Review of The 13th of Summer
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Shiru Elizabeth
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Review of The 13th of Summer
[Following is a volunteer review of "The 13th of Summer" by Charlene Pratt.]
Charlene Pratt's historical fiction book, The 13th of Summer, is set in the 1930s and centers on dry land farmers in South Dakota. Betty was a little child who grew up on a prairie with her large family. They experienced a great deal of hardship in life, as did the residents of South Dakota at the time. The family and everyone else living on the prairie were affected by the Great Depression and dust storms brought on by the drought. Could they withstand these obstacles as a group? Learn more by reading this book.
There are three parts to this book. The first part discusses Betty, the Petersons' third child, who is twelve years old. Despite having epilepsy, she still had to help her mother out by doing the majority of the household tasks. The first part of the book describes her life and how she and her family overcame a number of hardships, including storms brought on by the drought and the death of her newborn brother. This part also discusses how their family assisted Thurber, a friend of Betty's, and his family in paying off a bank obligation. The significance of the 13th summer to Betty and her friends is discussed in the book's final two parts.
The book includes snippets of this family's daily lives, including how they had to boil the cistern water to drink and cook with because it was contaminated by rodents. I cherished its genuine, unadulterated feelings. I had the impression that I had traveled back in time and was there with the family while reading this book, especially during Etta, Betty's mother, losing her baby. I really appreciated how helpful the families were to one another; I saw folks rushing to lend a hand whenever required. For instance, Thurber's father, James, was ordered to leave his property by the bank, but Betty's family and the entire community helped him maintain it. I particularly loved how the parents treated their kids with kindness, even in the face of adversity. As an illustration, when Betty was lost in the storm, her father checked on her, spoke to her gently, and attempted to convince her that everything would be alright.
There was nothing in the book that I didn't like, except for the two mistakes I discovered. It was not edited by a pro. I found the book to have a soothing tone as I read it. It is a simple read that is devoid of tension or surprises, but the reader's heart is nonetheless touched by the tale. It was an excellent book overall, which is why it received a rating of five stars.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading inspirational tales, since it is definitely worth reading. It motivates us to take on life's obstacles head-on and refuse to give up.
******
The 13th of Summer
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Charlene Pratt's historical fiction book, The 13th of Summer, is set in the 1930s and centers on dry land farmers in South Dakota. Betty was a little child who grew up on a prairie with her large family. They experienced a great deal of hardship in life, as did the residents of South Dakota at the time. The family and everyone else living on the prairie were affected by the Great Depression and dust storms brought on by the drought. Could they withstand these obstacles as a group? Learn more by reading this book.
There are three parts to this book. The first part discusses Betty, the Petersons' third child, who is twelve years old. Despite having epilepsy, she still had to help her mother out by doing the majority of the household tasks. The first part of the book describes her life and how she and her family overcame a number of hardships, including storms brought on by the drought and the death of her newborn brother. This part also discusses how their family assisted Thurber, a friend of Betty's, and his family in paying off a bank obligation. The significance of the 13th summer to Betty and her friends is discussed in the book's final two parts.
The book includes snippets of this family's daily lives, including how they had to boil the cistern water to drink and cook with because it was contaminated by rodents. I cherished its genuine, unadulterated feelings. I had the impression that I had traveled back in time and was there with the family while reading this book, especially during Etta, Betty's mother, losing her baby. I really appreciated how helpful the families were to one another; I saw folks rushing to lend a hand whenever required. For instance, Thurber's father, James, was ordered to leave his property by the bank, but Betty's family and the entire community helped him maintain it. I particularly loved how the parents treated their kids with kindness, even in the face of adversity. As an illustration, when Betty was lost in the storm, her father checked on her, spoke to her gently, and attempted to convince her that everything would be alright.
There was nothing in the book that I didn't like, except for the two mistakes I discovered. It was not edited by a pro. I found the book to have a soothing tone as I read it. It is a simple read that is devoid of tension or surprises, but the reader's heart is nonetheless touched by the tale. It was an excellent book overall, which is why it received a rating of five stars.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading inspirational tales, since it is definitely worth reading. It motivates us to take on life's obstacles head-on and refuse to give up.
******
The 13th of Summer
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Working from Home: Making it Work for You by Thomas Engblom
