Scattergood

By H. M. Bouwman. Neal Porter Books, 2025. 320 pages. $18.99/hardcover. Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Many Friends know Scattergood as a Friends school near West Branch, Iowa. However, in 1941, when this story takes place, the school was closed and housed refugees from the war in Europe. Scattergood is narrated by Peggy Mott, an almost 13-year-old Iowa farm girl who lives near the school. Peggy helps her father milk cows, and she gathers eggs. It is clear that times are still hard, and her family is working diligently to keep their heads above water. Having skipped a grade, she is about to begin high school.

Peggy is not a Quaker, but her friend and classmate Joe is, and he suggests she come with him to Scattergood, where he is a volunteer. She is a curious young woman and decides to go. There she spends time with a handsome young refugee, Gunther; a professor; and Camilla, a young Quaker volunteer. The book is a coming-of-age story with the usual problems of adolescence, but there is a much more serious problem in Peggy’s life. Her cousin Delia, who is also her neighbor and best friend, has leukemia. As Bouwman makes clear in the story and mentions in the author’s note, at that time, this was almost invariably a fatal diagnosis. Most children with the type of cancer Delia had (acute lymphocytic leukemia) died within a few months. Today about 90 percent of the young people with this diagnosis are cured. Peggy is determined to find a cure for her cousin.

Delia has been told she has anemia. This is a partial truth as anemia is caused by the more serious leukemia. Reading this book could lead to a discussion about when, how, and if a child should be told the truth about her condition. Readers may also notice that even the American characters in the story are not endowed with the possessions taken for granted today. The young Quaker volunteer does have a car, but when she packs to attend college, her belongings easily fit into one suitcase. And of course, the Jewish refugees at Scattergood have few belongings. Young readers will also learn about the months leading up to the U.S. entrance into World War II, as the story takes place from June to December of 1941.

Scattergood is a well-written and well-researched historical novel. At the end of the book, Bouwman recommends further reading, including Out of Hitler’s Reach: The Scattergood Hostel Story by Quaker historian Michael Luick-Thrams, which she credits as being “invaluable” for writing the novel. Prior to publishing his book in 1997, Luick-Thrams wrote an article on the topic for Friends Journal, and more recently he was featured in a QuakerSpeak video about Scattergood’s history.

I believe young people will enjoy reading Scattergood. I do not agree with the publisher’s suggested ages of 10–12, however. I am not sure those at the younger end of the suggested age range will understand or enjoy all of the discussions about dating, romance, or the expectations that led to quick marriages in the 1920s, nor will many have given much thought to fatal diseases. I think this book is more appropriate for ages 12 and up, and if younger, I would suggest an adult read it along with them so they can discuss these topics together as they come up.

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Eileen Redden lives in Delaware and worships with the Lewes (Del.) Worship Group. She serves as the young Friends book review editor for Friends Journal.