Better to Wish (Family Tree Series #1)

by Ann M. Martin

Overview

Four generations. Four girls. One family.An amazing new four-book series from Ann M. Martin.

This first book in an all-new quartet from the phenomenal Ann M. Martin follows Abby Nichols in the 1930s in Maine. After her mother's death, Abby is largely responsible for raising her siblings, but she longs to write and live in New York City, far away from the tiny Maine town where she lives now. Once her father remarries and Abby has a stepmother she doesn't get along with, she finally makes her escape to the city and life she's always dreamed of.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545539265
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/30/2013
Series:	Family Tree Series , #1
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	961,079
Lexile:	790L (what's this?)
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Ann M. Martin is the creator of The Baby-sitters Club, which has more than 190 million books in print, making it one of the most popular series in the history of publishing. Her novels include A Corner of the Universe (a Newbery Honor Book), Belle Teal, Here Today, A Dog's Life, On Christmas Eve, and the Main Street and Family Tree series, as well as the much-loved collaborations P.S. Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail No More with Paula Danziger. Ann lives in upstate New York.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3–7—In a small town in 1930s Maine, Abby Nichols is happy in her small bungalow by the sea. Life is stable, but not without challenges; her father has a volatile temper and is biased against people who are different and her mother experiences bouts with sadness and sees ghosts from the past. However, Abby finds solace and pleasure in her longtime friendships with Orrin and Sarah. Despite the changing times and the onset of the Great Depression, the family furniture business begins to boom and her father proudly moves them to a big house in a bigger town, complete with hired help. Regretfully saying goodbye to the house and friends she's so fond of is only the beginning of a life of love and loss, triumph and struggle for Abby. This first in a series is sure to be a hit with children, especially fans of historical fiction. The descriptive writing transports them right back to this fascinating period in time when families grappled with economic challenges, civil-rights injustices, and everyday concerns. Martin writes with respect for her readers, piquing their interest in history and tackling real-life issues head-on, but with grace. The series will continue with three more books following the lives of Abby's daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE

School Library Journal

Martin excels at capturing the hopes and hardships of adolescent girls.

The New York Times Book Review - J. Courtney Sullivan

Martin (Ten Rules for Living with My Sister) paints an authentic picture of white middle-class life during the 1930s in this first installment of the Family Tree series, tracing four generations of American girls. Growing up in Maine, eight-year-old Abby Nichols is the oldest daughter of an ambitious carpenter eager to realize the American Dream. But his prejudices are strong, too: he won’t let Abby associate with her Irish Catholic neighbor, Orrin, among others. As Abby’s father gains success, she enjoys more privileges, including a big new house in the city, but the family’s newfound prosperity doesn’t ease her outrage over her father’s mistreatment of the less fortunate, including Abby’s mentally impaired baby brother. Besides addressing the subject of bigotry, Martin underscores the powerlessness of wives and children at the time, revealing the positive and negative sides of tight family bonds. Abby grows into a resilient young woman (the novel spans more than 10 years), willing to speaks her mind and assert her independence. Martin incorporates universal themes into this period piece, and her poignant writing is sure to satisfy fans. - Publishers Weekly starred review

From the Publisher