A really remarkable set of stories about a really remarkable character. Ann is so real that one forgets that she is a work of fiction. A strong yet flawed child who puts others before self and grows into a happy young woman. These stories may strike some as corny or maudlin, but they are so well written that the tales overcome any possibility of becoming cliche. They also give one a good feel of day-to-day colonial life as well, from making candle wiks to keeping your Sunday-go-to-meeting shoes from becoming scuffed and worn to driving the cows home from pasture. This is the second thing by Wilkins that I've read and I've become a big fan. ( )