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Summary
Summary
Aunt Ida would boil him in the laundry cauldron if she knew where he was. On the long wagon ride to the old homestead, she warned them about the Gypsies they'd encountered, and now here he was, ducking into a colorful caravan with Samson, a Gypsy boy he had met . . . underwater. And it was the best thing to happen since they'd moved from Stillwater to this lonely, hard place to try to reclaim the decrepit family farm.
Missing his friends and life as it was before his brother's accident and his mother's silent grief, fourteen-year-old Martin Gunnarsson is trying to hold his family together on the homestead where his ancestors died of diphtheria in 1865. The only one who had survived was his father, a baby found in the arms of his older sister Cora. But somehow rumors of a treasure on the farm survived, too, and when Martin discovers Aunt Cora's journal in a musty trunk in the hayloft, he thinks it might give him a clue. But what exactly is he looking for?
Reading Cora's diary in secret, and just as stealthily becoming fast friends with Samson and his Roma family, Martin slowly begins to see his new surroundings, and himself, a little differently. But only when he recognizes that his small sister, for so long a mere pest, holds the true key does Martin start to understand where the real treasure might be found.
Author Notes
Ann Treacy is coauthor (with Margi Preus) of A Book of Grace. Her writing has appeared in Lake Superior Magazine as well as Highlights for Children magazine . She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Less mystery than family saga, this novel is set on a Minnesota farm owned by Swedish immigrants. The homestead has a dark history: in 1865, Anna and Carl Gunnarsson and their daughter, Cora, died of diphtheria; neighbors raised their infant son, Jacob, who eventually moved away. Four decades later, an impoverished Jacob returns to the rundown farm with his family, determined to start anew after the death of their oldest son. Soon after, Jacob is severely injured in a work accident, his wife drowns her grief in "patent medicines," and 14-year-old Martin, who sorely misses his brother and his former life, assumes responsibility for resuscitating the farm. A clue in Cora's diary, discovered in the barn, gives Martin hope of saving the property from foreclosure. Martin's forbidden friendship with a charismatic Roma boy named Sam, who helps with farm chores and rescues Martin's family from a fire, highlights cultural prejudices against the Roma (who are referred to as "gypsies" throughout). A concluding note from Treacy (coauthor of A Book of Grace) reveals how her own family history inspired this tightly written novel. Ages 8-12. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Fourteen-year-old Martin must run the family farm after his father is seriously injured in an accident. The management of the homestead is all the more complicated because his mother, grief-stricken over the death of Martin's brother, abuses patent medicines, rendering her more passive spectator than participant. Nevertheless, Martin takes on the challenge of getting a crop into the ground. He's aided by a Roma boy, Samson, whom he befriends. Rumors hint at a family treasure lost on the farm. Martin discovers his aunt Cora's diary, penned nearly 40 years before and ending with her childhood death. It contains clues to the treasure, if only he can step out of his self-focus to understand them. While he's believably limned, other characters are less well-developed, diminishing their impact. Set in rural Minnesota in 1903, this evocative effort neatly weaves in period details. It reflects the demands of farming and the significant prejudice that was harbored by the white farmers against the Roma, documented both in the story that depicts their culture and in an informative author's note. (Both story and author's note use "Roma" and "Gypsy," depending on context.) Although the story is focused on Martin's coming-of-age and his evolving friendship with Samson, the treasure hunt subplot adds additional drama. A good bet for fans of historical fiction. (Historical fiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Reeling from the death of their oldest son, the Gunnarsson family leaves the city to work a farm in Goodhue County, Minnesota, in 1903. Fourteen-year-old Martin wants nothing more than to leave, until he meets the mysterious Samson, a Roma boy. Life on the homestead grows even more interesting after Martin finds a diary written by his deceased aunt Cora, which hints at a hidden dowry. He puts all his energy into vitalizing the farm and finding this treasure, but can he do it before the oily Mr. Meehan from the bank convinces Martin's downtrodden ma to sell the farm? This quick read is as much historical fiction as it is mystery, though the character and plot development is often overpowered by historical specificity. Nevertheless, the treasure hunt buoys the narrative, while Martin and Samson's friendship lends it complexity; back matter includes more information about Swedish and Roma immigrants. Extensive research and a compelling protagonist make this title a great fit for classes exploring their family trees.--Seto Forrester, Amy Copyright 2016 Booklist
