THE SPIRIT IS WILLING

by Betty Baker ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 1974

Summer in an Arizona mining town in the 1880's begins with little promise for Carrie, who is tired of peeling potatoes for her pesky brothers and itches under the restrictions imposed on ""young ladies,"" or for her differently romantic friend Portia, who likes to strike theatrical poses and quote from her flowery Dramatic Recitations. It is Carrie of course who drags Portia through the back door of the empty Rough-n-Ready Saloon to see a newly discovered Indian mummy the owner has put on display, but it is flibberty-gib Portia who ""swoons"" upon their discovery and soon causes a ""spiritism"" sensation in town by claiming to have been summoned to the saloon by Chickalimmy, the mummy, in whose name she later makes some impressive prophecies. How resourceful Carrie handles her chores, her brothers, her ambivalent role in the Chickalimmy affair and her reservations about growing up female makes for a rousing story, and Betty Baker summons up String, town's physical presence, social dynamics and domestic particulars so successfully that you'll think she's been there.

Pub Date: March 25, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1974

Categories: FICTION