Real-Life Orphan Train Saga Inspires New Young Adult Novel “The Bonnet Book”
Industry: Books
Solificatio announces publication of novel "The Bonnet Book," based on real-life saga of author Nancy Menees Hardesty's grandmother, an orphan train child.
San Francisco, CA (PRUnderground) September 2nd, 2020
“An engrossing tale and a wonderful tribute to the author’s formidable grandmother, an admirable character, fully drawn. A very engaging read.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The Bonnet Book truly portrays the realistic and accurate experiences of America’s 350,000 orphan train riders. A delightful read that speaks to the indomitable American spirit!”
— John Shontz, National Making a Difference Project: The Orphan Train Saga
Torn from her family and sent away on an orphan train,
a young girl pursues opportunity, purpose, and love
in the Wild West.
Solificatio announces publication of the young adult historical fiction novel The Bonnet Book, based on the real-life saga of author Nancy Menees Hardesty’s grandmother.
Sent away on an orphan train at fourteen, Blanche Spencer lands in St. Louis, Missouri as a nursemaid, wearing rags and sleeping in a pantry. To rise above her servitude, she begins a self-education program. A trade booth at the 1904 World’s Fair and a Cobden, Illinois apprenticeship launch her into a hat-making career, which she documents in a tiny diary, The Bonnet Book.
An early example of self-determination and girl power, Blanche—now Bonnie—travels alone to the Wild West. Presented with the chance of a lifetime and the possibility of love, Bonnie discovers that both are rife with challenges testing her drive, purpose in life, and sense of self.
About the Author
Nancy Menees Hardesty spent six years researching and writing her debut novel, The Bonnet Book. She had various family journals and artifacts and the extensive help of her mother, Mary Kay Menees, daughter-in-law of the book’s protagonist, Bonnie Spencer.
Selected Praise
“In this historical novel, a teenager becomes a reluctant passenger on the orphan train in 1902. Hardesty’s book…is a very engaging read. Blanche is an admirable character, fully drawn. An engrossing tale and a wonderful tribute to the author’s formidable grandmother.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“The Bonnet Book truly portrays the realistic and accurate experiences of America’s 350,000 orphan train riders. Author Nancy Menees Hardesty perfectly captures the independent spirit of a young American woman who, like all orphan train riders, began life with seemingly insurmountable disadvantages, but who…prevails through hard work and unabashed persistence. A delightful read that speaks to the indomitable American spirit!”
— John Shontz, Project Coordinator, National Making a Difference Project: The Orphan Train Saga
“An engrossing and enlightening work that blends real history with a youthful sense of adventure… Young adult audiences and adult readers alike will certainly fall in love with this story. I highly recommend The Bonnet Book for all ages of historical fiction fans.”
— K.C. Finn, Readers’ Favorite, 5-Star Review
Details
Simultaneous release in paperback and e-book.
Title: The Bonnet Book: Diary of an Orphan Train Hatmaker
Author: Nancy Menees Hardesty
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
ISBN: 978-0997761948
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Pages: 402
Price (paperback): $11.99
Price (e-book): $8.99
Size: 5.25” x 8.00”
Publisher: Solificatio
About Solificatio
San Francisco-based Solificatio provides book marketing and publicity services to traditionally published and independent authors.
