Set in the midwest during the 19th century, this tale chronicles the childhood of Mollie Brown (not to be confused with the real-life heroine of the Titanic disaster). After her mother dies, she and her brother Caleb must stay with relatives while their father travels to find work. Someday he will return with enough money to build a home for them. Then, Mollie imagines, Pa will find a new wife, and she and Caleb will have a real family once again. While authentic period details illuminate the daily life of the pioneers, the book's fictional elements are less convincing. Because of Penson's generally unsubtle style, many emotions--Mollie's fear of her cousin Luke, her grief when he dies, the girl's yearning for her father--lack credibility. Only Mollie exhibits any individuality, and her relationships with the blandly drawn supporting characters are not more than superficially developed. Ages 8-14. (Mar.)
