Wintering Well

Lea Wait

ISBN 10: 1439528861 ISBN 13: 9781439528860

Synopsis

"WHAT HAPPENED THIS AFTERNOON IS TOO TERRIBLE TO WRITE. . . . PLEASE, GOD, LET WILL LIVE. AND, PLEASE, GOD, FORGIVE ME."

All Will Ames ever wanted to do was farm. But when he's injured in a farm accident, Will is left without a leg -- and without his future.

There's no place on a farm for a cripple. And so, after a long winter of healing, Will and his sister Cassie, who blames herself for the accident, go to stay in town with their older sister and her husband. There, as Maine becomes a state, Will learns that perhas even without his leg, there's another, brighter future in store for him. And Cassie, too, learns that maybe, in the changing world of 1820, Will isn't the only one with the chance at a different, exciting future. . . .

About this title

About the Author:

Lea Wait made her mystery debut with Shadows at the Fair, which was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Shadows on the Ivy, the third novel in her acclaimed series featuring Maggie Summer, is forthcoming in hardcover from Scribner. Lea comes from a long line of antiques dealers, and has owned an antique print business for more than twenty-five years. The single adoptive mother of four Asian girls who are now grown, she lives in Edgecomb, Maine. In addition to the Antique Print mysteries, Lea Wait writes historical fiction for young readers. Her first children's book, Stopping to Home, was named a Notable Book for Children in 2001 by Smithsonian magazine.
Visit her website at www.leawait.com.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-8–Each chapter in this novel begins with brief journal entries written by 11-year-old Cassie, who describes life on her family's Maine farm in 1819. As the book opens, her 12-year-old brother accidentally cuts himself with an ax, an injury that leads to the amputation of his leg. Despondent, Will wonders what to do with his life, since his dream of being a farmer has been destroyed. Cassie, who nurses him back to health, also wonders what the future holds for her. When they move to a nearby town to live with their older sister while Will is fitted for a wooden leg, they are exposed to a new range of opportunities. Will's talent for woodcarving is discovered by a cabinetmaker and Cassie finds satisfaction in assisting Dr. Theobold. While the realities of Will's experiences are detailed, from his physical and emotional pain to his struggle to adapt to a wooden leg, there's a sense that when one door closes, another opens. Unfortunately, not as much focus is placed on Cassie's life, as the two stories often compete with one another. However, the overall message of triumph over adversity is handled in an uplifting and convincing manner.–Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH
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About this edition

• ISBN 10: 1439528861
• ISBN 13: 9781439528860
• Binding: Library Binding