Edith Shay

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Summary: A terrific character in a good book!
Review: Edith Shay (or is that Katherine Lunden?) is an intriguing book. This young woman in the post-Civil War era leaves her confining Wisconsin farm home and journeys by herself to Chicago, a town she couldn't even imagine. The book realistically portrays how difficult it would have been for a lone woman (young girl, really) to find her way around the country, find a safe place to stay without any money (she has none to begin with and is robbed later on), and find a job without any skills or recommendations. Katherine is a winning character, with old-fashioned sensibilities that transfer well to the modern day. And, while this is a slower-paced book, take the time to savor the details of the era (A. LaFaye has a tremendous knowledge of history) and the friendships Katherine makes on her journey. I sure hope there's another Edith book forthcoming. I want to know what happened to her next!!!

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Summary: Edith Shay Student Review
Review: Edith Shay was a wonderful book. It contains an accurate description of the technology and clothing that were common for the era. Chicago, Wasington, and Richmond are well portrayed. Ms. LaFaye wove this captivating story which easily grasps the reader. However, the story and plot dragged and was not grade level reading for an eigth grader but is great for fifth and sixth graders.

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Summary: The story of a self-reliant, strong girl in the 1860s.
Review: Sixteen year old Katherine wants to get away from her boring home in the Wisconsin woods. So she buys a ticket and hops onto a train to Chicago, anticipating an adventure. What she finds is a crowded city of strangers, homesickness, and the shock of having to fend for herself. Katherine is on her own now, with only the phantom owner of an abandoned suitcase labled "Edith Shay" that Katherine found in a Michigan train station. Will Katherine pursue her dreams or turn back in faliure? Read this great book to find out!