Common Sense Media Review
Decent historical fiction for fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Paul Revere gallops around the countryside on secret missions as his thirteen-year-old daughter, Sarah, tries to make sense of life and the American Revolution. Sarah adores family friend Dr. Joseph Warren but fears that he and her stepmother may be in love. Meanwhile, danger looms for all as the Revolution begins. Good historical fiction that Rinaldi fans will enjoy.
Is It Any Good?
The author's research and attention to details serve readers well, while the common struggles of adolescence strike familiar chords. Despite sometimes awkward writing, this is one of Ann Rinaldi's better efforts, and it keeps readers interested in the emotions of the character while stimulating interest in the historical period.
She gives abundant details of revolutionary Boston, describing Revere's difficulties getting out of Boston for other journeys to distant cities and discussing spying among patriots and loyalists. Readers see Revere as a kind and loving father and learn that he also practiced dentistry and printed money for the patriots. But Rinaldi portrays his mother and oldest daughter as rather nasty characters. In her afterword she notes that she really has no information about their personalities, but the strong impression of the two maligned women may linger in the minds of young readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about coming of age amid such dramatic events. How do the events of the Revolution influence the kind of woman Sarah is becoming?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harcourt Brace
- Publication date : November 1, 1995
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 14
- Number of pages : 320
- Last updated : July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate