Book-It 'o15! Book #13
The Fifty Books Challenge, year six! ( 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014) This was a library request.
Title: Changes For Caroline by Kathleen Ernst, illustrated by Robert Papp
Details: Copyright 2012, American Girl Publishing
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover):
"Caroline receives a letter asking her to come and help on Uncle Aaron's new farm. Although she hates to leave her family, Caroline is pleased to see her cousin Lydia-- and to meet Lydia's pretty cow and sweet baby calf! Determined to help out in any way she can, Caroline keeps watch when a thief starts sneaking around the farm. Then she makes an unexpected discovery-- and learns that some things are not as simple as they seem. When Caroline returns home at last for an Independence Day celebration, she is treated to a wonderful surprise."
Why I Wanted to Read It: Remember my remembrances of the American Girl franchise? And my reviews of the character Kit's six-book series? And my reviews of the character Rebecca's six-book series? And my reviews of the characters Cécile and Marie-Grace's six-book series, my review of Marie-Grace's mystery, and my review of Cécile's mystery? My review of Caroline's first book? And the second? And the third? And the fourth? And the fifth? Okay, then.
How I Liked It: If the previous two books faltered a bit in structure and in definitive endings, this book makes up for it, and just in time, as it's the last book in the series.
The book is also possibly the most American Girlesque book of Caroline's series. She's shown pluck and bravery in her previous books, after all; it's kind of a recurring feature.
But the circumstances that call her to bravery and to a just decision to make seem more steadily tracked due to the plot being more even, and we're rewarded with Caroline having a very American Girl moment of reward not only for her conduct in this book but throughout the series (in a nice tie-together, actually).
The last book in the series combines a number of positive attributes of Caroline's other books (experiences to which all kids can relate along with historic details of everyday life) to a satisfying story that leaves a satisfying finish.
Having now read the books of some of the other "latter" characters, I think Caroline's is probably the best and most cohesive, even through its moments of faltering in the plot. Were it not for the fact they've redone the historical line complete with changing the format of the books, it would seem like they finally got the hang of the new layout, more or less. Then again, I wonder if the decision to finally switch over to longer books wasn't born out of the frustration of trying to parcel out the stories to six distinct books.
All in all, a worthwhile contribution to the American Girl line.
The illustrations when small are actually somewhat charming, but when large, in this book more than others it seems, to run to hokey ala Kit's books.
The "Looking Back" covers the outcome of the war and the "young country's" progression.
Title: Changes For Caroline by Kathleen Ernst, illustrated by Robert Papp
Details: Copyright 2012, American Girl Publishing
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover):
"Caroline receives a letter asking her to come and help on Uncle Aaron's new farm. Although she hates to leave her family, Caroline is pleased to see her cousin Lydia-- and to meet Lydia's pretty cow and sweet baby calf! Determined to help out in any way she can, Caroline keeps watch when a thief starts sneaking around the farm. Then she makes an unexpected discovery-- and learns that some things are not as simple as they seem. When Caroline returns home at last for an Independence Day celebration, she is treated to a wonderful surprise."
Why I Wanted to Read It: Remember my remembrances of the American Girl franchise? And my reviews of the character Kit's six-book series? And my reviews of the character Rebecca's six-book series? And my reviews of the characters Cécile and Marie-Grace's six-book series, my review of Marie-Grace's mystery, and my review of Cécile's mystery? My review of Caroline's first book? And the second? And the third? And the fourth? And the fifth? Okay, then.
How I Liked It: If the previous two books faltered a bit in structure and in definitive endings, this book makes up for it, and just in time, as it's the last book in the series.
The book is also possibly the most American Girlesque book of Caroline's series. She's shown pluck and bravery in her previous books, after all; it's kind of a recurring feature.
But the circumstances that call her to bravery and to a just decision to make seem more steadily tracked due to the plot being more even, and we're rewarded with Caroline having a very American Girl moment of reward not only for her conduct in this book but throughout the series (in a nice tie-together, actually).
The last book in the series combines a number of positive attributes of Caroline's other books (experiences to which all kids can relate along with historic details of everyday life) to a satisfying story that leaves a satisfying finish.
Having now read the books of some of the other "latter" characters, I think Caroline's is probably the best and most cohesive, even through its moments of faltering in the plot. Were it not for the fact they've redone the historical line complete with changing the format of the books, it would seem like they finally got the hang of the new layout, more or less. Then again, I wonder if the decision to finally switch over to longer books wasn't born out of the frustration of trying to parcel out the stories to six distinct books.
All in all, a worthwhile contribution to the American Girl line.
The illustrations when small are actually somewhat charming, but when large, in this book more than others it seems, to run to hokey ala Kit's books.
The "Looking Back" covers the outcome of the war and the "young country's" progression.