As the summer holidays of 1978 begin, 13 year old Nat’s mother sells their home to get money to board their pony, Smokey. Nat, his 15 year old sister, Cid, their little sister, Queenie and his mother, Margaret Estabrooks move into a rented apartment in Eastview, a little town where “the only people who live in apartments are the ones the newspaper calls ‘unfortunate’”. Shortly after, Ma is hospitalized with severe pneumonia, and Nat and his sisters are visited by a man from Children’s Aid Society. Afraid they may be taken into care if their mother dies, Nat sets off on horseback for Illinois, to find the father who deserted them four years before.Though a sequel to No Small Thing, you don’t have to have read that one first.
I'm really enjoying this book so far. It is written in a really cool "voice"- the characters have a super casual tone and it's easy to read.
ReplyDeleteWow- read this book and you will sure appreciate the bond you have with your brothers and sisters! Queenie, Cid and Nathaniel are all alone in the world when their mother gets sick and is hospitalized for pnuemonia. Queenie is 8, Cid is 15 and Nathaniel is 13. Who should come knocking on the door inevitably but Children's Aid... the kids are terrified that they'll be split up.
ReplyDeleteThere are some truly heartwarming moments between siblings in this book.