A Pebble and a Pen [Hardcover]

Joan Donaldson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

In 1853, fourteen-year-old Matty runs away from the drudgery of farm life to join Mr. Spencer's famous penmanship school and finds she must meet many challenges to make her way as a female penman.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Not wanting to become a teacher, one of the few professions open to a 19th-century woman, or to be married off to a widower with seven children, 14-year-old Matty runs away. From her farm home in the Michigan woods, she flees to Ohio and applies to Platt Rogers Spencer's school to study penmanship and to learn business skills. Accepted into the program on a trial basis and embraced by Spencer's wife and children, Matty learns what it is like to be part of a loving, caring family. She endures the constant teasing of the boys, struggling to form perfect shapes with her pen. Donaldson skillfully weaves actual historical fact into her fiction, featuring the unusual life of the man whose name was a household word in his time. Recognizable flourishes from this master of the now-unappreciated art of penmanship grace some of the pages. This novel shows promise, though the writing doesn't always flow smoothly. However, Matty is a resourceful heroine and young readers will relate to her determination to take control of her life.
Robin L. Gibson, Perry County District Library, New Lexington, OH
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. It's 1853, and 14-year-old Matty wants to study penmanship, earn a good living, and become independent. Instead, she faces a prearranged marriage and a life of endless farm drudgery. With her brother's help, she runs away to Mr. Spencer's famous Ohio penmanship school. However, becoming a master penman isn't easy; Matty must overcome bias in her all-male class, as well as unresolved issues of her past. This historical, faith-based novel offers a fast, easy read, a notably determined protagonist, and a glimpse at the intricate, often overlooked art of Victorian penmanship, in text and visual examples. While Donaldson's advocation of temperance and faith in God isn't subtle, her themes of having patience and perseverance in learning new skills, and faith in oneself, are good lessons for any reader. A romantic, heartfelt story with abundant historical detail to engage fans of the genre. An author's note provides background on real-life master penman Platts Rogers Spencer; includes bibliography. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 157 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 1st edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823415007
• ISBN-13: 978-0823415007
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,976,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I love stories and listen for stories when I share meals with friends, visit a new place, or walk outside and see that my goats have escaped one more time...writing is how I share stories with others and hopefully offer encouragement and insight into various situations. When not writing, I work on the organic blueberry farm that I share with my husband, John, or milk our goats, weed in my garden, play my harp, sew quilts and drink tea with friends. I live a blessed life and am thankful for editors, readers and reviewers who enjoy what I write.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars My thoughts on A Pebble and A Pen, February 26, 2001

By 

Abigail (MI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Pebble and a Pen (Hardcover)

I had read the book, Pebble and a Pen, for a school project. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could relate people I know to the character Matty and the people in her life. One of my favorite parts in the book was at the Forth of July Day festival. So much happened to her then. Matty had never been to something big like this, so it was a unique experience for her. This book keeps you in wonder as to what will happen next in Matty's eventful life. Matty had so much courage to do what her heart desired. Not many people believed in her, but to her all that mattered was that she believed in herself. In a class of all adolescence boys, she had to proved to them that she could do just as well as they could. It took her all the time she was at the Spencerian school to gain respect from her classmates. This book truly demonstrates the author knowledge of the time period and the subject addressed. It also shows her truly unique descriptive writing style. Overall this was a terrific, well-written book. I encourage people to read this book and go for their dreams.