Julia's Story

by Ruth Elwin Harris

Book Overview

Four independent-minded sisters come of age in the early 1900s - and four interwoven novels tell their stories, each through a different sister's eyes. The year is 1910, and the four Purcell sisters have only each other. Their mother has died, leaving them orphans in a rambling country estate. But with the help of the Mackenzies - their guardian and his family, whom the sisters come to love in very different ways - Sarah, Frances, Julia, and Gwen find the courage to follow their own paths in a world that is rapidly changing. Avid readers and fans of historical-fiction classics will love these spirited heroines - named "the Little Women of our times" by the TIMES of London - and will be thoroughly absorbed by their intertwining tales, full of feistiness, creativity, and young romance.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763617067
• ISBN13: 9780763617066
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 301 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Wonderful!

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It's the third in the serries and in my opinion, the best. It's about Julia Purcell, who always feels as though she has to live up to her older sister. Then, she meets Geoffrey Mackenzie who always feels as though he has to live up to his older brother. They fall in love during World War One and when Geoffrey goes off to fight and Julia to nurse, they make all possible atempts to meet. The language used by the author is wonderful, the historical background is wonderful and it has a wonderful story. I would recomend reading this serries in order.

Another view on the events..

I remember when these books were first on display at Borders, thinking I wanted to read this one, intrigued by the romance and how pretty the cover was... "Julia's Story" is another interesting installment in the lives of the Purcells. It covers some of the same events from "Sarah's Story" & "Frances' Story" but also lasts a little longer. It ties up what you were left wondering at the end of "Frances' Story". My favorite aspect of all the novels is how each gives a sisters persepective on the walk they took over the Quantocks. My favorite part in the later story would probably be the few days Julia and Geoffrey manage to steal away, to spend time together in Paris. Their romance is a lot more complex than you were led to believe. It just makes the inevitable all the more sad...if you've read the other books, you know what I'm talking about. "Julia's Story" is definitly not a let down. Parts can be quite sad...but so can life. But it ends on a hopeful note. Definitely read these books - all together they are a great story.

World War I as seen from the front

I think this book is the best of the three Quantock Hill stories I've read so far. The scenes in hospitals in France during the war are so real, you feel you are there. As with the other stories, you see some of the same events, but from a different point of view. ... it's a sad story in many ways, and very moving. Definitely read the other books in the series too!

Julia's Story is the probably the best book I've ever read!!

...I got excited, sad, then actually cried. I've never cried while reading a book before. I tried to persuade Julia to say something although I knew it wouldn't matter. This is an extremely sad and compelling book. The sisters have such a strong bond with each other. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND reading this book!!!

GREAT!

I have read the first three of the Sisters of the Quantock Hills books now, and this one is definitely the best so far. If you liked the other books, you'll LOVE this one (as I do). However, this one is more sad than the others (but you'll but prepared for most of what happens by reading the first two). The other books don't say too much about Julia, but this book shows what an amazing character she is. This book is a wider range of time than the others (Sarah's Story and Frances' Story are 1910-1920, Julia's Story is 1910-1930. Julia's age ranges from about 15-35) but its still REALLY good. you also learn more about what happened with Frances and Gabriel. I haven't read Gwen's Story yet, but I hope to very soon!