The Ballad of Lucy Whipple

1. Bibliography

Cushman, Karen. 1996. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780395728061

2. Plot Summary

California Morning Whipple, later Lucy Whipple, hates Lucky Diggins, California. Her mother has taken her, her three siblings, and Sweetheart the mule from their life in Massachusetts to California after her Pa and youngest sibling die from pneumonia. Lucy wants nothing more than to go back home to Massachusetts, so while she helps her mother run a boarding house, which initially only consists of tents, for the miners hoping to get lucky and strike gold, she sells pies and does other things for the miners in order to make and save up money to book it back to Massachusetts. In the end, she finds her home in Lucky Diggins as the town librarian, realizing that she had found her home after months of wanting to leave.

3. Critical Analysis

Lucy Whipple's voice is strong, with very lively narration that takes the reader through the life of a family hoping to make a new start during the California Gold Rush. Her thoughts and desires are expressed through her letters to Massachusetts, from her desperately wanting to go home in the beginning to detailing her life to her Gram and Grampop. Lucy is forced to hunt and shoot animals when she would rather read Ivanhoe again (and again) and she has to converse with the rough miners who come in search of gold where she learns phrases such as "gol durn" and "dag diggety."  

The California Gold Rush was a time in 1849 when people were desperate to strike it rich. People come and go from Lucky Diggins, some die, including Lucy's brother, Butte, and Lucy has to learn how to adapt to this life that she does not want. The tents, the heat, the dirt, the nothingness of Lucky Diggins is emphasized by Lucy's disdain for the place. Kushman explores the theme of change in this story and how, even though you may not be happy with a change at first, some great things can come from said change. 

4. Review Excerpt(s)

From Kirkus Reviews: "With a story that is less a period piece than a timeless and richly comic coming-of-age story, Cushman remains on a roll."
From Publishers Weekly: "Over years of toil and hardship, Lucy realizes, somewhat predictably, that home is wherever she makes one." 

5. Connections

The students can perform a skit where they play a miner coming to California in hopes of striking gold. 
This book can start a discussion about the social issues present in the narrative. 
Enjoy other Karen Cushman works:

• The Midwife's Apprentice. ISBN 9781328631121
• Catherine, Called Birdy. ISBN 9781328631117