This book is about a farm girl's life in the 19th century that is centered around

the borning room. The borning room is a room just for giving birth and dying.

The room is rarely used, but when it is used the lives of the people inside

suddenly change.

The first event in the borning room is the birth of the little girl's baby

brother. This was a strange event because an African American runaway who

the girl was hiding without her parents knowing was the person who

delivered the baby. After she successfully delivered the baby the runaway

headed for Canada. The next event that took place in the borning room was

the death of her grandfather. This was a really bad time for her since she

knew her grandfather so well. She wished so much for him to come back, but

of course he doesn't. His death brought her to remember the many things her

grandfather did. For example the time he met Ben Franklin.

Then there was the birth of another baby that died during birth. At that

time every one was sad except they were even more saddened by the death of

her mother. This was a really bad time for them all it took a long time for all

of them to get over it. They all keep referring back to her and suddenly feel

saddened all over again.

By then the girl is not so young anymore and she is giving birth to her

own baby. While giving birth she keeps thinking of her mother which helps

her push the baby out. Then before she knows it the baby is out and in her

arms. After a while she has many children and her children have children, so

she is a grandmother. The book never tells us that she died, but at the end

she invites her family home and starts talking to them. The way she talks to

them is a clue that she is soon going to die.