Title: No One Went to Town
Author: Phyllis Johnston
Series: The May series, book 1
Major Themes: New Zealand, Pioneers, Family
Synopsis: May and her family worked hard to survive in the New Zealand bush, and had fun with each other along the way.
About ten years ago, I was able to get a copy of No One Went to Town from the library, and we enjoyed reading it. At that time, I had no idea that it was the first in a series, but a few years ago, I heard about the others. Recently, I was able to source them, so I decided to read the whole series aloud. Even though several of the children remember the story, they still enjoyed hearing it again.
Publisher’s description:
At the beginning of the century the Tarrant family were pioneers, making a farm in the steep hills of Taranaki, New Zealand. They built a hut from ponga trees, felled the bush, burnt it, and sowed grass in the warm ashes. They made a large vegetable garden and built a proper wooden house for themselves. Everyone worked hard, even May, who was just five years old. The only time anyone went to town, out along the rough and muddy track through the bush, was when someone was badly injured.
Ordinary accidents were treated at home. When Claude gashed his leg, using a forbidden axe, Mother had to stitch up the cut with black cotton as he lay yelling on the kitchen table. Later, the daredevil Claude tried to fly from the top of the new house…luckily, this time he was only bruised.
Every incident in ‘No one went to town’ is based on fact. The stories were told to the author (May’s daughter) by May, Claude, and Phil themselves, from vivid memories of their exciting early lives. Readers from nine to ninety will be fascinated.
My thoughts:
I have always enjoyed pioneer stories, and to find one set in New Zealand is a treat. Life was very hard in that place at the time of No One Went to Town, and the family had to all work hard together to survive. I think that was our favorite part of the story—the family working together and supporting each other. Any time someone needed help, they got it. One time, the parents and the two older boys were all sick; May and her next-older brother took care of them and themselves (what a funny scene!). I had to really admire the mother and her strength of character. She had obviously come from a “gentle” background in England, and tried to train May in the same way—but at the same time, she adapted to the conditions and made a good life for her family. She was also able to do hard things when needed, such as stitching up a gashed leg, and keeping her family as cheerful as possible when they were very worried about an injured family member. I also loved the way May’s brothers doted on her and took care of her, but didn’t allow her to become spoiled and selfish.
Not only did May’s family take care of themselves, they also cared for neighbors—such as the time that May heard someone across the river calling for help. This book is a beautiful picture of what family and community ought to be. We are looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series before long!
WARNING: Chapter 2: Boy hurt with an axe. Chapter 3: Gosh. Chapter 4: Gosh, mention of hanging. Chapter 6: Lamb killed by hawk, boy hurt with a knife. Chapter 8: Gosh. Chapter 9: Gosh. Chapter 10: By golly, gosh. Chapter 11: Baby dies.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12, 12 – 15
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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