Anna's Gift From the series: Latter-day Daughters By Carol Lynch Williams Aspen Books (Salt Lake City), 1995. Paperback: 68 pages. ISBN: 1-56236-501-0 Suggested retail price: $4.95 (US) Audience: 4th grade gilrs
Reviewed by: Melinda Steadman

There are two authors in the Latter Day Daughter Series, Carol Lynch Williams and Launi K. Anderson. The books focus on young girls and their experiences during the early days of the Church. They draw an association between present day young readers and their historical counterparts. As there are two authors, I received the first two books of the series, and will review them separately.

[Editor: Follow this link to Melinda's review of Launi K. Anderson's Clarissa's Crossing.]

Anna's Gift, by C.L. Williams, is the first in the series. Anna is a ten year old aspiring artist living in Nauvoo with her two younger sisters, Charlette (8) and Sidnie (3), and her father and expectant mother (who has already buried three infants). Because her parents need extra help while Mama rests, they dismiss her drawing as "frittering away time," and forbid her to sketch. One day, after finishing her chores, she goes into town where she sketches Joseph Smith playing a game of marbles with some young boys. When her younger sister, Charlette, tattles on her for drawing and Anna is chastisized by her father, she vows revenge and plots to catch a frog and sneak it into Charlett'es pocket on a Sunday. In the meantime, we become aware of an increase of persecution against the Saints which consists of burning crops, the imprisonment of Joseph Smith, and finally his martyrdom.

Brother Joseph's death and viewing are hard on the family, who had been close friends, and Anna's mother is especially despondent. He son is born whole and healthy, fulfilling the late prophet's blessing, but she continues to mourn Brother Joseph's passing, lamenting that if only she could see his face once more she would be appeased. Charlette retrieves Anna's drawing of Joseph Smith and when her parents see it, not only is her mother comforted, but they are so impressed with her talent that they grant Anna permission to draw again.

William's writing is not as engaging as Anderson's, but she fulfills her purpose of creating an historical world in which her character experiences the sufferings and lifestyle of the early church.

Both books are easy to read and would likely engage a young reader's imagination.

[Melinda Steadman]