Fun Revolutionary War Story!!
594142
I love the revolutionary war time period and reading about it as well. I really enjoyed this book! I thought the time travel was really fun, I wish something like that would happen to me! Haha! I felt like I was there with the characters back in time.
3035030
This is a wonderful blend of love, faith, and family relationships and history. It shows events leading up to the Revolutionary war. I loved the history and the story. I look forward to the next book in this series.
1512535
"Gone to Meet the British" is the sequel to "Patriots" and can be enjoyed as a continuation of the story of Danforth Reed and Ebenezer Dunham, or as a tale that stand on its own.  Both teen-agers and adults can learn many unusual and fascinating details about Revolutionary War times, in the lively and fast-moving narrative style of Mr. Edgar.  In addition, the reader is introduced to Molly Cameron, the beautiful, fearless daughter of a British soldier, whose life becomes enmeshed with those of Danny and Eben.

Mr. Edgar's female characters are strong, vocal, and courageous, providing terrific role models for young female readers.  The author makes it obvious that both sexes were an integral part of the founding of our nation.  As in "Patriots" there is subtlety in the story-telling, and no sense that war is a glorious pursuit.

In contrast to today's modern warfare the rules of war during these times seem simple and humane.  British prisoners of war could be put to work on American farms, to ease the prison population, and give assistance to those who are struggling to make a living from agriculture with most of the male population away fighting the war.  To emphasize how important farming was during these times, there is the incident of an aging farm owner who continued to gather his harvest, even in the heat of enemy fire!

Those fighting the war had to implement very makeshift arrangements during battle, such as tucking corn husks into their hat bands to be able to distinguish friend or foe during fighting.  This was because of the lack of uniforms.

Living twelve miles from Hartford, Connecticut, it was also enjoyable to follow the action of "Gone to Meet the British" to Hartford and its surrounding area.  Locally known names, such as the "Courant" newspaper, Knox Tavern, and Governor Trumbull brought the story close to home.

This historical novel can serve as an excellent springboard for discussion in middle school classrooms, or as independent reading that will both inform and entertain.  As a teacher I heartily endorse "Gone to Meet the British", as both a thoroughly researched and lively portrait of the days of the Revolution.  As well, it is just plain great story-telling!
1552910
I love time travel books and was excited to find this series.  Zane and Emilie were great characters and i loved their story.  This book has adventure and excitement.  This is written during the revolutionary war.  not my favorite time period, but this book was a surprising delight for me!  i actually enjoyed reading about this time period and had fun seeing Zane and Emilie fit into this time they got thrown into.  Zane, not wanting to be there, fought against it and then totally embraced it!  I loved seeing his progression of changing from more of a selfish yuppie to someone that cared about people around him.  i really enjoyed barbara bretton's style of writing.  the characters were well written and i couldn't put the book down.
1737462
A wonderful story of "Private Sam" who is actually Samantha Woods who joins the Union Civil War as Samuel Woods.  It was fun watching the romance grow between Sam and Jake, even before Jake discovered Sam's secret.

Also enjoyed the character of Big John!

While the book was a page turner, there were a couple of things that prevented the five stars, though they may seem petty to some.

There are no chapters!  I've gotten used to Kindle telling me how many minutes left in a chapter, so I know whether I need to take a break to do something boring, like get dinner ready!  Yes the book is separated by sections, but it's just not the same.  There was a few typos, but nothing major.

And last, I just didn't care for the ending, yes it wrapped up Sam's long life, and told us what happened to Jake and and the others, but I would of preferred a little more of the romance of Jake and Sam.
2194432
This was my first by Laviolette and I believe it is her debut novel. It's a great first book and a wonderful love story! I'll definitely be looking for more of hers. If you like a well-written historical romance that will put you into the time of America's Revolutionary War, this is a good one! It spans the years 1773-1780, as Laviolette takes us deep into what happened in South Carolina during that time. I love a romance with rich historical detail and real (as well as fictional) characters, especially when combined with a dashing hero and a strong, independent heroine--and I was not disappointed in this one.

As the story opens, it's 1773 and the Colonies are on the brink of war with England. "Loyalists" and "Rebels" are beginning to square off against each other in South Carolina. Today we think of the war as between England and the young American nation, but it wasn't so clear then. People loyal to the Crown who considered themselves Americans lived next door to those "rebels" who considered themselves patriots. Sometimes this occurred even in the same family.

Liliana ("Lily") Dunmore considered herself a patriot (while her family purportedly was Loyalist) until she met Lieutenant Bennett Davenport, a British Naval officer who happened to be in her home of Charles Town. Though Bennett is wildly attracted to the beautiful and tempestuous Lily Dunmore (who is crazy about him), he expects to inherit a title as a Baronet and knows he cannot marry a commoner, especially a Colonial. The war will tear their budding love asunder and years will pass before they are brought together, but what a sweet ending.

I highly recommend this one and think you will like it, too! Oh and I understand that Laviolette is writing Hunter's story--now that should be worth waiting for.
4665099
Loved it. Learned so much about the time around the Revolutionary War. Highly recommend.
1595143
As a native of North Carolina, I only know a little about the history of the state during the Revolutionary War.  So reading Suzanne Adair's series on Michael Stoddard and the American Revolution has been both entertaining and fun.  Learn a little history while exploring a mystery set in colonial America
2520160
This appears to have been a very well-researched and quite detailed history of this last phase of the Revolutionary War.  It's told in a gripping, page-turner manner making it quite exciting.  It is decidedly not a "dry as dust" historical tome!
3078504
Great read! Loved the story line and protagonists. It was the last chapter before I was sure how it was going to end. Wow! Love a story like this one! The fact the author really knows her history was an added bonus. The Revolutionary War tore families and neighbors apart just as the Civil War did.
1104240
I recently finished A Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund (received a free-for-review e-copy from Bethany Publishing), and it was possibly my favorite one from this author so far.  Jody Hedlund has a terrific skill for bringing characters to life and telling an exciting story, while at the same time addressing tough questions of morals and ethics.  A Rebellious Heart is set in the pre-Revolutionary War era, in New England.  In history class we all learn about the events that led up to our founding fathers' rebellion against the king of England, but this story brings to light some of the struggles the colonists faced because of the king's tyranny.  It also raises questions of conscience, such as "When is it ok to break the law?" and "Is doing the right thing in the face of danger worth the risk?"
I thoroughly enjoyed both the story, and the thought-provoking questions it raised.  I hope there is a second installment coming in the future!
2540910
I pretty much read this book straight through.

This is the story of a boy named Creighton, who is kidnapped and taken to an America that has LOST the Revolutionary War. While there, he undergoes drastic changes in character and loyalties, both for the better.

I loved the way Blackwood wrote Ben Franklin; he made him come to life, and I feel that he got his personality PERFECT.

Creighton, starting off as a foppish brat, still managed to be an enjoyable, albeit sometimes frustrating character.

Peter was so much fun. A great strong boy, he was kindhearted and courageous, with so much sincerity and honesty about him.

And the descriptions of this alternate- time period were amazing! It was so easy to visualize, and so exciting. (And a little concerning. An America that is still ruled by the British is a bit concerning in my opinion.)

My only issue with this book is how the ending doesn't feel like an ending. It feels like there are still loose ends, and like the story could have gone on 3 or 4 more chapters. Other than that, I found The Year of the Hangman very enjoyable, and would definitely recommend it.
4001118
Immerse yourself in the beginning of the American Revolution in this exciting middle school book, the story of a fictional fourteen-year-old boy caught up in dangerous times.  Johnny Tremain lives in Boston and works as an apprentice to a silversmith. He's talented and arrogant, lording it over the other apprentices until his right hand is badly burned. His nearly-unusable hand means that his apprenticeship is over.

Now more humble, he makes friends with the calm, enigmatic Rab, a boy a few years older than himself, who works for the Boston Observer. Soon Johnny gets a job delivering newspapers--on horseback. The publisher of the Observer is very political, and Johnny learns about the Whigs, who want freedom from England, and the Tories, who are loyal to England.

A secret group of Whigs regularly meets regularly in the newspaper offices. Before long Johnny is delivering coded messages to the members, including Paul Revere. The Whigs are incensed that England is charging the colonies a tax on tea, but the real issue is freedom. As one Whig leader says, "We give all we have, lives, property, safety, skills...we fight, we die, for a simple thing. Only that a man can stand up." Johnny too is becoming inspired by the cause of freedom.

The Whigs organize the Boston Tea Party in December of 1773: sixty young men dressed as Indians, including Johnny and Rab, board three British ships and dump the tea into Boston Harbor. By June of 1774, British soldiers and officers fill the streets, Boston is blockaded, and the air is filled with talk of war. On every village green in New England, men and boys are drilling, but with only ancient squirrel guns and flintlocks as weapons.

By early 1775, the Whigs suspect that the first British attacks will be at Lexington and Concord. Johnny's friend Rab goes off to Lexington to fight, but insists that Johnny, who is part of Paul Revere's spy network, must stay and report on British plans and troop movements. War is inevitable, but what will it bring for Johnny and Rab?

This book, which won the Newbery Medal for 1944, brings to vivid life the beginning of the American Revolutionary War as no history book ever could. Disney made a movie of "Johnny Tremain" in 1957. I haven't seen it, but one reviewer felt it missed the mark, showing the war as a jolly adventure for boys, instead of a time when great sacrifices were made, "only that a man can stand up."

Ages ten and up
294400
A well written telling of a period in the  Revolutionary War not written in detail in the history books.
632222
You get a detailed view on the Revolutionary War from the eyes and experiences of women. There were many interesting facts and stories. The only negative: I wish there was more to read!
4405929
Gabaldon's novels are great at putting the reader in the middle of historical events, this time the American Revolution. Her characters are all so alive, well beyond the protagonists, that I wanted to go off with some of them to find out what happened to the rest of their lives. The Quakers in this novel engage in the war from a pacifist perspective and elucidate the importance of faith and values .Food, sex, medicine, herb lore, injury and George Washington all play out in her fine writing and vivid description. I can't wait for the next one!
1296699
This is such a great history of NYC. I learned a lot... didn't realize the Revolutionary war lasted for 7 years. Looking forward to watching the next episode soon as I have time.