Growing up Alaska

Memories of a Town, a Time, a Place, and a People Planted in a Little Pocket of Wonderful

Non-Fiction - Memoir
156 Pages
Reviewed on 10/08/2015
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Roy T. James for Readers' Favorite

Growing Up Alaska: Memories of a Town, a Time, a Place, and a People Planted in a Little Pocket of Wonderful by Niki Breeser Tschirgi begins with her move to Alaska as a little girl, with a truck, a hundred pounds of wheat, and a grain mill in tow. How that was a dream come true for her dad, and how she enjoyed the land in its pristine beauty; the more or less regular trips to her grandparents in Wisconsin during summer vacations find mention here. So is the excitement permeated by the Water Melon Days, games and dancing, the joy of unwrapping gifts for Christmas, and the fun of ‘airdropped’ ice-cream. She becomes philosophical also, “the odds are good, but the goods are odd.”

From the opening of this book, where Niki says “the reader may roll their eyes to read another Alaska story,” I was looking for a nondescript memoir. On the contrary, Growing Up Alaska turned out to be a surprise; it is an absorbing, vivid description of a life not many people will get to live. Having spent some time in Russia, I can relate to the excitement things like ice-cream and relishing it at subzero temperature can bring to a gathering. She becomes nostalgic too while visiting Alaska later, writing, “Memories rushed back, and my childhood rested before my eyes as I took in the glorious view.” This is an excellent read with delightful anecdotes, making me jealous of those who enjoyed their childhood in such surroundings.