All Fall Down:
The Landslide Diary of Abby Roberts
(Frank, District of Alberta, 1902)
by Jean Little
Synopsis:
A young girl survives the deadliest natural disaster in Canadian history - but a family secret could call into question everything she thought she knew about her life before the tragedy.
After her father dies, Abby and her family move west to live with relatives who run a hotel in the mining town of Frank, Alberta. Abby keeps busy helping out at the hotel, being chief caregiver to her little brother with Down Syndrome, and learning Morse code at the telegraph office.
When the devastating Frank Slide buries much of the town, Abby must do all she can to help. But a long-buried family secret emerged just before the disaster - and now she will have to wait for the dust to settle before getting the answers she so desperately wants.
Inspired by two of her own relatives, one who helped run a telegraph office in the late 1800s and another who shares Abby's story (and her family secret), Jean Little crafts a compelling story rich with emotion and historical detail.
My Review:
⭐⭐⭐ & ❤︎❤︎❤︎
3 stars. I think Davy’s and Abby’s relationship draws me most to this book. I have a little sister who is handicapped and I am very protective of her too, and I identified with Abby well because of that. There is a mention of a young man kissing servant girls; a euphemism or two; and when the landslide happens Abby (who is in shock) gets dressed in the crowded hotel hall. It was also kind of complicated with a harsh father and some nasty attitudes, but I liked John and Olivia after a while, when they became nicer. And Mark was really sweet. In short, this isn’t my favourite Dear Canada book, but it’s pretty good, and my sister really likes it—so my indifference to it might be merely personal inclinations.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Today was April Fool’s Day. I tricked Mother. I told her what was left of the snow had all melted away in the night.
“She went to the window and pulled the curtain back.
“‘[Y]ou’re right, Abby,’ she said.
“I ran to look and as I came up behind her, she swung around and said, ‘April Fool yourself, Miss.’”
I've read some of the Dear America books, but I didn't know that there was a Dear Canada series! That's interesting! :)
ReplyDeleteI’ve read some of the Dear America books too. 😉 Yes, there is a Dear Canada series, which has good, bad, and “all right” books. 😉 You never can tell which one it will be when you pick it up!
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