Review Detail

Reader reviewed by bookworm9

Russell is thrilled to hear that his mean old schoolteacher has died, and hopes that this will bring an end to his schooldays. After all, who else would want to teach in a back country one-room schoolhouse. But as it turns out, somebody does, and that person is Russell's big, tough older sister, Tansy. This book chronicles Tansy's first months as teacher, as she struggles to get enough pupils to keep the school running, and Russell's own plans to run away to North Dakota with a threshing crew, as well as his disgust over his best friend's love for Tansy. In the end, Tansy has 3 suitors-- two of whom are pupils-- but her biggest challenge is the superintendent's visit. Are Tansy and her class smart enough to keep the school open?

This was an amusing book with strong characters, but I wished it was longer and a bit more developed. The ending lets readers see what happens in the future, but doesn't explain how the various marriages came about. Still, the pairings are satisfying and the relationship between Tansy and Russell well-written