Dear America: Land of the Buffalo Bones: The Diary of Mary Elizabeth Rodgers, an English Girl in Minnesota, New Yeovile, Minnesota, 1873: Amazon.ca: Marion Dane Bauer: Books

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Gr. 4-8. This Dear America book is unusual in that it is based on real people and events in 1873. Bauer's great-grandfather Reverend Rodgers led his family and congregation from England to Minnesota, the jumping-off point for this fictional diary, narrated by Rodgers' oldest daughter, Polly, age 14. The long and unpleasant voyage and the settlers' horror at their barren and inhospitable new land are vividly set down, and it is the latter that forms the backbone of Polly's story. She describes the family's sod house, the ineptness with which the town-bred English attempt to build and farm, and the endless oppressive heat, unendurable cold, and plagues of locusts. No wonder the settlers eventually vote to reject their pastor! Accompanied by photos of the Rodgers family and scenes of the settlement, this is an engrossing look at the hardships faced by many pioneers. Eva Mitnick
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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5 Reviews

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4.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best Dear America, Sep 27 2003

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Brittany "lady_jane_grey" (MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear America: Land of the Buffalo Bones: The Diary of Mary Elizabeth Rodgers, an English Girl in Minnesota, New Yeovile, Minnesota, 1873 (Hardcover)

I have been reading Dear America books for a long time, and I've had a hard time trying to stop! I started in fifth grade, and I am a senior now. I normally read adult books, but there are just some series that I can't let go!

Polly and her family leave a comfortable life in England to come to Minnesota and start over. They also bring over several families. Rev. Rogers (Polly's dad) is the optimistic leader of the group. They are imagining perfect weather and easy money. They get none of it. It is difficult to farm, and the summers are too hot and winters too cold. Tragedy is commonplace. Yet, the Rogers family pulls through and sticks together to survive.

This Dear America isn't the best. In fact, it is one of my least favorites. There is a lot of boring bits and there are no real jaw-dropping things that happen (like most of the other ones). It does accurately portray Minnesota. I live here, and the weather is awful, and the people aren't very nice. I have been all over, and this is my least favorite place.

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3.0 out of 5 stars An OK Dear America, but not my cup of tea., Aug 23 2003

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"smudged_rainbow" (London, Great Britain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear America: Land of the Buffalo Bones: The Diary of Mary Elizabeth Rodgers, an English Girl in Minnesota, New Yeovile, Minnesota, 1873 (Hardcover)

I read this book very quickly, and did not learn anything particularly new. I did like the twist on the "rich prairie land" lifestyle, in which, instead of having a capable, hardworking mother who knew exactly what to do in the house and a father who knew how to hunt and farm almost instinctively, Mary and her family faced serious problems of simply not having the knowledge to survive.
In spite of the good idea and the fact that it was based on a true story, I found it to be quite dull and depressing. I could not identify very well with characters, and never knew what they would do next.I did not feel I knew them very well. I dislike Dear Americas which sugar coat the truth, and I am happy to say that it is an honest depiction of life on the frontier. However, I simply did not enjoy reading it, although it may be someone elses cup of tea.

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4.0 out of 5 stars A Family Story Retold, Mar 22 2003

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"royaldiaryfan2000" (Aston, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear America: Land of the Buffalo Bones: The Diary of Mary Elizabeth Rodgers, an English Girl in Minnesota, New Yeovile, Minnesota, 1873 (Hardcover)

Land of the Buffalo Bones is the story of Polly Rodgers, a young girl whose father is a Baptist minster who organizes 80 religously persecuted Baptists in Yeovil, England, to colonize the Minnesota Territory in the New Yeovil Colony. Although the advertisments and her father's false words tell of a wonderful and bountiful country, the 80 colonists come upon a surprise when they reach the colony--which isn't built, is covered in snow, and is in the middle of nowhere with no trees or parks or houses or anything of the sort that was promised. After the grueling ship ride over, this hardship is even worse. Soddies are built quickly for the many families, as is one for the Rodgers, since their father is not expected to work with his hands. However, all the land brings is despair. Locusts attack and destroy the crops that the first time at farming colonists grow, Polly's best friend's family is destroyed with the death of the mother and brother and the runaway of her best friend to be married to a Native American. However, the land brings Polly and her step-mother closer together and many of her other family members, despite Laura's constant pesturing. However, even though her father is taken away from his position as minister and the Rodgers must move onto a new colony, they leave happy and together, knowing they will make it.
This diary is based on the author's family, the Rodgers, and was an interesting and treasuring contribution to the series. Although I would recommend Love Thy Neighbor more out of the two new books, this diary was still very good, very unique, and worth you time.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Land of the buffalo bones
Great story! It's actually based on the author's great-grandmother, so it's a true story. Tells of Mary Ann Elizabeth Rodgers, a fourteen year old girl whose father is an English... Read more

Published on July 22 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars A good new Dear America book.
Mary Ann Elizabeth Rodgers, called Polly by her family, is the fourteen-year-old daughter of a Baptist minister. Read more

Published on Mar 20 2003 by Rebecca Herman