"The Cabin Faced West" is a true story about a girl named Ann Hamilton. She goes west with her Father, Mother, and two brothers, Daniel and David. After they move, Daniel makes “The Rule”: the first one to find fault with the west will get a bucket of water over their head. Ann keeps a Diary and writes almost every day. One day while Ann is in the woods writing in her diary, she feels something touching her shoulder, is it a wolf? An unfriendly Indian? It turns out to be Andy McPhale their new neighbor. Later, another visitor comes named Arthur Scott who Ann eventually marries. One time when Ann us picking grapes, she hears horses coming. She hides, but the men still see her! Who are these strange visitors? Will they hurt Ann? Read the book to find out!
review by Spencer, age 10

Mom's note: The character of Ann really struggles throughout this book with getting along with her brothers, missing her best friend from back East, trying to do a good job helping her family, and really just wanting to move back "home." By the end of the book, she has grown and become committed to helping build the new country of the United States. I enjoy that this book features a gentle loving mother who understands Ann and her struggles and appreciates her. I also appreciate the strong faith of her father and how it is highlighted and modeled for his family and the reader.