As an adult Russell Ciulver looks back on the year he was 15 when all he wanted was to cut out of backwoods Indiana and head for the Dakotas. Then it seemed opportunity knocked: "If your teacher has to die," says Russell, "August isn't a bad time of year for it." Surely, he thought a new teacher wouldn't be hired for the half dozen students at Hominy Ridge School. He was forced to think again as his older sister, Tansy, filled the vacancy. She took it on with relish. Tansy had to deal with a snake in her desk and a fire in the boy's privy plus sundry other bits of irritation (some intentional, some not). Tansy was not about to be thwarted, certainly not by Russell or anyone else. The lessons they all learned that year with Tansy go beyond classroom learning and into life lessons. This isn't a book that will send you into stitches every page, but there are some funny parts best appreciated by boys. It was a good story for my children to listen to that reminded them what like would have been like "in the old days".

Gifted voice performer Dylan Baker narrates of this story set in 1904 Indiana is warm and moving.

This is a story the entire family will enjoy. Give a listen and return to simpler times.

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