had to check it out. What a pleasant surprise. Pat is so different from Anne—or from Emily, Montgomery’s other well-known protagonist, but interesting in her own way.

Synopsis (from Amazon):

There's no place like home

Do fairies really come for the dish of milk we leave them? Is Mrs. McClenahan really a witch? How is it possible to find a new baby in a bed of parsley? These are all questions Pat Gardiner wants to know. And it seems her Irish housekeeper, the incomparable Judy Plum, always has an answer...
For Pat, there is no place more magical on earth than her home of Silver Bush, with its majestic birch trees and enchanting gardens. If it were up to her, nothing there would ever change. But of course if nothing changed, she'd never get a new baby sister, see her Aunt Hazel's wedding, or meet the only boy who truly understands her. Yes, there is change coming for Pat―some of it joyous and some of it heartbreaking. But no matter what, her favorite house in the world will always be waiting for her...

What to love about Pat:

1. A homebody child character: This is one of the things I most enjoyed about the series. Pat, unlike practically any other character in children’s literature, just wants to stay home. She never wants anything to change, sometimes to a rather extreme degree. Though I was adventurous as a teen and young adult, I was much more like Pat as a child. I think a lot of kids would relate to her as well.

2. An irascible, storytelling adult character: Most of the story centers on Pat’s relationship with Judy, the housekeeper. In fact, every other adult, including her parents, are mists in the background. I loved how Judy took center stage. Her exaggerated stories and her fervent love for her pet, Pat, really shines.

3. Childhood friendships: Like Anne, Pat has a bosom girlfriend, and a boy, Jingle, for a friend. I loved how memorable events brought these people into Pat’s life and the lovely job Montgomery always does with friendships. Both Bets and Jingle have more heartache than Gilbert or Diana, but I loved them all the more for being real.

4. An interesting time period: It took me a long time (till the end of the book) to place the time period, because it wasn’t clearly stated till then.  I loved reading about the 20s in a place where most of the people still had their feet firmly in the Victorian era and were debating whether bobs and pajamas were immoral.  :)


5. Montgomery is a master at In media res. One of the things I liked about this book is how right from page one, you are thrown into this wonderful family with little explanation. It gave the book an eavesdropping feel and helped me bond with the characters right away. Although this book was published in 1933, this made it feel modern.

Caveat: I had a couple bones to pick about this series:

1. There is heavy use of dialect by Judy. While it did make it clear that she was Irish, it also made for hard reading at time. This doesn’t appeal to the modern ear.

2. I didn’t enjoy book 2 as much as book 1. In the second book, Pat’s desire to keep her home at all costs, even as a young adult, got to be annoying (and unbelievable) at times. Although I’m glad I preserved through book 2 to the wonderful ending of the series.

I think this book would appeal to fans of Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon. Readers who love character-driven books centered on family, like The Penderwicks, would enjoy this as well.

Have you came across any undiscovered gems by favorite authors? Would you relate to a character who was adverse to change?

(This post contains an affiliate link. Thank you for your support!)

To check out more Marvelous Middle Grade suggestions, check out Shannon Messenger's blog.