'Our Only May Amelia' would make a terrific introduction to middle-grade historical fiction for boys and girls alike.

May Amelia is the daughter of Finnish immigrants, settled in southwest Washington near Astoria, Oregon. She is also the only girl on the Nasel River settlement. With seven brothers in her family, May Amelia is a stand out. She is strong, boyish and prone to mischief. This makes for great story-telling.

The format reminded me of the Little House series, with interesting stories told in chronological order. Some stories are quite sad, some terrifying and many will have readers laughing out loud. This is really a book for all ages. Older readers will appreciate the history of Astoria with it's Scandinavian and Chinese immigrants, canneries, and shanghai exploits. However, parents be warned if reading this to sensitive, younger kids, as the stories are real-life.

I also liked the author notes in the back, showing a page from her great-aunt's diary -- the inspiration for May Amelia. The historical afterword confirms many aspects of the story.

Highly recommended.