I appeciated this book because wholesome children’s reading material is hard to find nowadays. Betsy is the member of a large Polish family, 9 girls, and 1 boy to be exact! Their livelihood is farming; therefore the children have lots of chores and responsibilities from the oldest to the youngest. While they may not always like the work, the children do their chores well and as expected. The reader experiences daily farm life, family mealtimes, family traditions, and the special challenges of a big family. I thought the parent’s consistent guidelines and expectations of their children’s conduct was wonderful. There is real structure and security within the family, something sorely lacking in homes today.
The story is kept exciting with the disappearance of their 4 ½ year old sister, Christmastime, drunken pigs and a cooking fiasco that ends up with flying donuts! Visits from relatives bring home the blessedness of close family ties. There is always lots of fun and humor. Children will experience a simpler way of life where family is first and love abounds. This book is one of a series tracing a family’s roots for 5 generations back to 1867 which begins with The First Farm In the Valley. I highly recommend this book.
I received this book free from Bethlehem books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.