Annie F. Johnston's trilogy, including 'Mildred's Inheritance,' 'Just Her Way,' and 'Ann's Own Way,' is a poignant exploration of coming-of-age themes, family dynamics, and societal expectations set in the late 19th century. Johnston's writing style is characterized by vivid descriptions, engaging dialogue, and well-developed characters that resonate with readers. The trilogy offers a glimpse into the lives of three young women as they navigate love, loss, and self-discovery in a rapidly changing world. The novels blend elements of romance, drama, and social commentary, making them both entertaining and thought-provoking reads. Johnston's attention to detail and historical accuracy add depth to the storytelling, immersing readers in the time period and creating a sense of authenticity. Annie F. Johnston's personal experiences and keen observations of human nature likely inspired her to write these compelling novels. Her ability to capture the complexities of relationships and emotions makes her a standout author in the genre. Fans of historical fiction and character-driven narratives will find Johnston's trilogy to be a captivating and enriching reading experience.

Yvonne Pitts explores inheritance practices by focusing on nineteenth-century testamentary capacity trials in Kentucky in which disinherited family members challenged relatives' wills. These disappointed heirs claimed that their departed relative lacked the capacity required to write a valid will. These inheritance disputes criss-crossed a variety of legal and cultural terrains, including ordinary people's understandings of what constituted insanity and justice, medical experts' attempts to infuse law with science, and the independence claims of women. Pitts uncovers the contradictions in the body of law that explicitly protected free will while simultaneously reinforcing the primacy of blood in mediating claims to inherited property. By anchoring the study in local communities and the texts of elite jurists, Pitts demonstrates that 'capacity' was a term laden with legal meaning and competing communal values about family, race relations and rationality. These concepts evolved as Kentucky transitioned from a conflicted border state with slaves to a developing free-labor, industrializing economy.

Our Little Scotch Cousin by Blanche McManus is a collection of lively adventure tales about Donald and Sandy, two young Scottish lads having fun in their neighborhood. Excerpt: "Hello! Sandy, what do you think I have got here?" called Donald, over the low wall which separated his garden from that of his chum. He was quite excited..."

'Our Little Swedish Cousin' is a children's novel written by Claire Martha Coburn. It is part of a series intended to introduce American children to other cultures outside their country, as told from the lens of another child, albeit fictional. In this installment, the focus is on Sweden, with the child introducing us to this Scandinavian country being a little girl named Sigrid.