A fun read-aloud with a nine-year old who loves realistic stories about adventures in the great outdoors. While the colloquial style lends authenticity to the story, the lack of proper punctuation makes reading this book aloud somewhat challenging. Still, the character of the protagonist, tomboyish May Amelia, more than compensates for the rough-hewn quality of her diction and her lack of manners. Truly, she is lovable. (Be warned: a newborn dies halfway through the book.)