First published 1999
May Amelia Jackson lives along the Nasel River in Washington Territory in 1899, surrounded by seven older brothers and zero other girls. The settlement has never seen a girl born within its borders, making May Amelia a curiosity and a constant disappointment to those who expect proper feminine behavior. She climbs trees, explores the wilderness, and dreams of adventures that would horrify a Proper Young Lady. Her family insists she learn to cook and sew and mind her manners, but May Amelia finds these expectations suffocating. When her mother becomes pregnant, May Amelia hopes desperately for a sister who might understand her restless spirit and share her love of freedom. The baby represents her one chance to have another girl nearby, someone who might make her feel less alone in a world that seems designed for boys and proper ladies. May Amelia must navigate the expectations of pioneer life while holding onto the adventurous heart that makes her who she is.
Genres: family-life, american-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, coming-of-age, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Nasel River, Washington Territory
Period: 1899
253 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins