Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Our Only May Amelia | 1999 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
| 2 | The Trouble with May Amelia | 2011 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
The May Amelia series by Jennifer L. Holm follows a spirited Finnish-American girl growing up in rural Washington state in the 1890s as the only girl among seven brothers. Our Only May Amelia (1999) earned a Newbery Honor for its vivid portrayal of immigrant family life on the American frontier. The Trouble with May Amelia (2011) continues her story.
The books are based on the real diary of Holm’s great-aunt, who grew up in a Finnish settlement along the Nasel River in Washington. Our Only May Amelia was Holm’s debut novel, and the Newbery Honor brought her early attention in children’s literature. Twelve years passed before the sequel arrived, picking up May Amelia’s life as she faces new challenges in her close-knit but rigid community. Both books are written in first person with May Amelia’s distinct voice driving the narrative.