A truthful and absorbing narrative of life in Connecticut in 1830. Phebe Fairchild travels alone by stagecoach from her home in New Haven to spend a year with her country cousins, while her sea-captain father has taken her mother on a long voyage. Through the many adventures of that year and her struggles to keep her greatest treasure—a beloved book—she learns to understand her father’s parting advice, “You’ll need patience and courage a-plenty, but do as you’re told and never be afraid.”

Lois Lenski devoted many months of enthusiastic research to making her story rich and accurate in background. She brings to life for young people as well as older readers a fascinating period of New England life. The book is noteworthy as to format, being designed by the artist, and generously illustrated in a manner suggestive of the period.

A Newbery Honor book.