Effie Ogilvie: the story of a young life (Complete)

"Effie Ogilvie: The Story of a Young Life" by Mrs. Oliphant, explores the trials of a young girl named Effie as she deals with tough family relationships while growing up in Scotland, focusing on her connections with her father, stepmother, and brother. The story shows her battles with who she is and where she fits in, especially because she's growing up in a family where her dead mother is always remembered. At the start of the book, we learn about Effie’s family, including her kind father, her distant stepmother, and her brother Eric, who is in the army. We discover the sad backdrop of loss and change, since Effie's mom has died recently, and the family shifts with a new mother figure. Effie's deep feelings of sadness and missing her mom really affect the mood of the story. As Effie thinks about her life and the people in it, her talks with Uncle John, the family minister, help us understand her better and suggest how she will change as she deals with love and expectations.