May B.

Educational Value

When 12-year-old May B. is left alone in a "soddy" -- a house made of prairie grass and dirt -- readers will learn about the hardships of life on the Kansas prairies in the late 19th century. This tale of survival is told in spare verse which, though evocative and easy to follow, does require readers to fill in some details with their imagination. Readers will also experience with May the effects of her dyslexia (although it is not named, since the term did not then exist) and will empathize with the way it sometimes dampens May's spirit.

Positive Messages

Mavis Elizabeth Betts, or May B. as she is called, is stuck alone in a soddy for most of the winter. Unable to tell exactly what day it is, May has no idea if she can make it till December, when her father is supposed to come and bring her home. On her own, May goes through a gamut of emotions, feeling hope one day and despair the next. But whether she is feeling brave, afraid, lonely, or defiant, she never gives up. She is determined to survive and, even more important, to overcome her learning disability and not let it define her.

Positive Role Models

May is the sole character for most of the book, but she is up to the challenge. Despite her loneliness and occasional despair, May is practical and plans ahead; she is extremely capable and knows how to cook, mend, and make a home. She is also self-analytical and somewhat hard on herself, frequently asking herself why she is the one placed in this situation and whether or not she will ever be able to pursue her dream of being teacher despite her difficulties at school. Her introspection, her day-to-day struggle to survive, and her occasionally rebellious spirit all combine make her a fully realized character, full of self-doubt but also an inescapable optimism. May is not perfect, but she is real and relatable.

Parents Need to Know