Well, if I hadn't seen a different cover, I never would have picked up this book as I am not into YA lit. This really wasn't bad--a bit tedious at times, but it was really short. It's set in 1883 on a farm in Vermont and is based on a true story. Sue Gorham is tired of taking on so much of the household work while her sister Claire is treated like a delicate flower. After an illness, Claire realized that it was great to be pampered and excused from any work, so she keeps playing the hypochondriac, feeding into her mother's anxiety that she will develop consumption. She also gets treated to vacations in the White Mountains by her wealthy aunt, coming home with fancy new clothes and affected airs. Sue finds a brief diary written by her father during the Civil War. She obsesses over it, hiding it under her mattress and rereading it constantly, trying to figure out what exactly happened. This heightens her nerves, and she develops a bad case of vertigo. Suddenly, she is the pampered invalid, and Claire, with the loan of her aunt's maid, is stuck with all the work. Sue enjoys this immensely and even hides the fact that she is starting to feel better.

Meanwhile, a firebug has destroyed several barns and the schoolhouse. When the Gorham's barn is set afire, Sue springs out of bed and into action, riding a horse rapidly through the surrounding area to alert neighbors that help is needed. While she is considered something of a hero, when she returns to the house, Claire has again taken to her bed. At this point, their mother knows that Claire is faking and that she has encouraged her behavior, but she says it is too late to do anything about it, and Sue accepts her lot.

So a simple story of two sisters jealous of one another and trying to get out of work by playing sick. Aside from that, the author gives a good view of farm life in the period. As I said, it wasn't bad, but probably more interesting to someone 12 or 14. ( )