Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

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.

"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.

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.

This modest book is written in the form of a journal by a fourteen-year-old girl named Catherine Hill. For some 18 months she records the daily events and personal feelings of life in New England. She shares her fears and disappointments, her sorrows and small triumphs of spirit with modern readers. The author bravely discusses serious moral and social issues--as seen through the eyes of a young girl: the Underground Railroad (slavery debate), school discipline (perhaps the origin of Zero tolerance and Corporal Punishment), the pain and humiliation of step-parenting (blended families were quite common even then), and women's domestic roles (we've come a long way, baby!)

Catherine's life is not as peaceful as we might think on that pioneer farm in New Hampshire. Who is this mysterious Phantom and how does he affect her life and behavior? How will she survive emotionally her father's remarriage? Or the loss of a dear friend? This is a thoughtful book which quietly discloses the budding woman she will become. Catherine's coming-of-age story is woven as gently and firmly as Yankee homespun--with the warp of historical integrity and the woof of Blos' ancestral compassion. A good introduction to early 19th century Americana, which may not fascinate high spirited youngsters of the 90's. But that is their loss, since the heroine's feelings are remarkably like our own.

This book is made up of the journal entries of Catherine Cabot Hall, a 13-year-old, growing up in colonial days of New Hampshire. Life is hard for Catherine, since her mother died, she must take of the house and her younger sister, Matty. During the book, her father remarries and brings in a stepbrother to live with and she must deal with a death of a close friend. For any one who enjoys historical fiction, particularly of early America, this is a wonderful addition to a collection. Catherine is a likable character and the story contains many details of pioneer life. Because the book maybe hard to understand for younger readers, due to different words and language structure, it should be saved for those mature enough to understand, so as to appreciate it for what it is worth. Highly recommend- to adults too!!

I thought this story was extremely boring! Maybe I'm just a kid (11), but there was no interesting parts. Everyday had a different subject and I couldn't understand the old fashioned language. The author talks about the Phantom in the beginning. Then you think the subject's over, but it comes back suddenly on one of the last page! I can't believe the judjes chose this book as a winner. I only read this because it was part of my class project.

I had to read this book for reading class and had to keep a log for each chapter!!! I am 13 and enjoy reading alot, but this book lacks a plot. The begining starts out fine. You read about the Phantom but then you don't hear about him till the very end of the book. I felt like burning the book and trashing it, and I probley would have. But if I did that I would have failed. This is the most stupid book, and I pity anyone who has to read it!

This is definitely one of the best books that I have ever read. I am an avid reader of juvenile fiction and I rarely find a book that would match the quality of this one. It is very well written and the author really gets you into the story. It is set in New England and is about the changes Catherine must cope with. It is a book about changes, growing up, and important decisions. The author makes it easy to identify with the characters and the book is also very moving. It is a book that I would read again.

I thought that this book was very good. I understood the language pretty well, and the story was excellent. I love history, so I think that is why I enjoyed it so much. I would recommend this book to anyone who, like me, likes to learn and read about history.

I found the book "A Gathering of Days" interesting and filled with small pieces of history, but it was hard to comprehend and hard to read. The format of the book, journal entries written by a young girl, is neat, but her usage of out-dated words is odd and it takes time to grasp her meaning. Although this book was directed to a younger audience, I believe that older kids would better understand the phrases and words used. If you are interested in reading and seeing for yourself how life was and how people spoke in the 1800's, this book is perfect. The story was sweet and descriptive, but in my opinion, it is a one-time around book, and did not leave a huge impact on me.