Written by Caroline Starr Rose
I found May B. to be a sweet little surprise. Historical fiction is possibly my favorite genre and this book didn’t disappoint me at all. It’s about Mavis Elizabeth Betterly, May B., a young girl of twelve who lives with her parents and brother, Hiram, as homesteaders in a small shoddy in the Kansas prairie. May has dyslexia and even though she loves school and wants to be a teacher one day she is thought to be “stupid.” Her father makes a deal with a young married couple, the Oblingers, from the east for May to come and help with the chores. It is understood that she will only have to stay until Christmas. Mrs. Oblinger is very unhappy and leaves to catch a train for the east. Her husband leaves to find her. After a while May realizes that she is alone and far from home. This story was very well written and pulled me in right from the start. I would recommend it to students at our school as well as adults. I was sorry that it ended so soon.
Review by Linda Lamoreaux, Wasatch Jr. High Media Center
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
May B.
Written by Caroline Starr Rose
A Yearling Book
231 pages
Release Date: January 10, 2012
