learning2gether Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 My 17 year old is having trouble finding books to read for enjoyment. This is a description in her own words of what she is looking for - historical fiction that shows that day to day lives of women that had difficult lives but overcame. I like stories about slaves that freed themselves or newly emancipated black people that show how they started their new lives, or women that lived during the depression, or the pioneers that walked to the west or settled new land. The main thing is, I want to read stories that talk about day to dayness of their lives. Our librarian suggested the Dear America series, which she loved about 8 years ago, but obviously is not a good fit right now. DD told the librarian that she would love something like Dear America for adults. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Not really "Dear America" but has she read "The Book Thief" yet? So good! It's about a girl in Nazi Germany from the perspective of a poor german girl. Very good read in my opinion. ETA: "The Help" was really good too! And what about "To Kill a Mockingbird?" Not sure of your religious affiliation, but the "Christian Heroes" series has been a good one as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 http://www.amazon.com/Margarets-Story-Florida-Trilogy-Book/dp/1577362144/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426452018&sr=8-1&keywords=margaret%27s+story Margaret's Story by Eugenia Price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upward Journey Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 also Mrs. Mike by Benedict & Nancy Freedman http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Mike-Benedict-Freedman/dp/0425183238/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426452318&sr=8-1&keywords=mrs.+mike and these two by Francine Rivers (Her Mother's Hope & Her Daughter's Dream) http://www.amazon.com/Her-Mothers-Hope-Martas-Legacy/dp/1414318642/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y http://www.amazon.com/Her-Daughters-Dream-Martas-Legacy/dp/1414334109/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Two that our book club have recently read are Orphan Train and The Crooked Branch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deee Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Two Australian recommendations: A Town Like Alice (Neville Shute) and The Harp in the South (Ruth Park) D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Does it need to be fiction? I can think of several books that otherwise fit the description and are excellent reads, but aren't fiction. Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of WWII http://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Not-Seen-Miraculous-Jungles/dp/0060670207/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426455725&sr=1-1&keywords=evidence+not+seen First We Have Coffee by Margaret Jensen http://www.amazon.com/First-We-Have-Coffee-Lessons/dp/0840742843/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0467R49DJRV8BK7RX0ZT Letters of a Woman Homesteader http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Homesteader-Elinore-Pruitt-Stewart/dp/1461072255/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426455962&sr=1-2&keywords=letters+of+a+woman+homesteader 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Seconding the recommendations of A Town Like Alice (of which there was a FABULOUS television movie made years ago), Orphan Train, and Mrs. Mike. Also: Two Old Women http://www.amazon.com/Two-Old-Women-Betrayal-Survival-ebook/dp/B00BS8P9CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426454686&sr=1-1&keywords=two+old+women+by+velma+wallis and Tisha http://www.amazon.com/Tisha-Story-Teacher-Alaska-Wilderness/dp/0553265962/ref=pd_sim_b_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0B63WMDGJNHVVFPB7HS7 Anne 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaMere Academy Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok. Great book, about an Asian immigrant girl and her mom who have a very hard time in America. I remember it being pretty clean although she does have s*x with a boyfriend towards the end of the book, I think it was pretty low on details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 Sara, Plain and Tall The Small Woman (about Gladys Aylward, intrepid woman missionary to China) (so, not really fiction) A Girl of the Limberlost Christie (this is SO much better than the stupid videos) A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmingMomma Posted March 15, 2015 Share Posted March 15, 2015 I'm reading a book I picked up this week at the used bookstore. Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression, by Mildred Armstrong Kalish. I've got a couple of chapters left to go, but so far I have really enjoyed it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
learning2gether Posted March 16, 2015 Author Share Posted March 16, 2015 Thank you. I am copying the suggestions for her. I am sure she will find a few from this list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbotoast Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 These Is My Words - Nancy Turner 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Corrie Ten Boom's Hiding Place. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimerinkydo Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 Joni - the story of a girl who became qudraplegic (sp?) at age 17. She later learned to paint and draw using her teeth to hold a brush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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