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Published Apr 2011
224 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
May Amelia Jackson captured readers' hearts in the Newbery Honor Book Our Only May Amelia. Now, after over ten years, Jennifer Holm is bringing this beloved character back in a beautiful way. The Trouble with May Amelia is a gorgeously written story that's as heartbreaking as it is funny.
May Amelia lives in pioneer Washingon State in 1900, and she just can't act the part of a proper young lady. Working a farm on the rainy Nasel River isn't easy - especially when you have seven brothers and a Pappa who proclaims that Girls Are Useless. May Amelia thinks she may have finally earned 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.
"Starred Review. Anyone interested in learning to write crowd-pleasing historical fiction for elementary school readers would be wise to study Holm's work...this sequel demonstrates her mastery of writing a complete, exciting story in a trim novel." - Publishers Weekly
"With plot elements pulled from the author’s own family history, the book draws to a close with an ending that, though ultimately hopeful, hints at more trouble to come. Line drawings at the start of each chapter add further appeal. Grades 3-6." - Booklist
"Readers who enjoyed the first novel should embrace May Amelia again and may well believe that the only "trouble" with her is that the sequel didn't happen sooner." - Kirkus
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Jennifer Holm was raised in Audubon, Pennsylvania with her four brothers. After graduating from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, she worked in television and later began to write. Our Only May Amelia, the story of a 12-year-old girl living in the late 19th century, inspired by a diary written by her great aunt, was her first published novel and was a 2000 Newbery Honor Book. Holm also has written a series starring Jane Peck, a young woman living in the 1850s (Boston Jane: An Adventure, Boston Jane: Wilderness Days and Boston Jane: The Claim); The Creek, a horror thriller; a series of graphic novels for young adults illustrated by her brother Matthew (Babymouse: Queen of the World, Babymouse: Our Hero, Babymouse: Beach Babe, Babymouse: Rock Star, Babymouse: Heartbreaker, and...
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