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My fourth grader was given Our Only May Amelia as this week's literature assignment. Part of the assignment was to read the book with a parent and discuss the material.
What a lucky break for me! I loved this book. It is a Newberry Honor Book and the honor is very well deserved.
The story was inspired by the diary of the author's great aunt whose first entry read:
quote:My Name is Alice Amelia Holm And I live in Washington On the Nasel River. I am Twelve years of age and will be thirteen the 28th day of February 1900
It is about a Finish family in the PNW on the Nasel River during the early 1900's. It explores women's independence, imigration, relationships, grief and hope.
It is about a girl, yet the concepts and actions are universal enough to capture the interest and empathy of my very boyish son.
One charming aspect of the book is the author's nod to her aunt's unusual use of capitalization. In many ways she trys to capture the voice of her aunt and I walked away from the book wishing that I'd had the opportunity to know May Amelia.
In any case, I thought I'd share this treasure. Has anyone else read this book?
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If you enjoyed that, have you read A Gathering of Days?
