In 1743, thirteen-year-old Marguerite Ledoux travels to Maine as the indentured servant of a family that regards her as little better than the Indians that threaten them, but her strength, quick thinking and courage surprise them all.
Calico Bush
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Review
"A story of the first rank."--The New York Times.
A Newbery Honor Book, A Junior Library Guild Selection. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
A Newbery Honor Book, A Junior Library Guild Selection. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Publisher
The classic pioneer story of Marguerite, a young French orphan in the New World, who promises to serve the Sargent family for six long years in return for shelter, food and clothing.
"A story of the first rank."--The New York Times.
A Newbery Honor Book, A Junior Library Guild Selection. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book was a 1932 Newbery Honor Book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best contribution to American children's literature. It is the story of thirteen-year-old Marguerite Ledoux in 1742-1743, a young French emigrant who finds herself all alone in the New World after her uncle and grandmother die. She agrees to be "bound" to a family who are moving to begin a farm on an isolated section of the coast of colonial Maine. Hence, this novel depicts farm life in colonial America and the interactions on a young girl in a whole new culture. It is a beautiful story and still finds appeal amongst readers today.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Rachel Field's Calico Bush tells of Marguerite Ledoux , a young French immigrant who has been bound out to the Sargent family following the death of her Uncle and Grandmother. Marguerite, now Maggie, must face the trials of pioneer life as the Sargents move to farm a lonely stretch of land, continually threatened by Indians and the deprivations and dangers of their new circumstances. Maggie experiences the prejudices of her new home land, and fears the thought of losing her own identity. The four seasons come and go as Maggie experiences all the triumphs and struggles of life on the sparsely inhabited frontier of costal Maine. Calico Bush is another classic to be treasured from the author of Hitty: Her First Hundred Years. Rachel Field's love of the Maine coast shines through her descriptions of it harsh beauty.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
A Kid's Review
Format:Hardcover
The author, Rachel Field, excells at making her book come to life. The people in the story show quality traits of courage and kindness. The first part is a little boring, but the rest is superb. I love history and this is one of my favorite books that takes place during the French and Indian War.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By HeatherHH
Format:Paperback
This book was a Newbery Honor book many, many years ago, indicating that it was considered to be one of the best children's books written in that year. It is the story of 13-year-old Marguerite Ledoux. After her grandmother and uncle die, Marguerite is left alone in the New World, far from everyone she knows back in France. She ends up being "bound out" in service to a family who will feed and clothe her until adulthood, in exchange for her service.
When the story opens, she is on a ship headed for frontier Maine with the English family she is in service too. One of the trials of her new role in life is that she is not called Marguerite, but "Maggie" by the family. The view the English in the colonies hold of the French is usually poor, partly because of France and England being at war, and partly because of most French people being Catholic. And, so she was fortunate a family was willing to take her, even if they were unwilling to address her by her French name. This tension is subtly illustrated throughout the book by the constant referral to her by the text as Marguerite, though she's always addressed by others as "Maggie." Thankfully, for Maggie's sake, her main responsibility is the young children, who forgive her for being French and love her just because she's Maggie.
The book takes place over the course of a year, and at the end, Marguerite is not the same person she was at the beginning. The change takes place very believably over the course of that year. Some of it is just shown in events, while some is spelled out more in her thoughts. Her character is well-developed and realistic, and the other characters in the story are very interesting also and seem like real people.... Read more ›
When the story opens, she is on a ship headed for frontier Maine with the English family she is in service too. One of the trials of her new role in life is that she is not called Marguerite, but "Maggie" by the family. The view the English in the colonies hold of the French is usually poor, partly because of France and England being at war, and partly because of most French people being Catholic. And, so she was fortunate a family was willing to take her, even if they were unwilling to address her by her French name. This tension is subtly illustrated throughout the book by the constant referral to her by the text as Marguerite, though she's always addressed by others as "Maggie." Thankfully, for Maggie's sake, her main responsibility is the young children, who forgive her for being French and love her just because she's Maggie.
The book takes place over the course of a year, and at the end, Marguerite is not the same person she was at the beginning. The change takes place very believably over the course of that year. Some of it is just shown in events, while some is spelled out more in her thoughts. Her character is well-developed and realistic, and the other characters in the story are very interesting also and seem like real people.... Read more ›
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Big Bub
Format:Paperback
This is a book of exceeding quality. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because it's sad in parts (which I hate in books) and I hate how cruel the Sargent's are to Maggie because he is French. Plus, its not my favorite genre.
Still, it's a great book with all the qualities a good book needs ( and some bad). One of the first problems to come up is that Marguerite's (or Maggie, as the kids call her) position in life is bad! She is indentured (she put herself into slavery) to a family, the Sargents. This is made worse by the fact that the Sargent's are very strict and anti-French and Maggie is French.
The Sargent's youngest baby wanders into the fireplace and is killed.
There is some lovey type stuff in that Ira, a well educated man, falls in love with Abby Welles, a somewhat rich girl, and pursues her throughout the book.
I am a Sci-fi and fantasy fan but this book still really caught my interest. Overall this is a very good book and I highly recommend it.
Still, it's a great book with all the qualities a good book needs ( and some bad). One of the first problems to come up is that Marguerite's (or Maggie, as the kids call her) position in life is bad! She is indentured (she put herself into slavery) to a family, the Sargents. This is made worse by the fact that the Sargent's are very strict and anti-French and Maggie is French.
The Sargent's youngest baby wanders into the fireplace and is killed.
There is some lovey type stuff in that Ira, a well educated man, falls in love with Abby Welles, a somewhat rich girl, and pursues her throughout the book.
I am a Sci-fi and fantasy fan but this book still really caught my interest. Overall this is a very good book and I highly recommend it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
A Kid's Review
Format:Hardcover
I believe Calico Bush is a good book because the brave people seem real. The main character, Marguerite, is an orphaned, French girl serving the Sargent Family for six years during the 1700's. The first pages are a bit boring, but the middle is excellent and the ending is perfect.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love this book and enjoyed reading it to my children. This is a pioneering story with emotional maturity and many exciting moments.
By MIKEL MCGREW
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Calico Bush by Rachel Field Wood Engravings by Allen Lewis
This book is a favorite of my childhood - early teen aged years. It came to mind one day recently and I decided to see if it was still available. I found a vintage copy on Amazon and ordered it. The book, dealing with early settlement in New England was as wonderful as I remembered it and I am glad that I was able to obtain a copy.
This book is a favorite of my childhood - early teen aged years. It came to mind one day recently and I decided to see if it was still available. I found a vintage copy on Amazon and ordered it. The book, dealing with early settlement in New England was as wonderful as I remembered it and I am glad that I was able to obtain a copy.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A study in courage and teamwork
I've had this book on my shelf for 10 years, and I finally read it this summer. It is as good as the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, set 100 years earlier in the New England... Read more
Published on August 20, 2007 by Anne E. Gamble
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging, interesting
I read this to my 10 yo ds and 9 yo dd and we loved it. It was interesting to each of us and we were all hoping that there was a sequel. Read more
Published on May 8, 2006 by TB
3.0 out of 5 stars
It was an O.K. book
It was an O.K. book.I didn't like it because it didn't seem to go anywhere.It was a pointless book and ended really dumb.The plot was O.K. and I enjoyed the detail of the though.
Published on October 11, 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
It was a very good book.
Calico Bush was a drama in words. The story was about a girl who had lost her family and had become bound-out to a family who didn't appreciate her. Read more
Published on October 11, 1999
