A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32 [Paperback]

Joan W. Blos (Author)

Book Description

This novel, written in diary form, tells of "a pivotal year for 19th-century New Englander Catherine Cabot Hill--one of change, loss, and leave taking . . . a low-key, intense and reflective book".--"School Library Journal", starred review. 1980 Newbery Award book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (October 31, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068971419X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689714191
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > United States > Other

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Decorated and Very Good, January 9, 2002

By 

Tammy (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-1832 (Hardcover)

This story centers around Catherine Hall, a thirteen-year-old young girl growing up in New Hampshire. The journal format of this novel makes it easy to read and wonderful to share with school age students. Catherine is a tender girl that has lost her mother and must gain instruction on housekeeping skills from her neighbor who is her best friend's mother. Because of the loss of their mother, Catherine keeps house for her father and younger sister, Matty. The main happenings of Catherine's exciting year are that her father remarries and brings a new stepmother and stepbrother to come and live with them, interesting events at school, the issue of slavery and runaway slaves, and a loss and new love interests close to home. One of the most interesting parts of the story is when Catherine encounters a "phantom" of sorts that she aids along his travels. The correspondence of Catherine to future generations is an interesting beginning and end to the book. This is a highly praised and decorated book from the Newberry Medal, School Library Journal's Best Books of the Year for 1979 to the appointment of an American Library Association Notable Children's book. I would highly recommend this book for any read aloud in an age appropriate setting or as a trade book integrated in a social studies curriculum on the time period.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Gathering" Just Doesn't Get There, July 14, 2003

By 

J. Mark Miller (Southbridge, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32 (Paperback)

"A Gathering of Days", which tells the story of Catherine Hall, a girl growing up in 1830s New Hampshire, tries hard to make an impact. It really does. However, it just comes up a bit short. The language is quite difficult, and sometimes exaggeratedly old-fashioned. It is also done in journal style. As a result, it is often hard to find the true storyline. In addition, it is not by any means the most exciting book I have ever read. I understand that it is supposed to be low-key and serious, but this is one area where it overachieves its purpose. Many people will say that since I am a male teenager, I missed some of the subtleties and meaning that a girl might have picked up. Well, I first read this book as an assignment in fifth grade, and very few people in my class (in an educationally strong private school) enjoyed it, regardless of gender. Some may still argue that I was too young to appreciate it then. I have also read it since then, hoping that a change in perspective that comes with a different age would give me a different take on it. Sadly, I had the same feelings the second time around. In conclusion, the story has potential, but it is just not carried out right and doesn't provide any "hook" to catch the reader's interest.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It won the medal for a reason!, October 19, 2005

By 

Britan S. Clay "ou812o" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-1832 (Hardcover)

What a wonderful work of historical fiction! The time period (1830-32) was very well researched, thus, there will be some words, phrases, etc.. that are not so familiar to us. They lived and spoke quite differently in the 19th century and the author does an excellent job of giving it an authentic feel, while still allowing today's reader to follow along. The book begins with young Cassie Hall,in her early teens, describing daily life for herself, her father, and little sister after the untimely death of her mother. The whole of the book is comprised of Cassie's individual journal entries. From these entries the reader gets a glimpse of what New England life was like from the weather, the schoolhouse, politics, and death. I particularly enjoyed Cassie's description of the laborious process of making a quilt. I recommend this book for those families that value high moral standard and traditional values. It is an excellent supplement to a homeschool history curriculum of this time period.