Love, Mary Elisabeth by Christy Martenson
Everything comfortable about a whimsically relatable childhood, but with magical surprises along the way.

Jenni Marie, photographer and storyteller

An entertaining and original read!

Jennifer Church, teacher, missionary, and voracious reader

From its tender beginning to the heartfelt climax, the author engages her readers with wit, charm, and endurance.

Carmen Peone, award-winning author

Charming, delightful, imaginative; the kind of story that makes you want to travel back in time.

Hannah Acheson, piano teacher and photographer

Keen attention to historical fact and an unparalleled ability to depict the innocence of a young girl’s displaced heart.

Darlene — teacher, photographer, reader, and word weaver

Christy has captured the innocence and joy of a childhood spent navigating the triumphs and trials of country life that is so captivating in classics like Little House on The Prairie.

Emily C. Gardner, book blogger

Love, Mary Elizabeth is sure to capture your heart from its first few letters!

Katie Mae Stanley, writer at Nourishing Simplicity and author of Steeped: Simple Nourishing Teas and Treats

Real-life tales skillfully woven into a fictional setting, these country adventures ring true to life and human nature.

Elisabeth Adams, writer and editor

A story that will capture your attention and imagination--and all with such vivid prose you feel as though you're living it with her.

Chautona Havig, Christian fiction author

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Seattle, Washington
Wednesday, June 4, 1924

Dear Mama,

The train is chug-chugging, carrying me far away from home. Far away from you. Far away from Papa. I’ll send as many letters as I can, like you asked.  It won’t be the same, but if I pretend I’m talking to you maybe it will help…

Love,
Mary Elisabeth

Love, Mary Elisabeth by Christy Martenson

Eleven-year-old Mary Elisabeth’s life will never be the same.

It’s 1924 and her mother has contracted tuberculosis – a deadly, terrifying disease.

Far away in Colorado, a sanatorium holds the only hope of saving her. Papa takes a grueling job at the shipyards in Bremerton to pay for her treatment. Mary Elisabeth must travel 350 miles from home to begin a new life on her uncle’s farm in northeast Washington.

Her only connection to her parents is by letter.

Will that be enough to give her courage to brave the challenges that await?

Love, Mary Elisabeth

by Christy Martenson
featuring illustrations by Amanda Kastner
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Barstow, Washington
Monday, October 20, 1924

Dear Papa,

I have to ask. Is what Denny said true? Is Mama dying? You only say to be brave in your letters. You never tell me how she is. And I haven’t heard from Mama for a long time. I feel scared inside if I think about it.

I wish you were here.

Love,
Mary Elisabeth

Praise for Love, Mary Elisabeth

An innocent and joyful read.

Real-life tales skillfully woven into a fictional setting, these country adventures ring true to life and human nature. An innocent and joyful read.

Elisabeth Adams, writer and editor

Christy Martenson
2017-08-23T22:18:58-07:00

Elisabeth Adams, writer and editor

Real-life tales skillfully woven into a fictional setting, these country adventures ring true to life and human nature. An innocent and joyful read.

An extremely creative author.

Love, Mary Elisabeth is an entertaining and original read. As a teacher who has read thousands of kids' books, I can vouch that this book was written by an extremely creative author!

Jennifer Church, teacher, missionary, and voracious reader

Christy Martenson
2017-09-20T21:37:38-07:00

Jennifer Church, teacher, missionary, and voracious reader

Love, Mary Elisabeth is an entertaining and original read. As a teacher who has read thousands of kids' books, I can vouch that this book was written by an extremely creative author!

Warm, timeless stories.

I loved the warm, timeless stories set against the backdrop of another era. Mary Elisabeth would make a sweet friend for my children in real life, but since that is impossible, we'll enjoy her through the pages of this book.

Jeannie Pederson, writer at Kindred Grace, owner of Heart & Trail

Christy Martenson
2017-09-28T08:18:35-07:00

Jeannie Pederson, writer at Kindred Grace, owner of Heart & Trail

I loved the warm, timeless stories set against the backdrop of another era. Mary Elisabeth would make a sweet friend for my children in real life, but since that is impossible, we'll enjoy her through the pages of this book.

Riveting coming of age account.

Love, Mary Elisabeth is a riveting account of a young girl coming of age and learning love really does hold a family together. From its tender beginning to the heartfelt climax, the author engages her readers with wit, charm, and endurance.

Carmen Peone, award-winning author

Christy Martenson
2017-08-16T02:18:15-07:00

Carmen Peone, award-winning author

Love, Mary Elisabeth is a riveting account of a young girl coming of age and learning love really does hold a family together. From its tender beginning to the heartfelt climax, the author engages her readers with wit, charm, and endurance.

Five stars all the way.

A story that will capture your attention and imagination and won't let them go. Love, Mary Elisabeth tells of a young girl's separation from her parents through her letters to and from them and all with such vivid prose you feel as though you're living it with her. It's a perfect blend of the best of Daddy-Long-Legs and Understood Betsy all wrapped up in one. Five stars all the way.

Chautona Havig, Christian fiction author

Christy Martenson
2017-09-26T16:09:11-07:00

Chautona Havig, Christian fiction author

A story that will capture your attention and imagination and won't let them go. Love, Mary Elisabeth tells of a young girl's separation from her parents through her letters to and from them and all with such vivid prose you feel as though you're living it with her. It's a perfect blend of the best of Daddy-Long-Legs and Understood Betsy all wrapped up in one. Five stars all the way.

An absolute treasure.

Love, Mary Elisabeth is an absolute treasure; the kind of story that makes you want to travel back in time. Charming, delightful, imaginative. I could hardly put it down!

Hannah Acheson, piano teacher and photographer

Christy Martenson
2017-09-26T19:54:08-07:00

Hannah Acheson, piano teacher and photographer

Love, Mary Elisabeth is an absolute treasure; the kind of story that makes you want to travel back in time. Charming, delightful, imaginative. I could hardly put it down!
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Christy Martenson
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The Story Behind Love, Mary Elisabeth

I get the impression my dad was a ring-tailed rascal when he was a boy and kept his parents hopping. Born and raised on a small farm in northeast Washington, even as a three or four-year-old he’d hit the trail, hiking by himself up the hill to their nearest neighbors, the Kearneys. There he found three like-minded brothers to cavort with. Joe, nearest in age, became his particular partner-in-crime, as it were. Between the boys’ escapades and crazy barnyard animal antics, stories emerged that became legendary in the archives of the two families. I grew up on these stories. Read more…

Historical Details Behind Love, Mary Elisabeth

Recipes from Love, Mary Elisabeth

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