Worth

Written by A. LaFaye

Narrated by Tommy Fleming

Life for a family on a Nebraska homestead is difficult, with illness and weather causing worries about crops and finances, and conflicts between ranchers and farmers. For 11-year-old Nate’s family, the days grow even darker when he gets his leg crushed in a farm accident. To help out, Nate’s father brings home John Worth, just off the Orphan Train and dealing with the loss of his own family in a New York City tenement fire. With Nate’s honest telling of the story comes a fascinating narrative of family life during the late nineteenth century: the overwhelming responsibility children endured; the grueling, daily chores; the family’s struggle to hold onto their land and deal with their losses; the importance of community and the mores of the time. The richly drawn characters and their courageous, candid story present an important slice of history and a compelling exploration of friendship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Live Oak Media
• Release date: Jan 1, 2006
• ISBN: 9781595199744

A. LaFaye

A. LaFaye (the "A" is for Alexandria) is the author of Worth, for which she received the Scott O'Dell Award, as well as The Year of the Sawdust Man, Nissa's Place, The Strength of Saints, Edith Shay, Strawberry Hill, and Dad, in Spirit. She teaches at California State University at San Bernardino during the school year and at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, in the summer. She lives in Cabot, Arkansas.

Reviews for Worth

[karrieskorner · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes in the face of adversity and conflict with someone, a true friendship can develop and thrive.

[saffron12_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a well-written historical fiction book for juvenile readers. It was a nomination for the Rebecca Caudill Award in Illinois in 2007-2008, the winner chosen by students in grade 4 to 8. As an adult I read it when it first came out, and then again in 2007 when I led a book club discussion for kids mostly in the 4th grade. The kids seemed to like the book, though the kids seemed bored by the historical fiction aspects. I loved it, with the storm, Nathaniel's accident, and the orphan character. Since I was little, I loved all books with storms, accidents and orphans! So for me, and those who love those particular characteristics in books, I highly recommend this well-written story with a satisfying ending.

[avcr_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After Nathaniel's leg is crushed in an accident on the farm, Nathaniel's Father brings home an orphan boy named John Worth to work the fields and take over Nathaniel's chores. While at first, jealously and misunderstandings ensue, the two boys slowly develop a frienship that bonds not only Nathaniel's family but the townspeople as well. A heartwarming introspective into the human condition with many educational nods toward the perceptions and understanding of others.

[abbylibrarian_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Eleven-year-old Nathaniel has always known that his place is to be helping his father on their farm. One tragic day, a terrible accident leaves Nate with one debilitated leg and suddenly his whole life has changed. Now Nate must go to school and learn to read and do math while his father adopts an orphaned city boy to help on the farm. Nate's ma declares that she only has one son and she makes the orphan John Worth sleep outside in the lean-to. Nate hates the boy that's been brought to the farm to replace him. But the day will come that he will see that they have more in common than he ever thought possible. And maybe they will be able to help each other out. A short, quick read, with interesting characters and set in an interesting time. The ranchers and farmers of Nebraska are at war with each other, fighting over land. Orphans from cities are shipped out to the country to be "adopted" to work on farms. I just wish that there had been an author's note to tell me how much of this was true and suggest some further reading.