The Year We Sailed the Sun
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- £7.99
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- £7.99
Publisher Description
Orphaned Julia never expected to be sent away, especially not to the ill-named House of Mercy. But adventure awaits her in this historical journey, based on a true story.
“Go home,” eleven-year-old orphan Julia Delaney is told, but home for her is gone. Spirited and strong, Julia faces a cruel life at an orphanage—the House of Mercy—blistering cold winters, and countless disappointments. But not even hopeful Julia can imagine what awaits her in Montana—and with the help of a miracle or two, she sets the sun a-sailing.
Like the heroines of the beloved American Girls series, Julia’s journey paints a vivid picture of United States history. Based on the true story of a real girl, with additional details explained in an Author’s Note, The Year We Sailed the Sun is historical fiction at its best.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Nelson's story of fiery, stubborn Julia Delaney ("She's a biter!" somebody warns early on) is set in St. Louis in the record-breaking cold winter of 1911 1912. After the grandmother who has been caring for Julia and her siblings dies, Julia and her older sister, Mary are sent against Julia's zealous protests to the House of Mercy, an orphanage run by nuns; older brother Bill goes to the local priest's News Boys Home. While focusing on Julia's determined efforts to run away and reunite with Bill, Nelson (Earthshine) believably recreates the complex, dangerous world of Irish gang wars in St. Louis into which Bill and then Julia are drawn, as well as the era's Irish-Catholic milieu ruled by nuns, priests, and police officers. An endearing and high-spirited mute orphan, a gracious and compassionate society lady, and a fancy doll all play key roles in Julia's climactic adventure during the blizzard of 1912, which leads to an ending that seems too good to be true, until readers learn in a closing note that the story is based on the life of Nelson's mother-in-law. Ages 9 12.
