Rating: My bookshelf

Reading level: Early Elementary

Oh this is such a gorgeous book! The author recounts the stories her grandmother told her when she was a little girl. The grandma often points to God, and to His wisdom in His word. The stories are wonderfully full of mischief and blunder, all within a framework of God’s grace, God’s wisdom, and learning from mistakes.

I have only a few minor potential issues to make families aware of:

  • Corporal Punishment. There are a few mentions of the children getting a hiding over something silly or dangerous they did.
  • Mild name calling. At one point when she’s frustrated Mabel tells her mom,  “There’s nothing wrong with that stupid cow.”
  • Sexism. An older brother makes a comment about how useless girls are.
  • Possible Incorrect Terminology. References to an Indian (when native American might be more appropriate; I found this website to be really helpful not to generalize one term for different people).
  • Guns. At one point Mabel touches a gun and accidentally shoots it. She learns her lesson but young readers might need some reiterating about proper weapon care/storage/policies.

If you liked “Little House on the Prairie ” —and even if you didn’t—this book has clever tales from a classic American  era. Although written for an elementary school age reading level, this book has stories the whole family can laugh at.

I’m looking forward to more similar good fun in more stories from the In Grandma’s Attic series.

This book is also recommended by ReformedPerspective.ca: https://reformedperspective.ca/in-grandmas-attic/