What do you think?
Rate this book
When the Water Runs: Growing Up with Alaska
Audrey Purkeypile was born in northern Alaska in 1927 during a remarkable era of Alaskan history. Surrounded by the wondrous beauty of untamed land, Audrey s parents raised their family alongside the affable Eskimos, daring bush pilots, and rugged trappers and gold miners. They contributed to the development of the Territory of Alaska in their diverse roles as teacher, postmaster, health officer, and reindeer superintendent. In this poignant memoir, author Cheryl Schuermann has captured the delightful stories of her mother s childhood in When the Water Runs. Audrey s memories and life lessons learned will provide readers with an inside look at a young girl s experiences as she grows up with Alaska, America s last frontier.
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2008
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 28, 2024
I enjoyed reading about such an interesting life. It is well written, and I loved the voice of the main character. I am a big fan of historical fiction based on real people.
June 24, 2013
There just aren't many books out there about growing up in the days when Alaska was a territory. I was so happy to find this one, and it's even better than I had hoped.
Audrey Purkeypile was born in an Eskimo village above the North Pole, in 1927. Her parents were teachers at a government school, and they also helped manage the reindeer herd and offered medical care for the Eskimo village. The book was written by Audrey's daughter, but in first person as if Audrey were telling the story herself. She talks about the land and the endless winters without the sun, and the local people and their culture. Unlike some books, which view the locals as savages, Audrey and her family viewed the Eskimo villagers and their culture with respect and affection.
The story follows Audrey through the rest of her childhood, college and marriage, but the best parts are about the way life was in the Eskimo village and later in a mining camp.
This was an excellent book, but too short - I was sad when it ended.
Audrey Purkeypile was born in an Eskimo village above the North Pole, in 1927. Her parents were teachers at a government school, and they also helped manage the reindeer herd and offered medical care for the Eskimo village. The book was written by Audrey's daughter, but in first person as if Audrey were telling the story herself. She talks about the land and the endless winters without the sun, and the local people and their culture. Unlike some books, which view the locals as savages, Audrey and her family viewed the Eskimo villagers and their culture with respect and affection.
The story follows Audrey through the rest of her childhood, college and marriage, but the best parts are about the way life was in the Eskimo village and later in a mining camp.
This was an excellent book, but too short - I was sad when it ended.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews