Sarah's Daughter

Book excerpt: Rose assumes a heavy burden of domestic duties after her mothers accidental death sends the family into a tailspin. Gruff and uncommunicative, her father, Silas, threatens to pull her out from school so she can tend house full time, ruining the bright 14-year-olds dreams of becoming a teacher. As Silas takes more and more to the drink and then starts carrying on quite indiscreetly with a woman in town, Rose reaches a breaking point. Her desperation and grief drive her to hold vigil at her mothers graveside, threatening her own health as a result. Set in a small New England farm community in the late 1800s, thisfirst noveloffers an absorbing glimpse of its period, rich ininsights aboutthedomestic responsibilities facing many young women, aboutrural lifesseemingly limitless chores, andabout the small pleasures that helped lessen the daily grinds sting. A caring community led by Roses teacher brings the crisis to a hopefuland realisticresolution.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)