Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2011:"If May is a brave, stubborn fighter, the short, free-verse lines are one-two punches in this Laura Ingalls Wilder–inspired ode to the human spirit."
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, December 5, 2011:"Writing with compassion and a wealth of evocative details, Rose offers a memorable heroine and a testament to the will to survive."
Here's the description of May B.:
I've known it since last night:
It's been too long to expect them to return.
Something's happened.
May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.
For more info and giveaways, check out:
Caroline's website (www.carolinestarrrose.com) where she's created a whole section for teachers, including a free downloadable study guide for May B., or follow Caroline's blog.
You can also buy May B at Amazon or Indiebound.
It definitely sounds like a book worth checking out for your classroom (and if anyone has already used it with students I'd love for you to rate it for the blog.)
I keep seeing this one popping up around the blogosphere. I've never read a novel-in-verse, but I'd definitely be interested to give it a try! Also, I've recently spent way too much time crossing the Kansas prairies, so I bet it would not be hard for me to sympathize with May B's plight. =)
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