.jpeg?picon=2982)
Setting: America, 1896
Age range: twelve and up -- would work perfectly with an eighth-grade US history course
Please tell us about your book.
One day in May, 1896, Clara Estby and her mother packed satchels with maps, compass, canteens, a pistol and a curling iron. They strode east along the railroad tracks, determined to walk 4,000 miles to New York City by their November 30 deadline to win a $10,000 bet which would save the family’s farm.
Since Helga Estby was a suffragist, they were also out to prove what women alone could do, as they battled blizzard, bandits, flash flood and days without food or water, sometimes walking nearly fifty miles at a stretch.
What inspired you to write this story? 10 Comments on Classroom Connections: THE YEAR WE WERE FAMOUS by Carole Estby Dagg, last added: 5/17/2011
Such a fantastic book! And Carole is awesome. I particularly love the one million words and twenty nine rejections in her story. Great feature, Caroline. xo
I love this new series for your blog Caroline. And Carole, I'm amazed at all the research you did for your book. It's truly amazing. Your book sounds fascinating. And I'm sure it'll help make history more fun.
I just got a facebook message from an old student of mine who is going to start teaching next year. She asked me for book recommendations to include in her reading list. I'm going to point her to your blog! :)
Amy
Carole is amazing, isn't she? And Amy, so glad your student will be teaching and is looking to put together a list of books.
I'm not sure what she'll be teaching, but if you direct her to my website, I've got an assignment I created called Where in the World Are We Reading. It worked perfectly in English, social studies, or general upper elementary classes.
I'd love to share more, if she's interested.
Wow, what an incredible amount of research! I'm sure the book is a testament of how much work went into it! I'll have to read it :)
Wow! Thank you both for taking the time to share!
Thank you, Caroline, for helping TYWWF make its way into the world! To any teachers: I'd be happy to answer questions from your students and (if I can figure out how Skype works) visit them by Skype.
Carole, my pleasure.
Sounds like a fascinating book, especially since it's based on a true story, written by a relative.
It's amazing and mind boggling to think about the extent of research Carole did for this book. That's a story in itself. I'd love to see pictures of all those items she bought. Good luck with the book, Carole. Sounds like a winner to me!
I clicked on Carol's name at the top of your blog post, next to the photo of the book cover. It took me to a page that has info about Carole and also a link to watch the book trailer. Love the trailer! Very cool!