The Edge of Nowhere Book

Another one of my childhood reads, The Edge of Nowhere seems to be a somewhat fictionalized account of Sypher's childhood in rural North Dakota. I think I was initially attracted to this book because I was a big Little House on the Prairie fan, and also my maternal grandfather, born in the 1920s, also grew up in rural North Dakota.

The story follows 10-year-old Lucy, her parents, her 12-year-old brother Amory, and a whole host of other town characters. Lucy certainly has a lot of spunk, and she tries to be brave when faced with challenges (fires, tornados, bratty neighbors).

As charming as the book is, it certainly reads pretty dated, which is why I am giving it a 3-star rating. Written in the 1970s about the 1910s, there is a ton of gendered language and roles (though, for the 1970s, might have seemed more progressive). I also felt some of the characters, especially the German immigrants, were a bit too simplified in their portrayal. Yes, it's a book for children, but I would recommend providing some better context to help them interpret the book for what it is instead of simply internalizing what is suggested.