Parents need to know that this is a romance with the Boston Massacre as a backdrop.
Positive messages:Some minor characters speak disrespectfully of Crispus Attucks, the black man killed in the Boston Massacre. The main character defies authority to sneak out at night and visit a prisoner.
I had to read this book in fifth grade when we learned about the American Revolution. Ann Rinaldi, is a great author who transports her readers right into the heat and heart of the A.R.
She uses real characters and events from history and mixes them with her own characters and plot. In this book she takes the story of Rachel Marsh a servant at John and Abagail Adams house and shows what it was like living in Boston, before and during the Boston Massacre. While Rinaldi is a good author she always adds things into her books that make them iffy for readers 13 and under. In this book the British soldiers use a few words. And while Rachel's romance with a British private Matthew Kilroy is not sexual or explicit in anyway. The feelings and ups and downs that Matthew and Rachel go through, young readers won't understand. Other than that I defenitely recommend this book, you'll want to reread and reread this book. Not to mention you'll never forget what happand during the Boston Massacre.
This is the best book that I have ever read!! Ann Rinaldi is an amazing author that paints a very realistic back drop for her heart felt writings. Yes there is a little bit of romance in this story but is very innocently done and the main character handles every romantic situation very maturely and respectfully. When I have a daughter I would be proud to have her handle the situations with boys in her life this way. and yes she does sneak out of the house a couple of times but when she is caught she admits to what she was doing, apologies for it then she faces the consequence in a very mature way. I hated reading before this book but it showed me that reading can be a very rewarding experience. (It does have a few words that the other solders use so I think that you should be 12 or 13 before you read it.)