Other editions of book Our Only May Amelia

Approx. 4 hours 3 cassettesRead by Emmy RossumPublishers Weekly Best Book of 1999It isn't easy being a pioneer in the state of Washington in 1899 --particularly when you are the only girl ever born to the new settlement. With seven older brothers and a love of adventure, May Amelia Jackson just can't seem to abide her family's insistence that she behave like a Proper Young Lady. Not when there's fishing to be done, sheep to be hearded, and real live murderers to be captured! All May needs is at least one other girl living along the banks of the Nasel River. And now that Mama's going to have a baby, maybe there's hope.

It isn't easy being a pioneer in the state of Washington in 1899, but it's particularly hard when you are the only girl ever born in the new settlement. With seven older brothers and a love of adventure, May Amelia Jackson just can't seem to abide her family's insistence that she behave like a Proper Young Lady. She's sure she could do better if only there were at least one other girl living along the banks of the Nasel River. And now that Mama's going to have a baby, maybe there's hope. Inspired by the diaries of her great-aunt, the real May Amelia, first-time novelist Jennifer Holm has given us a beautifully crafted tale of one young girl whose unique spirit captures the courage, humour, passion and depth of the American pioneer experience. -Newbery Honour Book (USA), 2000 Ages 10+

It is 1899, and 12 year old May Amelia Jackson is told that she's the only girl to be born on the Nasel River in Washington. She has seven older brothers, and she can't understand why she's constantly being scolded for just doing the things that her brothers do all the time. Pappa tells her she's a Miracle, which is why she has to be careful, but May Amelia suspects that he just doesn't like girls. When he gets mad he says that he hopes the baby in Mamma's belly turns out to be another boy because he can't handle another May Amelia. But May Amelia hopes for a little sister.

She may be a miracle, but she's no proper young lady!It isn't easy being a pioneer in the state of Washington in 1899, but it's particularly hard when you are the only girl ever born in the new settlement. With seven older brothers and a love of adventure, May Amelia Jackson just can't seem to abide her family's insistence that she behave like a Proper Young Lady. Not when there's fishing to be done, sheep to be herded, and real live murderers to be captured! May is sure she could manage better if only there were at least one other girl living along the banks of the Nasel River. And now that Mama's going to have a baby, maybe there's hope....00-01 Utah Book Award (Gr. 3-6) and 00-01 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Bk Award Masterlist Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 2000, National Council for SS & Child. Book Council, 2000 Newbery Honor Book, and 2000 Notable Children's Books (ALA)