Beth's Wonder-Winter: A Story

Eleven-year-old Beth Bristead has never known anything beyond her quiet New England village and the practical care of her great-aunt Rebecca. She dreams in aprons and make-believe, finding wonder in the simplest things. Then comes an invitation that will change everything: her wealthy uncle in New York City wants Beth to spend the winter with his family. Stepping off the train into a world of servants and opulence, Beth encounters a life she never imagined possible. Yet what makes this 1914 novel endure is not the glitter of Manhattan wealth but the quiet tension of a gentle heart navigating unfamiliar terrain. She meets her sophisticated Aunt Alida, her cousins, and discovers that fitting in means more than just wearing pretty dresses. Taggart captures something timeless: the ache of wanting to belong while holding onto who you are, and the courage it takes to stay honest in a dazzling world.