The Ballad of Lucy Whipple

I'll admit it-since I'm in high school, I'm really quite beyond the "9-12" age range this book targets. But "The Ballad of Lucy Whipple" is just such great fun that the "9-12" categorization should be completely ignored.Twelve-year-old Lucy Whipple is anything but happy. After her father and youngest sister die, Lucy's mother decides to move herself, Lucy, and siblings Butte, Sierra, and Prairie to a strange and savage Lucky Diggins, California that is right in the middle of the Gold Rush. Deprived of her grandparents, stability, books, and cleanliness, Lucy is desperate to return to her Massachusetts hometown and live with her grandparents. But then somehow, she begins to put down roots in Lucky Diggins, and it becomes more of a home to her than she ever thought possible..."The Ballad of Lucy Whipple" is as faultless of a so-called "children's book" as you're going to get. Readers will find a lively and interesting heroine in Lucy, and while they may not exactly sympathize with her martyr-like attitude at the book's beginning, they will certainly want to keep reading to find out exactly what happens to Lucy and her family. Humor, tragedy, and everyday life are always attention-keeping in this book; Karen Cushman does a first-rate job of incorporating history into the story-making the historical info seem part of the story rather than simply a boring aspect of the novel. Finally, a well-done and thought-provoking ending cap off Lucy's chronicle.In the same manner of her previous historical fiction ("Catherine Called Birdy" and "The Midwife's Apprentice"), Cushman effortlessly writes educational AND entertaining tales of ordinary girls in extraordinary times. This is historical fiction at its best.

When I was nearly finished with LUCY WHIPPLE my teacher told me that I might be assighned to that book for a book report. But that would have been fine with me, because I enjoyed it so much that I would've been glad to read it again.LUCY WHIPPLE is set in the mid 1800's, the time of The California Gold Rush. It is about a girl whos mother decides to move from Massachusets to California to search for gold. Unfortunately, Lucy hates the town (Lucky Diggins) they move to, and wants to move back to Massachusets. This book was funny, original, yet it had some features that every book must have. LUCY WHIPPLE had some sad parts that made me cry. But all books must have something sad. Some authors don't write the sad parts very well, but Cushman did a fabulus job. The ending suprised me, and I'm glad Cushman chose to end it like that. LUCY WHIPPLE is definately on my list of "Books That Everyone Must Read".

Whenever someone asks me to recommend a good childrens' book, I always mention all three of Cushman's. (This one, Midwife's Apprentice, and Catherine, Called Birdy.) All three are written in diary form, with the main characters putting down their experiences and feelings. By the time you finish, you'll feel like the main character has become one of your best friends, and you'll be sad to say goodby.

This a wonderfully realistic book about a girl with values, a girls we can all relate to some time or another. I like this book because, mainly, of the charectors and how real it seems. I'ts almost like you are there in the gold rush with Lucy, saving up gold in a pickle crock and trying to read Ivanhoe in between washing the dishes and making dinner for a tent full of dirty men trying to strike it rich. This is good book for anyone who likes realistic fiction, and a supurb heroine who wants to go back east.

This book is especially fun to read this year, the 150th anniversary of the Calif. Gold Rush. I've read it to my 8 year-old daughter, who loved every page and is sad that it's over. We were both moved to tears several times, and had good conversations about family, and about what it must have been like then. Cushman weaves great sagas set in other times, but the themes are very relevant--her characters are well developed and sympathetic. I wish there were more--we've already read Catherine Called Birdy, but Lucy is my favorite! More!