Better to Wish (Family Tree #1)

About this book

This first book in an all-new quartet from the phenomenal Ann M. Martin follows Abby Nichols in the 1930s in Maine. After her mother's death, Abby is largely responsible for raising her siblings, but she longs to write and live in New York City, far away from the tiny Maine town where she lives now. Once her father remarries and Abby has a stepmother she doesn't get along with, she finally makes her escape to the city and life she's always dreamed of.

Reviews

Praise for Family Tree Book One: Better to Wish

"[Better to Wish] has more in common with bittersweet classics like 'Little Women' and 'Bridge to Terabithia' . . . Martin excels at capturing the hopes and hardships of adolescent girls . . . powerful." —The New York Times Book Review

"Remarkable . . . This exceptional first volume in Ms. Martin's "Family Tree" tetralogy is like holding a length of the braided cord described by Russell Baker; we know that it leads to our own time, but we don't yet know how." —The Wall Street Journal

*"Martin incorporates universal themes into this period piece, and her poignant writing is sure to satisfy fans." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Sure to be a hit with children . . . Martin writes with respect for her readers, piquing their interest in history and tackling real-life issues head-on, but with grace." —School Library Journal

"The deftly rendered theme of personal resilience . . . will earn this a deservedly wide audience." —Kirkus

"The story has that addictive quality of the multigenerational family saga . . . We're hooked." —Horn Book