Hope, aged 14, became an orphan at age six when her mother died in a car crash. The backpack they had bought just before the accident became Hope’s hope chest, housing artifacts from her past. Her most prized possession was her sketchbook. Hope’s current foster Mom, Sarah, took Hope with her to spend the summer at her childhood home on the prairie in Nebraska with her mother, Anna. Against her wishes, Hope moved, vowing not to be pressured into adoption.
In Nebraska Anna, Hope’s fun-loving foster grandmother, introduced her to their farm’s history beginning in 1869 when it was first homesteaded. Through a series of diaries Hope learns how three young women, about her age, dealt with the difficulties that faced them across the centuries. The obstacles in growing crops in first story reminded me of the last book I reviewed, The Worst Hard Times. It seems that life on the prairie is difficult in any era.
Dianne E. Gray weaves 4 stories seamlessly into one novel. Holding Up the Earth hints at the issues facing foster children, but more than that, it is historical fiction. As such it is very appropriate particularly for 8th and 11th grade students who study American History. Its readability level and subject matter would appeal primarily to girls aged 10-14. Nonetheless, although I’m somewhat older than 14, I enjoyed it as well.
You can learn more about author Dianne E. Gray on her website Prairie Voices.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
A book with the breath of the prairie flowing through it- just my thing. Wonderful review. I shall have to dip into this. Beautiful, thank you, cheers,
AJ Toad
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I enjoyed it immensely! 🙂 Very easy read!
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Brilliant! 😀
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Sounds like a great book for young people to learn about homesteading & the struggles of life.
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A modern day Little House on the Prairie?
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Great review, Marsha. I’ve always wanted to read the other Dianne Gray books and haven’t had the chance yet 😀
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When I got it, I assumed it was you, of course, but wondered why you would be writing that particular setting. It was a great book – not as complicated a plot line, or intriguing, but well worth reading and doing a review. I really enjoyed it. It’s definitely a good read for a female student.
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Sounds like an interesting read Marsha, I might have to put it on the list. Thank you.
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Your daughter might like it, too. 🙂
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Thanks for another great review, Marsha. Dianne has a ton of books out. I’m always surprised to read another review of another book by her that I hadn’t known about.
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This is a different Dianne Gray. I made the mistake of thinking it was my friend Dianne Gray, but it wasn’t, and she corrected me. It is still such an excellent book, that I had to review it. 🙂
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