Sonja II: Summer On the Farm
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
In 1939 people living on the plains of
Mama and Grandma looked toward the north where black clouds were rolling and tumbling. “Ya, looks bad,” said Grandma, as a finger of lightning jabbed toward earth.
Sonja and Mama followed Grandma into the porch. Sonja pushed her stool up to the windows between Mama and Grandma. All three watched the sky fill with clouds. . . . “I see Daddy coming home with the Hart Parr,” said Sonja. The tractor peeked through a cloud of dust. . . . Grandpa put Annie and the dogs in the barn. With his head down, he grabbed the corner of his hat, shielded his eyes from blowing dirt, and hurried toward the house.
. . . Across the yard chickens flapped their wings and scooted into the chicken house. Wind whipped the tree branches to and fro. A lone bucket flew across the yard. . . . Sonja blinked as lightning forked across the sky and held her ears when thunder crashed. “I’m scared,” she whimpered. . . .
Mama gasped. “Look, there’s a funnel cloud.”
“What’s a funnel, Mama?”
“Tornado,” said Mama. “It went back up.”
Daddy ran across the yard and plunged through the door. “This is a humdinger of a storm,” he said. . . . “I see it again!” Sonja grabbed Grandma’s shoulder.
The family watched as the twisting finger stabbed the earth scaring up dirt and weeds.
“It’s coming!” screamed Sonja.
Dust rose in a black blur as the twister careened across the prairie. It picked up debris and tossed it about like paper. The cloud of dust rose higher and higher into the sky as the twister spun on.
“It looks like it’s gone,” said Daddy, as the funnel was sucked back up into the sea of boiling black. . . . Suddenly the air became still. Then a sheet of rain began moving across the prairie toward them.
The wind began again, rattling the windowpanes and banging the screen door. Sheets of water splashed against the windows.
“LOOK!” yelled Sonja.
White balls of ice hammered and thumped against the house. They splashed in the water collecting in the yard.
“I want it to stop,” complained Sonja. . . . “Come look at this,” called Mama from the bedroom.
Sonja squeezed in front of Mama. “It’s a river!”
In a few weeks it was time to harvest the wheat that wasn’t damaged by the hail.
On Monday they started cutting wheat. Sonja rode on the platform at the back of the header with Grandpa. She heard the sickle zip back and forth on the front of the header. It was sharp and chopped the wheat stalks off near the ground and landed them on a wide canvas belt running along the bottom of the header. The belt moved the wheat into the header barge. It was a big wagon with one high side and high ends. The side ne
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Sonja burst out of the door. She skipped down the lane and out the gate with Annie right behind her. She looked across the green prairie that stretched as far as she could see.
Scattered white clouds, looking like puffs of Annie’s wool, floated in the blue sky. A cloud of dust chased the tractor where Grandpa was tilling a field. “Let’s go see Grandpa.” Sonja took off across the prairie.
Summer was beginning for Sonja and Annie, her pet lamb.
Enjoy Sonja’s love for her pet lamb.
Share her shock when she learns her teacher is leaving. Celebrate with her when she meets her new teacher.
Picture her wonder when she and a neighbor gaze at the moon and imagine the day when man might travel there.
Listen to hail pounding on the roof as it threatens all living plants. Tremble as a tornado careens across the prairie.
Imagine Sonja’s excitement when she spends a week in
Hear the clang of the street car and feel the thrill of an elevator ride. Laugh with her as she enjoys the antics of monkeys at the zoo.
Sense her dread when she hears an argument that might upset her world.
Learn with her as she discovers how old-time harvest machines work. Feel the itch of wheat beards as chaff blows down her back off the thundering threshing machine.
Learn about bandits that traveled the
Feel her curiosity as she meets an Indian for the first time. Share her horror when he is in danger.
Grieve with her as she experiences the loss of something she loves.
Travel with Sonja as she experiences joy, wonder, sadness, and healing.
About the Author
The author grew up on a "homestead" on the prairie in Morgan County, Colorado during the 1930's and 1940's. She attended a one-room school and liked it so much that she decided she wanted to be a teacher. When she grew up she fulfilled her dream and taught elementary school.
She is now retired and writes books for children. "Sonja, Growing Up On the Prairie" is the first of four books she has written about her childhood.
Norma lives in Fort Morgan, Colorado with her husband and great-grandson.