| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this is a lively tale about a pioneer girl's joys and hardships, and includes an encounter with George Washington. The drawings of the characters at work and play are engaging.
Imagine yourself passing peas and potatoes to General George Washington! That's exactly what happens to young Ann Hamilton and her pioneer family one fateful night in western Pennsylvania. This charming, historically accurate story transports readers back to a time when the frontier was being settled, and families never knew who--friend or foe--would show up for dinner!
With its cheery tone and fast-paced blend of fact and fiction, THE CABIN FACED WEST is the quintessential Jean Fritz book. It has all the earmarks of the award-winning author's other historical fiction books: a light, sprightly style, a dash of humor, and a dose of history. The wild frontier of early pioneer life forms the backdrop for this story, though unfortunately no date is given to ground the story. Early on, Fritz illuminates the mind-set that permeated the new West: The back of Hamilton's cabin was "turned squarely against the East just as her father had turned his back."
The artwork is wistful, especially when Ann Hamilton is shown in relation to the adults around her. Fritz paints her ancestor as a sympathetic character who uses pluck and intelligence as she struggles to surmount both homesickness and sibling conflict.
Families can talk about life on the frontier. Would you find it exciting or dull? A fun challenge or too hard? How realistic do you think most books, TV shows, and movies about frontier life are?
| Author: | Jean Fritz |
| Illustrator: | Feodor Rojankovsky |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
| Publisher: | Patria Press |
| Publication date: | August 30, 2001 |
| Number of pages: | 124 |
| Paperback price: | $5.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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