GENRE: Historical Fiction
HONORS: None
REVIEW: When the Spanish Influenza hits Portland, Maine in 1918, Lydia and her brother Daniel suddenly finds themselves orphans. At first, an uncle takes them in but after only a short while, the uncle takes them to nearby Sabbathday Lake to be raised by the Shaker community there. Lydia and Daniel struggle at first to adjust to the life of the Shakers and Daniel eventually runs away. Over the next year and a half, Lydia recounts her days in the Shaker village and her concerns over her brother. Finally, Daniel decides to return to life in the village.
OPINION: I picked this book up because I noticed that it was set in Portland, Maine, which is close to where we live. I did not even notice it was written by Lois Lowry until I started reading it. I thought it was a great book, in part because of the local connections. I knew about Sabbathday Lake but I did not know much about the history so the story was fascinating to me. In addition, it was fun to hear the Shaker village in Alfred, Maine mentioned as well because I live there.
IDEAS: Because of the local connection, this book could be used before a trip either to the Alfred Shaker Museum or to Sabbathday Lake. It is a good springboard into a study of the Shakers. In addition, the Spanish Influenza and World War I in 1918 could be explored.
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