It’s not often that I get to a book review, but this month I have two in the works for you guys!  I actually love it as it forces me to find time to turn off the computer and actually read a real book with real pages…

Caroline Starr Rose, is a children’s author who left a full time teaching position to focus on her writing, which definitely paid off with the book May B. The book is written for school aged children 8-12 but I  was just as enthralled as my girls were.  I actually read the book in one night.  It’s a story similar to The Little House books, not only in a historical country setting but also in values.

We have a challenge in our house (a good one I guess) to find books appropriate for our girls to read.  They are 6 but can read on a much higher reading level.  Many of the chapter books that we get, my husband or I have to read first to make sure they are truly a good book for a 6 year old.  I will say on a family friendly level there is nothing in this book to worry about.

The basic plot:

Mavis Elizabeth Betterly, or May B. as she is known, is helping out on a neighbor’s Kansas prairie homestead, “Just until Christmas,” says her Pa. Twelve-year-old May wants to contribute, but it’s hard to be separated from her family by fifteen long, unfamiliar miles.

Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned to the oncoming winter, trapped all alone in a tiny snow-covered sod house without any way to let her family know and no neighbors to turn to. In her solitude, she wavers between relishing her freedom and succumbing to utter despair, while trying to survive in the harshest conditions. Her physical struggle to first withstand and then to escape her prison is matched by tormenting memories of her failures at school. Only a very strong girl will be able to stand up to both and emerge alive and well.

I was a little concerned that my girls would get upset at her struggles of being alone, but they seemed more impressed that she still did her chores even though no one was there!  I love it!

May B. has earned accolades as a Junior Library Guild Selection. Amazon named it one of the four top children’s books released in January 2012. The novel also received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews (the self-acclaimed “world’s toughest book critics”).

The Giveaway:

Caroline Starr Rose is giving away 10 copies of her book, May B. to Southern Savers readers!

To Enter:

Leave a comment below telling me your favorite childhood book.

Winners will be chosen and posted to the Giveaway Winners Page Friday, 3/9.  This giveaway was sponsored by Caroline, but all opinions are 100% my own.