Wednesday, January 5, 2011

WOW: THE YEAR WE WERE FAMOUS

I haven't done a Waiting on Wednesday in foreverrr...seriously, I think the last book I did a WOW post for was The Replacement - :o. But there's one particular book that I'm super excited about, that I wanted you all to be aware of:

The Year We Were Famous - Carole Estby Dagg
Publication date: April 4th by HMH-Clarion

Summary from Goodreads:
With their farm in Mica Creek, Washington facing foreclosure, seventeen-year-old Clara Estby and her mother, Helga, need to find a way to raise a lot of money in a short time--no easy feat for two women in 1896. Helga wants to tackle the problem with her usual loud and flashy style, while Clara, the oldest of the eight Estby children, favors a less showy approach. Though very different in personality, mother and daughter share a determination to save their family's home, so they come up with a plan to walk the 4,600 miles from Mica Creek to New York City--and if they can do it in only eight months, a New York City publisher has agreed to give them $10,000.
They set out with little more than ten dollars, two ponchos, and a gun. Along the way they go through sixteen pairs of shoes each, fend off snakes and highwaymen, and narrowly escape a flash flood. But they also meet the governor of every state they pass through and the wife of presidential-candidate, William Jennings Bryan, as well as shake hands with the new president himself, William McKinley. And with each new challenge they face, Clara and Helga come to rely on and respect one another for the very traits that make them so different.
Based on the true story of the author's great aunt and great-great grandmother, this is a fast-paced historical fiction adventure for 10-14 year-olds that sets the drama of Around the World In 80 Days against an American backdrop during the time of the suffragist movement, the 1896 presidential campaign, and the changing perception of "a woman's place" in society.


I'm a history major, so I find most YA historical fiction absolutely drool-worthy, but the setting here - the close of the American West - is just so fascinating. Really excited about this one!
What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

7 shout-outs!:

A Canadian Girl said...

I hope you enjoy it! I don't read too much historical fiction so I'm going to wait for your review before I put it on my wishlist.

Kristina Barnes♥ said...

I was just looking into this book earlier. It sounds fascinating! I haven't read too many historical fiction, though. Maybe it's time to change that with this novel. ♥ I can't wait to see what you think of it when it comes out. :D (Yknow, cause like... I can always trust your opinion :3).

Tales of Whimsy said...

Sounds cool and different from my usual reads. I love the cover too!

Anonymous said...

That sounds amazing. And congrats for the +600 followers!

Just So Jess said...

I can't wait for this one too! It's on my Debut Author Challenge list to read this year. It just sounds soo good.

Dazzling Mage said...

Ooh, this sounds like an amazing read! Great pick!

CHRISTIE said...

This sounds really good! Great WOW pick, Amelia!

 
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