Heather’s Bookshelf: Dig Plant Walk Wander
Author: Athie Wolfe
Released: 10/18/25
Genre: Historical Fiction
“I just happen to be standing behind this beautiful maple tree, a living thing which understands, wordlessly, how to live as she wishes. She is not embarrassed by her vibrant, red tresses which she waves in the wind for everyone to see and admire. She meets the gaze of man directly.”
“Dig Plant Walk Wander” takes place in the 1800’s in the newly established United States. Beginning in Maine, the tale follows Elizabeth Nickerson as a first-born daughter growing up with her parents and multiple siblings.
Elizabeth looks to her parents and her faith to guide her into the role expected of a young woman of the time. She helps her mother care for and raise her younger siblings, keeps a clean home and helps with planting and cooking. She yearns for more, but is content with the love she feels for her parents and her siblings.
Suffering loss and feeling pressured to follow through with social expectations, Elizabeth eventually marries Mr. Haskell, a verbose and self-consumed man whose sole focus seems to be on having the support of many sons. When Mr. Haskell decides to move his young family away from Elizabeth’s home and across the country to Wisconsin, Elizabeth feels she must comply.
Will Elizabeth find her footing in the new land? Will she find solace in the role she has reluctantly taken on? Will all of it be enough?
Trigger Warning: racism/prejudice/sexism- consistent with the time period, miscarriage, child death, reference to sexual assault, self-inflicted violence, animal violence
Overall, I was a bit torn on this one. Told mostly through the POV of the main protagonist, Elizabeth, the beginning actually occurs after the events of the rest of the tale and through her parent’s eyes. The beginning tells the end, but intrigues the reader to continue along her journey to see how it all came to be. The rest of the story follows Elizabeth from a child to a young woman and then to a wife and mother. Elizabeth is seemingly a woman born in a time that does not support or accommodate her desire, intelligence, or spirit. She settles into a life of expectance, like her mother before her, and finds the consequences too much to bear. The tale is soul-crushing in a way that feels synonymous with what Elizabeth may have felt. I loved the setting in Maine with references to the wildlife- especially the loons. It also feels authentic to the time with the portions containing historical aspects interesting, but far too few. Instead, the author focuses on countless passages from the bible and poems- scripture meant to highlight Elizabeth’s inner turmoil - and countless inner reflections. The effect is a redundancy that is supported by a tedious and repetitive plot: pregnancy, consequences, repeat. Perhaps purposeful in the way that supports the despair of Elizabeth, it does not allow for a particularly compelling story. What is compelling is the connection to Elizabeth, her feeling of loss and being lost. A change in format to a diary or letters to home may have added more intrigue or suspense. It’s emotional, disturbing, and tragic in a way that highlights events that were likely too rampant and purposeful to identify it’s effect on present-day dynamics. I would have liked to see an epilogue on this one- something that hints at what happens to the next generation, but overall the tale felt complete and final.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A historical fiction that follows a woman in the 1800s who struggles to find her way within the expectation of society at the time. Heartbreaking and emotional, the format was redundant at times.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Athie Wolfe
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