Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

  • home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Anthologies
    • Blue Birds
    • The Burning Season
    • Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine
    • May B.
    • Miraculous
    • Over in the Wetlands
    • A Race Around the World
    • Ride On, Will Cody!
  • Author Visits
  • Virtual Visits
  • Teacher Resources
  • Contact
  • Writing One to One

R.E.A.D: Journal for the Louisiana Reading Association

4 Comments

Children’s Literature Top Picks of 2011 & 2012 By Patricia Austin, University of New Orleans

May B. by Caroline Starr Rose. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2012. 231pp. Gr. 3-7 The title alone May B (short for the protagonist’s name Mavis Elizabeth Betterly) sets up an intriguing metaphoric premise. What is it that may be possible for twelve-year old May B, a poor girl from the Kansas prairie in the 1870s? She shares her dream of becoming a teacher but she struggles so in reading that people think she’s slow-witted. Her family hires her to a farm some fifteen miles away–to make money and help out. May suffers an uneasy relationship with the lady of the soddy, who is so sad, missing home, that she leaves. When her husband searches for her and doesn’t return, May is left to fend for herself facing uncertainly, fears (some imagined but most real) as she braves many hardships. The novel has perfect pacing with tension that will have readers turning the pages, yet its beauty is in the lyrical language. Readers who have felt “my best isn’t always good enough,” will find a special kinship with the determined protagonist.* They will also appreciate the short verses. Check out the blog of former teacher, Caroline Starr Rose where she offers info on making sod houses and provides teaching materials for her book.

*Yes!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Filed Under: May B.

Comments

  1. Faith E. Hough says

    September 7, 2012 at 1:36 pm

    Congratulations; what a wonderful write-up! I can’t wait to see your awards start pouring in…

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      September 7, 2012 at 4:50 pm

      I don’t know how to reply to this other than a heart-felt thank you, Faith. You are very kind.

      Reply
  2. Kimberley Griffiths Little says

    September 8, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    Wow, this is wonderful, Caroline! Congrats! Is there a link where we can see the list of books for 2011-2012?

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      September 8, 2012 at 4:35 pm

      Great question! I really don’t know, but I can try and track one down.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meet Caroline Starr Rose
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

my books

Subscribe to my newsletter + to receive regular blog posts

categories

  • A Race Around the World
  • authors
  • Blue Birds
  • books and reading
  • classroom connections
  • encouragement
  • faith
  • family
  • historical fiction
  • home
  • Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine
  • May B.
  • Miraculous
  • non-fiction
  • Over in the Wetlands
  • poetry
  • publication
  • Ride On, Will Cody!
  • Song of the Raven
  • teaching
  • The Burning Season
  • The Notebook Series
  • the writing life
  • this and that

Copyright © 2023 · Caroline Starr Rose · Site by Design by Insight

I participate in Amazon Services LLC Associates and Bookshop.org, affiliate programs that allow me to make a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting this site!

Sign up for biweekly blog posts + my quarterly author newsletter and receive a printable quote from my novel, Blue Birds.