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One Came Home Paperback – January 7, 2014

4.4 out of 5 stars 353 ratings

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A Newbery Honor Book

An ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book

Winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Juvenile Novel

“An adventure, a mystery, and a love song to the natural world. . . . Run out and read it. Right now.”—Newbery Medalist Karen Cushman


In the town of Placid, Wisconsin, in 1871, Georgie Burkhardt is known for two things: her uncanny aim with a rifle and her habit of speaking her mind plainly.

But when Georgie blurts out something she shouldn't, her older sister Agatha flees, running off with a pack of "pigeoners" trailing the passenger pigeon migration. And when the sheriff returns to town with an unidentifiable body—wearing Agatha's blue-green ball gown—everyone assumes the worst. Except Georgie. Refusing to believe the facts that are laid down (and coffined) before her, Georgie sets out on a journey to find her sister. She will track every last clue and shred of evidence to bring Agatha home. Yet even with resolute determination and her trusty Springfield single-shot, Georgie is not prepared for what she faces on the western frontier.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, February 2013:
“With its historical backdrop, enjoyable narrative, and endearing heroine, this will appeal both to fans of Philbrick’s The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg and Kelly’s The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.”

Starred Review, School Library Journal, January 2013:
“Timberlake seamlessly integrates information about two significant events that occurred in Wisconsin in 1871… Georgie’s physical and emotional odyssey that occurs between those two events will linger in readers’ minds.”

Starred Review, The Horn Book, January/February 2013:
“…it’s Georgie’s voice that really brings the story to life, with its original, folksy turns of phrase and self-deprecating humor that make it as entertaining to read as a Christopher Paul Curtis novel.”

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2012:
“Georgie's story will capture readers' imaginations with the very first sentences and then hold them hostage until the final page is turned.”

About the Author

AMY TIMBERLAKE is the author of the Newbery Honor book One Came Home, as well as the middle-grade novel That Girl Lucy Moon and picture book The Dirty Cowboy, winner of the Golden Kite Award. Amy has worked as a book reviewer, columnist, and children's bookseller. She grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, and now lives in Chicago. Visit her at AmyTimberlake.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yearling
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375873457
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375873454
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.6 ounces
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 13 years, from customers
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.19 x 0.64 x 7.56 inches
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 6
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 690L
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 353 ratings

About the author

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Amy Timberlake
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AMY TIMBERLAKE'S WORK has received a Newbery Honor, an Edgar, and a Golden Kite Award. She’s had books on the Indie Books Bestseller list, one book was Tattered Covers’ Book of the Year, and reviews have appeared in the New York Times Book Review, The Sunday Times, The Irish Times, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Christian Science Monitor, People Magazine,The Sydney Morning Herald, and also on various radio programs and podcasts. It delights Amy that the Skunk and Badger stories are being translated into fourteen languages. Also, Chicago's Lifeline Theatre has adapted both One Came Home and The Dirty Cowboy for the stage. She's received residency fellowships from Hedgebrook, and The Anderson Center.

Find out more at amytimberlake.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
353 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an engrossing western full of suspense, with well-developed characters and a fantastic job in writing. They consider it an enjoyable read for adults and appropriate for fifth-grade students, with one customer noting it's suitable for coming-of-age themes. The visual style receives positive feedback, with one review highlighting its poetic images, while the pacing receives mixed reactions from customers.

38 customers mention "Story quality"35 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story of this historical novel, describing it as a fantastically fun adventure and western full of suspense.

"This book is very heartwarming because it is about a girl's persistent attempt to find her "dead" sister whom she believes to be alive...." Read more

"...And most glaringly, the book had a perfect, beautiful place to end but then went on for a few more chapters about events that were marginally..." Read more

"This is an absolutely excellent book. The historical fiction features an event I have not seen in other books, but the best part is the story line...." Read more

"...a heroine we can relate to, both strong and vulnerable, smart and questioning...." Read more

33 customers mention "Readability"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as one of the best books of the year and an enjoyable read for adults, with one mentioning it was required reading for an adolescent literature course.

"...Excellent read. I liked this book so well, I bought several copies to give away...." Read more

"Great read! One Came Home is historical fiction, as well as a mystery. Students who enjoy this type of book, will enjoy this story." Read more

"This was a good read. I'd use this in my English class. It would be a good introduction to ornithology and women's education in the 1800s." Read more

"...The characters are normal, loving, beautiful people. It's a very nice read. The story is interesting and keeps your attention...." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"...It's rare to come across a kids' book this compelling and well written from a believable female point of view." Read more

"...the great passenger pigeon migration, One Came Home is a beautifully written novel that draws one in with interesting historic detail, poetic images..." Read more

"...I like the way Amy Timberlake writes.She writes really good and I know a good book.I'm giving it five stars because I love the book!..." Read more

"...It is well-paced and well-written for novel readers from about 4th grade on up. It is also an enjoyable read for adults." Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, particularly noting the strong female character.

"Engrossing story--well developed characters and unpredictable, satisfying plot, connecting with some major events in environmental history." Read more

"...I loved that it had a strong female character and that the premise of the book was an uncommon one...." Read more

"This is your basic heart warming story. The characters are normal, loving, beautiful people. It's a very nice read...." Read more

"...Fast-paced, interesting, and great character development, this novel is worth buying in hard cover...." Read more

6 customers mention "Age range"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suitable for young readers, particularly fifth graders, with one customer noting that both girls and boys will enjoy it equally.

"...Girls and boys will enjoy it equally...." Read more

"...it is a book that is worth reading in is definitely appropriate for the fifth grade...." Read more

"...Must read for coming of age or young adult fiction lovers. And even if you've never read any works in this genre, try this one. Then read her others...." Read more

"...Highly recommend for young (and even old) readers." Read more

5 customers mention "Visual style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual style of the book, describing it as beautiful and interesting, with one customer noting its poetic images.

"...The characters are normal, loving, beautiful people. It's a very nice read. The story is interesting and keeps your attention...." Read more

"...written novel that draws one in with interesting historic detail, poetic images, suspense, deep feeling and a good dose of humor...." Read more

"...It also gives a pretty good depiction of what Midwest life was like back then...." Read more

"...The two make an interesting pair in this action-filled story...." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it well-paced while others describe it as dragging.

"...It is well-paced and well-written for novel readers from about 4th grade on up. It is also an enjoyable read for adults." Read more

"While I concede it was well-written, it was a slog to the end. There are very few happy moments, much less a happy ending." Read more

"My pick for best book of the year. Fast-paced, interesting, and great character development, this novel is worth buying in hard cover...." Read more

"This was a quick, easy read. I read it because one of our local theater groups is going to put on a production. Now I can't wait to see the staging!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    From the very first paragraph, a mystery drives the plot of One Came Home: is Agatha Burkhardt still alive? Embarking on an adventure to prove that she is, her 13-year-old sister, Georgie, ends up facing not only a host of challenges, but also herself. More Caddie Woodlawn than Jason Bourne, Georgie is a heroine we can relate to, both strong and vulnerable, smart and questioning. In her quest for the truth about her sister, Georgie learns a lot about herself and what she believes.

    Set in Wisconsin in 1871, just a few years after the end of the Civil War and during the great passenger pigeon migration, One Came Home is a beautifully written novel that draws one in with interesting historic detail, poetic images, suspense, deep feeling and a good dose of humor. Despite the dead body at the beginning, the story never becomes too heavy as Georgie faces the world with wit and grit and sheds her fears and burdens along the way. I can highly recommend this book to anyone who likes good story.
    17 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A young woman goes missing in 1870s Wisconsin. She is presumed dead from scant physical evidence from a neighboring community which is retrieved by the town’s sheriff. The missing girl’s 13 year old sister refuses to believe that her sister is dead and goes on a horseback road trip that retraces the route that her sister must have taken (looking for any new clues).

    This is a good story about the 13 year old’s ‘coming of age’ during her road trip. It also gives a pretty good depiction of what Midwest life was like back then.

    Additionally, this story also introduces pigeoneers (a word that I never even heard of before this story). Evidentially, there were millions upon millions of wild pigeons (passenger pigeons) that came together every year to roost in the large tracts of native forests that were still standing in Ohio, Wisconsin and all across the Midwest during the latter half of the 1800s. Pigeoneers were the hunters that followed the birds to their roost and slaughtered them by the hundreds of thousands (every year) for sale as delicacies in restaurants along the East Coast. Anyway, the missing girl had run off with a crew of pigeoneers (two men and a woman).

    If you read this book, I’d recommend researching Wisconsin wild pigeons on-line when you’re done with the book. It’s a tragic extinction event that American history kinda forgets about.
    11 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2014
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I loved this story, and could not put the book down. I read it in one sitting while on holiday. The ending could have gone either way and did not impact the story, it simply did not matter what happened to the missing girl. The real story was about the sister, the boyfriend, and growing up. The time period was an interesting choice and I learned much, as no other book talks about the flocks of carrier pigeons. Excellent read. I liked this book so well, I bought several copies to give away. It would be a good story for someone older who likes to read but can't find the time, or possibly someone in a nursing home who has trouble with adult fiction.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book is very heartwarming because it is about a girl's persistent attempt to find her "dead" sister whom she believes to be alive. This book is also filled with unpredictable choices and also surprising facts and choices. What I liked about this book the most was that it was very heartwarming. Sometimes, there would be surprising moments that would interest me more. But in the end, there is a surprising moment (I won't spoil it) that I loved the most. But on the other hand, there is some unneeded challenging vocabulary.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    It's 1871 and the passenger pigeons have drawn a huge crowd to Placid, Wisconsin. But when the pigeoners leave, Georgie Burkhardt's older sister Agatha leaves with them. When Agatha's family realizes she's missing, Sheriff McCabe goes looking for her. He returns a week later with a badly decomposed body with auburn hair the color of Agatha's wearing her beautiful blue-green dress. Although the body can't be identified, everyone who knows Agatha is certain the remains are hers. Except Georgie.

    Before Georgie sets off to find out what really happened to Agatha she needs transportation. As it turns out, she ends up "renting" a mule from Billy McCabe, the sheriff's son and Agatha's former suitor. If riding a mule weren't humiliating enough, Georgie discovers Billy is going to be her partner on this journey. The pair have several adventures, some life-threatening, as they search for clues to Agatha's death.

    Thirteen-year-old Georgie is feisty and stubborn, a crack shot, and something of a loudmouth. Cocky, handsome Billy is surprisingly compassionate and thoughtful. The two make an interesting pair in this action-filled story. An added bonus is the well-researched information about passenger pigeons and the people who hunted them to extinction.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a good read. I'd use this in my English class. It would be a good introduction to ornithology and women's education in the 1800s.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    While I concede it was well-written, it was a slog to the end. There are very few happy moments, much less a happy ending.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Hi my name is Anna I am ten years old. I read way ahead of the level. I like the way Amy Timberlake writes.She writes really good and I know a good book.I'm giving it five stars because I love the book! It's adventurous,a little scary,exciting,and a little sad. I was on the edge of my seat! It is a good book to talk about.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Giles Daniel Coghlan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - Read aloud with my 10 and 8 ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2015
    Great book - Read aloud with my 10 and 8 year old. They loved it - (one boy , one girl)