Danny and Life on Bluff Point
by Mary Ellen Lee

Format: Paperback
Size: 0.58" x 8.31" x 5.46"
Pages: 179
ISBN: 1891929208
Published: Four Seasons Publishers Aug-1999

Reviews

A Boy's Story of Home and History
-from bn.com by Halltek@aol.com
Reading Danny and Life on Bluff Point I was amazed to find between its covers a story warm with sincerity and innocents. The rich word pictures produced by the author unfolds a story in the life of ten year old that is delightful reading for young and mature alike. The authors simplicity in writing to produce her main character is a pleasant reading break in today's super paced techno society. I read every word in delightful anticipation of the next.

Danny & Life on Bluff Point
-from Amazon.com by Alice Reynolds
Danny & Life on Bluff Point is a delightful story of farm life in upstate New York State in the 1890s. As readers share 10-year-old Danny's everyday life, we can feel the essence and warmth of family life and values of this loving, caring family. Today's children reading this book can learn how life was different in Danny's time but how the attitudes toward family and community are still very necessary in their growth years as they become responsible adults in our world. Danny has chores to do but he also has fun. I hope he doesn't grow up too soon! I am anxiously awaiting the author's next "Danny" book.

JJ's Review of 'Danny and Life on Bluff Point
-from Amazon.com by James Joy
Danny and Life on Bluff Point is an excellent book for young teens. It is the story of a young boy and his family growing up in the late 1800s in Central New York State. It shows how life was very different for people 100 years ago. There was no Nintendo or internet. So, the kids had to use their imagination to amuse themselves. The kids had to do chores on a daily basis to help the family survive, not just to earn an allowance. It told of dangers that just don't exist for today's kids like cougars. However, there were also lessons that pertained to today's kids. Danny had to deal with a bully at school and this book showed that there are other ways to deal with problems other than force. And, of course, this book taught the importance of family life.

Typical Boy, Not So Ordinary Situations
-from TCM-CA.com by Dr. Tami Brady
Danny and Life on Bluff Point is a story based upon the real life accounts of her grandfather in 1894. The authorÕs father, Danny, is an average ten year old boy who yearns to become a man and make his parents proud. The only son in the family with three sisters who try his patience. A boy who does okay in school but has a bully that makes his life miserable. Basically, Danny is a pretty typical boy who finds himself in not so ordinary situations like coming face to face with a cougar.

Danny and Life on Bluff Point is reminiscent of the truly timeless historical fiction accounts about the old west and life in early America that continues to intrigue every new generation of readers. That the stories are based upon true events and that the characters are realistic helps add a fresh aspect to this traditional type of literature.

Simply Written, but Leaves a Lasting Impression
-from InTheLibraryReviews.net by Joyce Handzo
What better way to experience history than through a firsthand account! Author Mary Ellen Lee has loosely based this novel on her grandfather's journals. She has creatively combined some real-life people and events with a dash of fiction to bring young readers a taste of this time period.

Ten-year-old Danny lives on a large fruit and livestock farm in upstate New York. The year is 1894 and life is decidedly different than today. These pages chronicle his everyday actions as he helps out at home, interacts with his parents and three sisters, and goes to a nearby school. Written in the first person, young readers will see things through Danny's eyes and might find their own eyes blinking in astonishment!

The book has a delightful cozy and conversational feel as Danny recounts ordinary events. His daily routine starts with many farm chores and ends with a family supper. A description of his school and studies, as well as his recreational activities, all provides a true sense of the time period. Danny's life is physically hard, and as a small boy he often struggles with the tasks that are set before him. His perseverance and courage provides many excellent examples for young readers to follow. Danger is often before him, which is seen with startling clarity as he comes face to face with a cougar. He also deals with a bully at school, and takes a higher approach to solving this problem than just using his fists.

This book is simply written, but leaves a lasting impression. These pages offer a fresh look into our own world, as it was over 100 years ago. Danny's family life and activities subtly speak of profound issues like morality, honesty and faithfulness. Young readers will spend their time wisely and wonderfully with Danny.

Compelling Read... Highly Recommended...
-from ScribesWorld.com by Molly Martin
The recital opens with Ma admonishing Danny to eat his breakfast. Small for his age, Danny is the brunt of his sistersÕ teasing. It is December in the 1890s New York State, and Danny and his father are preparing to go to the woodlot to get a load of logs to take to the family mill. The woodlot with stacks of seasoned logs ready for cutting into stove lengths, a cougar in a tree, working at the mill, using the windmill to run the buzz saw, splitting wood into kindling with a hatchet and stacking wood for use during the winter, are all part of a dayÕs work. Berkshire pigs, listening to Pa read aloud in the evening, chores to do even on Sunday, one full bath a week, church service at the school house, and visiting with family after service, are enjoyed by the family. A red fox with snow on the ground, and a spirited team hitched to the cutter, can spell disaster if the horses Ôspook.Õ Trudging the Ôlong wayÕ in the snow, Ruthie, Mary and Danny go to school where Billy Marshall seethes with anger that Danny gets to attend school every day while Billy must work on his familyÕs farm and can attend only sporadically. Great Uncle Jerome and his tales of the Ôwar of the rebellion,Õ horse care lessons, skating on the frozen pond, Buster attacked by the cougar, and a scream from a panic stricken horse are all part of this spell binding account.

ÔDanny and Life on Bluff PointÕ is a compelling read rooted in the authorÕs GrandfatherÕs journal musings. Author Lee relates that the family persons alluded to in the story are real. Danny is based on the authorÕs father. The locations noted are factual, and many of the houses mentioned continue to be used today.

Farm life in New York state during the 1890s was filled with hard work, few conveniences in the sense we know today, familial trust and belonging, and joyous times. The spirit of the era, the warmth of family life and values of the characters portrayed are all brought to life under the skilled pen of writer Lee.

Readers will enjoy meeting Clara the cat, Buster the collie, sisters Ruthie, Mary and Carolyn, Ma and Pa, Uncle Jerome and Aunt Liz, Uncle Henry and Aunt Mertie, and Cousin Jay. Readers will come to know something of Cousin William Fenner, bully Billy Marshall, Doc and Uncle Ed, and Belgians Kit and Bess, or Jim and Dan draft horses hitched to wagons or bobsleds. Cooking and heating the house with wood is not often found in homes today. Stoves downstairs, stove pipes and register carry heat to the rooms upstairs. Eggs and butter to sell, machine threshed beans sold by the bushel, cows getting loose, Christmas shopping and the whole community meeting at the school for a community Christmas social will enthrall middle grade readers.

No TV, no video games, and few Ôstore boughtÕ goods all speak of a time and place now all but forgotten. That these anecdotes are based upon true events and real people are a delight for teachers as they endeavor to bring Ôsocial studiesÕ alive in the classroom. Some situations offered in the story; solving conflicts, dealing with bullies in a positive way, overcoming challenges, cooperation within family and community, old time family fun and caring are values valued then and valued today. This is a book I will use in my classroom. I know the children will enjoy hearing it read aloud and will want to read it again for themselves. Pencil drawings sprinkled throughout the work add to reader understanding and enjoyment.

Excellent addition to the personal reading list for the 8 to 13 set, school library, home reading shelf and classroom library. ÔDanny and Life on Bluff PointÕ will provide a focus for discussion groups regarding life in the United States a century ago.

Enjoyed the read, and am happy to recommend for the middle grade reader and adults who enjoy historical tails.

An Enchanting Story of Childhood in the Late 1800s
-from AllBookReviews.com by Elaine Fuhr
Ten year old Danny is very small for his age, and not very strong. This fact bothers him greatly. Still, he works very hard on the farm where he, his mom and dad and three sisters live. He does his chores and helps his father, along with the hired man, in the woodlot during the winter. Danny loves his family, including his aunts, uncles and cousins, visiting whenever he gets a chance and helping where he is needed. He enjoys his life on the farm and encounters many adventures. For all his small size, Danny is far more capable then he knows.

Out working with his dad, Danny takes a break to look for deer. His dad will need to shoot one for their meat this winter. He encounters a cougar that is also watching the deer. Lucky for Danny, the cougar is far more interested in the deer, but the warning he is able to give to his Dad helps tremendously as the cougar continues to hunt close to their home. An incident with their team of horses proves how brave Danny is when faced with the need for his quick actions and his small size, but dealing with a bully is almost more than he can handle.

Mary Ellen Lee has delved deeply into her family history to develop an enchanting story of childhood in the late 1800s. She brings her delightful characters, particularly Danny, to life through his thoughts, emotions and an in depth knowledge of life for rural children in that time period. This novel, recommended reading for children 8 to 12 years, would be a perfect addition to any school or classroom library. This is book one in the series.