Maw Books

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The year is 1856  and Charlotte is twelve-years-old.  In Charlotte’s Rose by A.E. Cannon, Charlotte and her father, newly immigrated from Wales and newly converted to Mormonism, are among a group of pioneers pushing their own handcarts from Iowa City to Utah.

Tired of being treated like a child and eager to make a grandiose impression on the older woman, Charlotte volunteers to care for a baby whose mother died in childbirth and who’s depressed father is not up to the task.  The baby reminds her of her own mother, who also died when giving birth, and while she comes to love little Rose very much, the task is not what she expected.  Taking care of a newborn while pushing a handcart across the plains is certainly no picnic.  Charlotte’s gotten in over her head and while she wants to prove her worth to the company, it may be an assignment that she can’t handle.

The historical background for the book is fascinating.  It’s less about the doctrine of the  Mormon faith  and more about the need for a family to belong to something larger than they are.  It’s great to see historical fiction books in the mainstream markets which tackle this subject .  A subject which I would love to find more of,  as the very premise of the idea lends itself to incredible stories.

The company has a great cast of characters and Charlotte is touched by each of them in different ways.  She’s determined to prove that she has what it takes but discovers that nobody can no anything without a little help.  I enjoyed this coming-of-age novel and am sad to see it out of print.  If you come upon a copy of it, snatch it up!

Links of interest: Ann Cannon blog,  more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Historical fiction, approx ages 9-12.
Publisher: Yearling. 2002
Paperback, 256 pages. ISBN 0440418402
Source copy: Own
Charlotte’s Rose is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

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