It's Friday! One week from today on November 25 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life episodes start. I happen to love Gilmore Girls, and I am very much looking forward to the new shows. They will only be on Netflix (that's the only downfall).
The Gingerbread Girl by Sheila Newberry starts in November of 1936.
Cora Kelly is seven years old and is getting released from the hospital
after an eight month stay for diphtheria.
The disease hit their East London tenement where the children had not
been vaccinated against diphtheria. The
one thing that Cora has treasured is a gingerbread man Cora received from her
mother (during a secret visit). Cora did
not eat the gingerbread man. She has
kept it as a reminder of her mother. Upon
her release, Eliza Quinn (her mother’s best friend) takes her to Westley Farm
(belong to Eliza’s aunt) for the fresh air and relaxation. Ginny Brookes runs the farm with the help of
her two sons’ Mal and Jimmy. Cora enjoys
spending time with Jimmy (this is just the beginning of their story). When Cora is ready to return home, Eliza
comes to get her. Cora is in for a shock
when she finds out that her mother, Biddy passed away after giving birth to her
sister, Deidre (Dede). Cora’s birth father,
Bertie took off long before and Eliza has no way of locating him. Eliza is going to raise Cora and Dede. Eliza is a housekeeper for Mr. Norton and his
son, Neville (a real pill). Mr. Norton
is a retired baker and the son has taken over the business. Things are going well for this little family
when Bertie returns. He wishes to get to
know his daughter (he is unaware of Dede).
Will Cora give him an opportunity? Join Eliza and Cora in see what life was like
for them during World War II.
The Gingerbread Girl is the story
of Eliza and Cora. We follow Cora and
Eliza as Cora grows up, they experience the war, love, and loss. The Gingerbread Girl reminds me of a children’s
novel (chapter book similar to those by Laura Ingalls Wilder), but there are
adult situations that would not be appropriate for someone under the age of 13
(would depend on the child’s maturity level too). It is an interesting story that I did enjoy
reading, but there are some slow sections.
The novel is simple and easy to read.
I give The Gingerbread Girl 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is a sweet story that is nicely
written. Americans can see a different
take on the war (it started much earlier in England than it did in the United
States).
I am off to watch Gilmore Girls marathon on Up!TV called Gilmore the Merrier. They are showing every single Gilmore Girls episode over the next week. During the commercials I am reading Prose and Cons by Amanda Flower (it is wonderful). I hope all of you have a delightful evening. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
Dear Kris, thank you for your review of The Gingerbread Girl, glad you enjoyed it. The Avid Reader, well, that sums me up too! And I have been writing since the age of 3... You can catch a glimpse of me on Spunky Seniors too! Cheers! Happy Christmas from Sheila (Newberry.)
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