Two Pre-1900 books for young adults

Cast Upon the Breakers

Dora Deane

Cast Upon the Breakers
by Horatio Alger

---

(at Project Gutenberg)

A young boy in early America finds himself mostly on his own in the world, and without the inheritance that should have rightly been his. However, he uses his wit, honesty and hard work to make his way, even though others are not as scrupulous as he.

Rating: 4/5! It is a period piece, but very good. The reading can be a bit 'simple' at times, but I found it a page-turner in the 'updated tale of fate and morals' sort of way.

Dora Deane
by Mary J. Holmes

---

(at Project Gutenberg)

This book has a girl as the protagonist. It is a kind of 'Cinderella' story, typical of its time, in that the girl's goal is marriage and family. She is 'rescued' from a terrible situation with uncaring, unkind relatives by a wealthy man who has lost his wife and child. She goes from rags to riches and keeps her humility. The rest of the story is how she does not have spite for those who treated her badly, and how they meet their ends. Again, good for a period piece, and more tuned to simpler language and somewhat predictable plot.

Rating: 3.5/5! I own a 1900-era copy of this book, lovingly falling apart at the binding. I bought this copy from a one-room antiques shop when I was seventeen. I recently re-read it, finding the second reading almost as good.