Book Review of "The Cabin Faced West"

The Cabin Faced West, by Jean Fritz

4.5 stars

Description: The West might be a land of opportunity, but Ann Hamilton isn't impressed. For her, the West is ... lonely. Ann longs for the comfort of her Gettysburg hometown, the companionship of her cousin Margaret, for any occasion special enough to use a tablecloth and real china -- highly unlikely in a forsaken wilderness. As time progresses, Ann's attitude begins to change; even though she understands the lure of western promise for her parents and brothers, which "home" has a stronger pull on her heart when she has the opportunity to make her own choice?

Concerns: None.

Summary: The trials and tribulations of Ann's everyday life on the frontier make for a fascinating read. Although readers aren't likely to find themselves in a quandary over fetching a coal from the neighbors to start a fire or fighting a monster-storm to bring in food from the garden, Ann's own personal failures and triumphs are still easily relatable to today. This is a fast read and a rewarding one, so join Ann as she stumbles and grumbles her way to discovery of... contentment!