The Sewing Mom

As a member of Parent Reviewers, I was recently given the opportunity to read a very special book, The Mighty Queens of Freeville and this is my review of the book.

When I was first asked if I would read and then write a review of The Mighty Queens of Freeville, I was under the impression that it was a fictional novel. To my surprise, the book is not a novel, but the memoir of Amy Dickinson, the syndicated advice columnist and contributor to NPR. So, it was with a bit of trepidation that I opened up the cover of the book and began to read the experiences of Amy Dickinson, both as a child and as an adult woman.

Amy’s story as a child, growing up on a small farm, is one that many of us can relate to. Amy’s skill at writing makes it enjoyable to read and drew me in making me feel that I was right there, experiencing it right alongside Amy. Her childhood experiences in a small town in upstate New York built Amy’s character and shaped who she is as an adult and, more importantly, as a mother. You see, Amy is divorced and has been raising her daughter on her own, following in the footsteps of her own mother and aunts, something of a family tradition.

Amy shares her experiences as a child, adult, wife, single mother, daughter, niece, and friend, and does it in such a witty way that she draws the reader right into the stories she’s telling. Amy’s stories are touching, tearful, joyous and sometimes, downright humorous. I haven’t had so much fun reading a book in a very long time and I highly recommend anyone who enjoys reading, to pick up a copy of The Mighty Queens of Freeville for themselves.

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401322859
• ISBN-13: 978-1401322854