Mavis Betterly is the youngest sister in a family of Kansas pioneers in the 1870s. The Betterly family is struggling, so May is sent to live with another family 15 long miles away to earn wages as a helper. May doesn't want to leave, but she doesn't have a choice, and thus begins her bitter adventure.

Told in free verse poetry, May's story is about overcoming powerful odds. Not only is May left to fend for herself in a leaking sod cabin in the dead of winter with hungry wolves outside her door--she is also haunted by memories of her difficult school days where she struggled to read because of a condition we would now know as dyslexia.

In very few words, author Caroline Starr Rose conveys May's inner turmoil and her struggle to find not just a way to survive but a way to believe herself worthy of survival. It's a powerful tale, indeed.

It was heavy on the bleak with nary a giggle, which isn't really my taste. I like a good sad read, but it's better seasoned with moments of levity, which this book completely lacked. So that is why I'm giving it three instead of four stars. As a Newbery contender, my personal taste aside, I'd give it four. ( )

Not uplifting. Not worth shelf space. ( )

This was a good solid middle grade story about a girl named May during the early settlers time of Kansas where homes are few and far apart and children start work early. To help bring more money to her family, May is sent to live with a newly married couple to help with things like cooking and cleaning just until Christmas. May does not want to be sent away from home, but she has no choice. It is August when she arrives. The new bride is not happy about being there and is homesick. One day sometime in August, the new bride runs away and the husband goes out to find her. May is left alone. May waits and tries to continue caring for the home, but hours turns into days, days turns to weeks, and weeks turns to months. During this time, she is struggling to survive with what she has as well as trying to keep up with her schooling as she is dyslexic and has difficulties reading. It truly amazes me what kids were capable of back then. I don't think many children would know how to care for themselves in this way. This was a super quick read and it is written in verse. I read the entire thing in just a couple of hours. ( )

I enjoyed this pioneer story of twelve-year-old May, struggling to survive on her own on the prairies. I also liked her flashbacks at school where she battled with learning difficulties, they made her more relatable and interesting, and showed her resilience and strength of character. May's voice was compelling and I think many readers would identify with her.

Written in verse "May B" was a quick, lyrical read which finished with a sense of hope. ( )

It’s Kansas in the days of horse-drawn wagons and houses made of sod. Mavis Betterly, otherwise known as May B., must go live with the newlywed neighbors and help them keep house. The problem is that the neighbors are fifteen miles away, and May doesn’t want to go. She wants to stay home and continue to improve her reading, a subject she finds very difficult. May goes, only slightly comforted to know that her father will come back right before Christmas to bring her home.

But with months left to stay, the wife leaves, and the husband goes after her. After several days, May realizes they aren’t coming back. She finds herself alone in the house, with wolves out on the prairie, a limited supply of food and firewood, no idea which way is home, and winter fast approaching.

Can May B. survive? Will she believe the people from her past who have told her she’s no good, or will she decide for herself what she’s capable of?

This novel is told in unrhymed verse and moves very quickly. If you like historical fiction and stories of strong, determined kids, spend an afternoon with May B. ( )