Strawberry Girl: A Spirited Tale of Old Florida Farm Life
On the flatwoods of Old Florida, a determined young girl and her family carve a strawberry farm out of the wild backcountry. Lois Lenski’s Strawberry Girl, winner of the Newbery Medal, is a warm and vivid slice of Florida history that has charmed readers for generations.
Set in the Florida backcountry of the early 1900s, the story follows young Birdie Boyer, whose family arrives to grow strawberries, oranges, and sweet potatoes on a patch of scrubland. Birdie dreams of school and a good harvest, but frontier life brings plenty of challenges, from droughts and roaming livestock to a rough-and-tumble neighboring family. Through it all, Birdie’s pluck and kindness shine.
Lenski researched the book by spending time among rural Florida families, and it shows. The novel brims with authentic detail about pioneer farm life, country fairs, hymn-singing, and the hard, hopeful work of making a home in the Florida wilds. It is both a gentle adventure and a loving portrait of a vanished way of life.
Wholesome, spirited, and rich with Sunshine State history, it is a delight for young readers and nostalgic grown-ups alike. Find Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and step into Old Florida.
