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shanlyz's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
Another book from my childhood read!
When her father, a professional school teacher, dies unexpectedly from a plague that sweeps through the new town, Sarah Jane Price finds herself completely alone and orphaned. Although the lady she boards with is kind and solicitous, she is eager to be rid of Sarah Jane and considers it her "Christian duty" to ship the young girl off to an orphanage, where she will perform hard labor six days out of the week and wear herself thin with weak meals and little love. Sarah rebels against this plan and audaciously suggests that she replace her deceased father as the new school teacher - she has, she argues, the proper credentials and she is, she lies, of the appropriate age.
This novel follows closely the trials she faces. She is lonely, without a father or family, and she is despised by many of the townspeople who do not believe she is "humble" enough, and that a woman should not be a teacher. Many of her students refuse to take learning seriously, believing that farmers don't need education. Sarah wins over their hearts, surviving in impossible teaching conditions (including a sod school house which is literally falling apart), and winning over her students and their parents with her indomitable spirit.
When her father, a professional school teacher, dies unexpectedly from a plague that sweeps through the new town, Sarah Jane Price finds herself completely alone and orphaned. Although the lady she boards with is kind and solicitous, she is eager to be rid of Sarah Jane and considers it her "Christian duty" to ship the young girl off to an orphanage, where she will perform hard labor six days out of the week and wear herself thin with weak meals and little love. Sarah rebels against this plan and audaciously suggests that she replace her deceased father as the new school teacher - she has, she argues, the proper credentials and she is, she lies, of the appropriate age.
This novel follows closely the trials she faces. She is lonely, without a father or family, and she is despised by many of the townspeople who do not believe she is "humble" enough, and that a woman should not be a teacher. Many of her students refuse to take learning seriously, believing that farmers don't need education. Sarah wins over their hearts, surviving in impossible teaching conditions (including a sod school house which is literally falling apart), and winning over her students and their parents with her indomitable spirit.
tibbarasden's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
While this one didn't have the important talking points of some of the others, it was a good look at what life and education looked like for settlers in a small town before the railroad. I really enjoyed Sarah as a character and found the writing a bit more enjoyable than some of the others I have read.
huncamuncamouse's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciated that this was less about a singular event and more a kind of movement in the country. It was very interesting to see a character with such a level of autonomy . . . I do question the historical accuracy, but it made for a very empowering story.
I recently did a Little House on the Prairie reread, and there were a lot of reverberations between the series and this particular book. One gripe is that we already know she winds up teaching school, so if there was supposed to be tension over her appointment or future in the town, it's a moot point (that was a dumbass marketing move). I enjoyed the interactions between Sarah Jane and Ida.
However, I felt like pacing was an issue. Given that the title tells us Sarah Jane is a teacher, there should not have been so much time devoted to settling that question. Then there's barely any of the book devoted to talking about her experience as a teacher, other than a blizzard (which I will say--the annotated Pioneer Girl manuscripts talks at length about how teachers had to make hard decisions when storms struck). I wanted more Miss Kizer and the Reverend content tbh!
I thought married women couldn't teach, so why was she still at the school despite marrying dumbass Charles--her literal former student? Like what the fuck was that decision in an otherwise good book?
I recently did a Little House on the Prairie reread, and there were a lot of reverberations between the series and this particular book. One gripe is that we already know she winds up teaching school, so if there was supposed to be tension over her appointment or future in the town, it's a moot point (that was a dumbass marketing move). I enjoyed the interactions between Sarah Jane and Ida.
However, I felt like pacing was an issue. Given that the title tells us Sarah Jane is a teacher, there should not have been so much time devoted to settling that question. Then there's barely any of the book devoted to talking about her experience as a teacher, other than a blizzard (which I will say--the annotated Pioneer Girl manuscripts talks at length about how teachers had to make hard decisions when storms struck). I wanted more Miss Kizer and the Reverend content tbh!
I thought married women couldn't teach, so why was she still at the school despite marrying dumbass Charles--her literal former student? Like what the fuck was that decision in an otherwise good book?
musiquedevie's review against another edition
5.0
It’s a shame to read so many one star or two star reviews for this book. I genuinely enjoyed it. As an avid reader of the Dear America books (and its spinoffs), yes this book wasn’t an adventurous one or filled with numerous historical events or twists and turns. Yet this was an important time, one of growth in the US and shows the importance of small towns getting education. It’s a lovely narrative following Sarah Jane as she goes from an orphan to becoming a teacher and gives a glimpse into life on the prairie in the late 1880s.
So I say, take the reviews with a huge grain of salt. Start the book, enjoy the journey and decide for yourself. I’m sure glad I did.
So I say, take the reviews with a huge grain of salt. Start the book, enjoy the journey and decide for yourself. I’m sure glad I did.
ash_ton's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the ending, and the little epilogue was cute. The book did feel a little slow to me though, and I unfortunately didn't feel much for the characters.
hunkydory's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
peytonktracy's review
4.0
Weirdly, for being an adult, I think this particular Dear America caught me at the right place and the right time. I really enjoyed Sarah Jane’s experiences stepping into adulthood, being so scared sometimes she doesn’t recognize her own strength, and her determination to make it work. I enjoyed that I felt like I knew the characters by the end of the book even though I knew very few details about them or their motivation - only how Sarah Jane interacted with them and saw them. My only two complaints were the liberal use of numbers over written out words (2 vs. two) and that for a prairie teacher, Sarah Jane had an awful lot of time to write during school hours!