Strawberry Girl
Ratings5
Average rating3
15
Ratings5
Average rating3
Set in a little-known backwoods region of Florida, Strawberry Girl is the first of the Lenski regional books and the winner of the Newbery award.
Series
1 released bookAmerican Regional is a 8-book series first released in 1943 with contributions by Lois Lenski.
Reviews with the most likes.
This was a pretty engaging look at rural Florida farming in the 19th century. I had no idea there was a whole series of these books!
How could a child read this book and complain about her life in 21st century America? The two families in this book suffer from the ravages of grasshoppers, illness, hunger, and jealousy. They argue and fight with each other, eventually going so far as to kill each other's animals and set fire to the other's farmhouse. A hardscrabble life complete with rattlesnakes and alligators and swamps. Yet there was also a beauty to this life, of neighbors helping each other, even when they have little for themselves. Some unbelievable elements—an alcoholic dad suddenly stops drinking and a child who never seems to do anything worse than get a little mad now and then—but all in all a worthwhile read.
