School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Sarah Jane Price, 14, does not want to leave Broken Bow, NE. Her father, the town's teacher, has recently died and she wants to stay near his grave. The modest amount of money that he left her is rapidly dwindling and soon she will not be able to pay for her room and board at Miss Kizer's boarding house. Fully aware of Sarah's financial problems, Miss Kizer decides to send her to the Orphan Girls Asylum in Grand Island. The teen knows that she needs to earn her keep, and, despite opposition from some of the townspeople, she is given the opportunity to take her father's place in the classroom. She faces many challenges, including the schoolhouse, itself, an abandoned soddy; unruly children; and lack of confidence from many adults. In addition, Miss Kizer and Reverend Lauter, the traveling preacher, disapprove of her decision, seeing it as defiance of their authority. Despite these problems, Sarah proves that she is an exceptional teacher. This diary brings to life the problems and day-to-day activities of an educator while also providing a glimpse into life in Nebraska during the late 1880s.-Lana Miles, Duchesne Academy, Houston, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.