Set in the Dust Bowl of the American West, Farm Girl , the true account of a child coming of age on a 1920's Nebraska farm, recaptures an era. Young Lucille Marker experiences survival during the Depression, one of the worst dust storms in history, and finally the disintegration of the close-knit community in which she grows up.
Readers who like the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder or Willa Cather will enjoy Farm Girl. Set in the locale of the Willa Cather Nebraska novels, it includes a chapter about the Marker, Cather family connections.
Richly photographed throughout with over sixty authentic photos documenting the people and places of the story, this historical, easy-to-read small book is suitable for use in the classroom.
"Omitting sensationalized incidents and graphic sexual exploits, the book perfectly captures a young woman s coming of age in the early decades of the 20th century. It concerns real life, relatively ordinary activities, drawn with the precision of a Norman Rockwell painting." ~The Omaha Reader
"Through the intertwined stories of the life of the Marker family and of the broader historical time period, the book is more than captivating. Gowen s vivid account of her mother s life allows Farm Girl to read as seamlessly as if one were recalling personal memories." ~The Holyoke Enterprise
" A gift from the heart in which family is prominently featured." ~Aitken Independent Age
"Farm Girl presents a vision of life on a Nebraska homestead during the 1920s and 1930s, told from a child s perspective, and illustrated with photographs of the time." ~Quincy Herald Whig
"Farm Girl will capture the interest of readers in the photos the book contains and witty recollections Lucille has of her grandparents in Catherton Township." ~The Red Cloud Chief
"Have you thought about writing your family history, but found yourself stuck from the start? Writing a family narrative can be a daunting task, but Karen Jones Gowen found a way to bring her mother s story to life." ~Homespun Magazine
"Easily as good as Carol Ryrie Brinks Caddie Woodlawn , Farm Girl is beautifully done and should be a treat for anyone who loves reading historical books. It is a book that reaches out and touches the common human experiences that everyone must go through. It is a treasure that will be enjoyed by the young and old alike." ~McCook Daily Gazette
About the Author
Karen Jones Gowen grew up in central Illinois and now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband. They are the parents of ten children. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in English and American Literature. She has published children's stories and essays on family life, as well as two novels, Uncut Diamonds and House of Diamonds.