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A review by bethgiven
Charlotte's Rose by A. E. Cannon
4.0
This book is at the intersection of a couple of my favorite genres; it's both a pioneer story and a coming-of-age story. I liked following spunky thirteen-year-old Charlotte across the plains as she grows from a girl to a woman. She learns a lot about herself as she cares for a friend's baby, Rose. And there are plenty of other interesting supporting characters that help fill out the company: Charlotte's supportive and kind father, a widowed young mother who struggles with depression, a mysterious woman who is slowly befriended by Charlotte's family, and the "boy next door" who takes a fancy to Charlotte over "the Elizabeths."
While this is a book about the Mormon handcart pioneers, religion plays a rather neutral role in the story compared to other handcart pioneer books I've read (Gerald Lund's or Sandra Dallas's) -- the author was quite successful in making the story about the pioneers themselves and not about Mormonism or polygamy.
This book is appropriate and accessible to younger girls, but I found it to be well-written enough that adults would enjoy it as well -- a quick, enjoyable read. Thanks to my mother-in-law for gifting this one to me.
While this is a book about the Mormon handcart pioneers, religion plays a rather neutral role in the story compared to other handcart pioneer books I've read (Gerald Lund's or Sandra Dallas's) -- the author was quite successful in making the story about the pioneers themselves and not about Mormonism or polygamy.
This book is appropriate and accessible to younger girls, but I found it to be well-written enough that adults would enjoy it as well -- a quick, enjoyable read. Thanks to my mother-in-law for gifting this one to me.