I'm Sorry, Almira Ann (Hardcover)

by Jane Kurtz (Author), Susan Havice (Illustrator) "Sarah rubbed a cool, smooth egg on her cheek and wondered what it would be like to be inside an egg..." (more)
Key Phrases: lemon syrup, Almira Ann, Queen Victoria, Fort Laramie (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The journey, rather than the destination, is the focal point of this amiable tale of the Oregon Trail. Traveling west, eight-year-old Sarah and her best friend, Almira Ann, encounter typical pioneer challenges, from fierce rainstorms to a lost cow. Kurtz's (The Storyteller's Beads) approach, however, is much more individualistic than in many such stories. The lost cow, for example, turns out to be stuck in a ravine; when all else fails, holes are bored in its horns and a rope threaded through them, and the cow is tugged upward to safety (an end note cites a historical precedent). Sarah is a spunky heroine, not without flaws. She can't help comparing herself to Almira Ann and being a little jealous of her skills (plus a little envious of Almira Ann's fancy doll). Her envy inspires her to play a trick on Almira Ann that has dire consequences--Almira Ann breaks her leg, and there seems no way to set it. Somehow Sarah must find a way to make amends. Kurtz enlivens this believable tale of friendship, forgiveness and adventure with snappy dialogue and colorful prose, and she splices in period details nearly undetectably. Ages 7-10.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Grade 2-4-In this novel, Kurtz successfully captures the adventure and hardships of life on the Oregon Trail. Eight-year-old Sarah Benton's family is heading West. Unfortunately, the girl's "hasty spirit" seems to get her in trouble at every turn of the trail, especially with her best friend, Almira Ann. On a whim, Sarah climbs high up Chimney Rock to carve their names on the famous trail landmark, frightening her friend with her daring. She trades a rag doll from Almira Ann for coveted beads from a young Sioux girl. Finally, in an exuberant wrestling match, Sarah scares Almira Ann, causing her to fall out of the back of the wagon and break her leg. How can a friendship survive such setbacks? The dirty, often treacherous experiences of traveling in a wagon train make an excellent backdrop for the turbulent friendship. Historical tidbits of pioneer life are peppered throughout the text, adding detail without bogging down the plot. Sarah is an engaging character, and readers will readily identify with her tribulations. Havice's light pencil sketches, one per chapter, lend a familiar, friendly feeling. This is a perfect title for exploring pioneer life before jumping into Laura Ingalls Wilder's longer "Little House" books (HarperCollins).
Linda Bindner, formerly at Athens Clarke County Library, GA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805060944
• ISBN-13: 978-0805060942
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,686,291 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful, much needed middle-grade Oregon Trail novel., November 9, 1999

By	Laura Manthey (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Jane Kurtz's newest book truly fulfills the need for accurate historical fiction for the middle grade reader. The story of Sarah and Almira Ann, two best friends, as they travel the Oregon Trail with their families moves quickly and should draw in even the most reluctant reader. Sarah rapidly moves from one adventure to another, some with unfortunate consequences. When Almira Ann is injured as a result of Sarah's actions, it is easy to identify with Sarah as she struggles to deal with her feelings. Susan Havice's soft pencil illustrations and colorful cover add to the warmth of the book. This is a great transition book for student s who are moving from easy chapter books to novels. Also, as an elementary school librarian, I am so pleased to be able to offer this little gem of a book to students who must choose a book "over 100 pages" for their next book report.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book That You Should Read, November 30, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: I'm Sorry, Almira Ann (Paperback)

I'm Sorry Almira Ann is a wonderful book about a young girl named Sarah . Sarah and her family are traveling on the Oregon Trail from Missouri on a covered wagon with a group of other covered wagons . Sarah's best freind,Almira Ann , is also traveling with the group and with her family . But if only Sarah's , hasty spirit would just leave the trip would be alot easier for everyone. But Sarah can't quite keep the hasty spirit from causing her to disobey the rules . Along the way Sarah accidentally causes Almira Ann to fall from her wagon , and when she does she breaks her leg . Sarah knows she needs to control her hasty spirit . If you enjoy historical fiction you should enjoy this book.