“Ernestine’s Way” is a lovely  historical fiction picture book about neighbors helping neighbors-  set in war time (rouglhly 1942)  in the Great Smokey Mountains.   “I’m five years old and a big girl” says Ernestine.” So Ernestine’s mother asks her to carry two mason jars full of milk from their dairy cow, Ole Peg, to neighbors who live a distance away.  “It won’t be easy,” mother warned.  “You’ll have to walk through the thickets of crabapple and blackberry by the creek, down the path of prickly goseberry and honeysuckle, past the vines of climbing bitterweet, into the valley of doghobble and devil’s walking stick, and through the barbed witrre fence.” Ernestine meets a few critters along the way but reassures herself by saying, “I’m five and I’m a big girl.”  All goes well until Ernestine drops one of the mason jars filled with milk . . .

“Ernestine’s Way” is based on a story that was told to the author by a friend who lived in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The story is  filled with building tension, but not in a way that would be scary to a young child, but  enough to make you wonder if Ernestine can  indeed complete the long  trek to the  neighbor’s house. The ending is a surprise which is delighful and unexpected!

This book could well be utilized with even older children when learning about life in the Great Smokey Mountains during the years of WW 11. Younger children would find the story interesting and entertaining as well.

The illustrations depict the lushness of a deep mountain holler, and are a bit whimsical.

Reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School, Portland, ME