1 to 10 of 10
Review Date: 12/27/2016
The Civil War Era is a time period in American history about which great quantities of information have been written, recorded, and preserved. The accounts of the valiant contributions of brave men on both sides of the conflict are the ever-present mainstay of Civil War history books. Conversely, little attention has been given to the equally remarkable and heroic contributions made by American women and children during this bloodiest conflict in American history. As a high school U.S. History teacher, I am always looking for resources that fill that gender gap. Tanya Anderson (no relation to myself) has provided just that type of resource with her well-researched and compelling young adult non-fiction book, Gunpowder Girls: The True Stories of Three Civil War Tragedies.
Indeed, there are other accounts available about the activities and struggles of females in the roles of nurses, spies, soldiers, abolitionists, civil rights advocates, and promoters of women's suffrage during the mid 19th century. However, the quality of women named are so few as to leave the student of Civil War history with the faulty impression that only these scant few women--usually women of relative wealth and influence--made up the sum total of the female contribution to the war. Not true. What about the untold numbers of poor, working-class, and immigrant women and young girls who were thrust into the roles of family-providers and wartime-suppliers, as husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons went off to war? In many cases, these women and girls looked in desperation to the war industry as a source of employment, providing the means of keeping a roof over the heads of their families and keeping starvation at bay.
In Gunpowder Girls: The True Stories of Three Civil War Tragedies, author Tanya Anderson adeptly sheds light on the struggles and sacrifices made by women and girls, some as young as 10 years old, who were propelled into the workforce by wartime conditions. Anderson recounts the extreme dangers and arduous labor--often 12-hour a day, 6 days a week--which these women endured while producing the ammunition necessary to wage war. During this time period before labor reform and child labor restrictions, Anderson chronicles the contributions, and often the ultimate sacrifices, made by females in ammunition factories in both the Union and the Confederacy sides of the conflict. When tallying up the horrific casualty tolls of the Civil War, the deaths and disablement of these poor, often-illiterate females in government arsenals should rightfully to be including alongside of the battlefield and hospital deaths of the war's slain men.
I highly recommend this book, with its informational vignettes that add depth of knowledge and context to its compelling account of some of the here-to-for unknown of "ordinary" heroes of the Civil War. The book has earned a permanent slot in my classroom bookcase.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. October 22, 2016.
Indeed, there are other accounts available about the activities and struggles of females in the roles of nurses, spies, soldiers, abolitionists, civil rights advocates, and promoters of women's suffrage during the mid 19th century. However, the quality of women named are so few as to leave the student of Civil War history with the faulty impression that only these scant few women--usually women of relative wealth and influence--made up the sum total of the female contribution to the war. Not true. What about the untold numbers of poor, working-class, and immigrant women and young girls who were thrust into the roles of family-providers and wartime-suppliers, as husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons went off to war? In many cases, these women and girls looked in desperation to the war industry as a source of employment, providing the means of keeping a roof over the heads of their families and keeping starvation at bay.
In Gunpowder Girls: The True Stories of Three Civil War Tragedies, author Tanya Anderson adeptly sheds light on the struggles and sacrifices made by women and girls, some as young as 10 years old, who were propelled into the workforce by wartime conditions. Anderson recounts the extreme dangers and arduous labor--often 12-hour a day, 6 days a week--which these women endured while producing the ammunition necessary to wage war. During this time period before labor reform and child labor restrictions, Anderson chronicles the contributions, and often the ultimate sacrifices, made by females in ammunition factories in both the Union and the Confederacy sides of the conflict. When tallying up the horrific casualty tolls of the Civil War, the deaths and disablement of these poor, often-illiterate females in government arsenals should rightfully to be including alongside of the battlefield and hospital deaths of the war's slain men.
I highly recommend this book, with its informational vignettes that add depth of knowledge and context to its compelling account of some of the here-to-for unknown of "ordinary" heroes of the Civil War. The book has earned a permanent slot in my classroom bookcase.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. October 22, 2016.
Review Date: 6/29/2017
Helpful Score: 1
In my opinion, Shelley Shepard Gray is truly one of the premiere storytellers within the genre of Amish fiction. I have read hundreds of Amish novelsâinspirational, romance, suspense, and historicalâby dozen of different authors, and her treatment of the diverse nature of Amish culture and her development of realistic and complex characters sets Shepard Gray's workings apart from the rest.
With the creation of The Amish of Hart County series, within which this book is grounded, Shepard Gray has strayed from her usual series format with delightful results. While typically crafting her writing into tightly-woven groupings of 4-5 books, the author has decided this series will be "a little differentâ¦though each book will be loosely connected and set in Hart County, Kentucky, each novel will be written as a stand-alone novel.â And it works marvelously!
The Guilt, which is the second book in The Amish of Hart County series, presents itself as a fresh tale set in the comfort of a familiar location. The main characters are new to the reader, but artfully depicted in ways that make them vivid and three-dimensional. Packed with drama, suspense, and of course romance, the story of Waneta and Mark explores themes of forgiveness and trust, as the characters learn to let go of the injustices of the past, to live for today, and to build lives for the future.
I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. June 29, 2017.
With the creation of The Amish of Hart County series, within which this book is grounded, Shepard Gray has strayed from her usual series format with delightful results. While typically crafting her writing into tightly-woven groupings of 4-5 books, the author has decided this series will be "a little differentâ¦though each book will be loosely connected and set in Hart County, Kentucky, each novel will be written as a stand-alone novel.â And it works marvelously!
The Guilt, which is the second book in The Amish of Hart County series, presents itself as a fresh tale set in the comfort of a familiar location. The main characters are new to the reader, but artfully depicted in ways that make them vivid and three-dimensional. Packed with drama, suspense, and of course romance, the story of Waneta and Mark explores themes of forgiveness and trust, as the characters learn to let go of the injustices of the past, to live for today, and to build lives for the future.
I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. June 29, 2017.
Review Date: 4/21/2018
First of all, I enjoyed this book. That being said, I had hoped to enjoy it more.
The plot was interesting and unique, and the characters were compelling. My main struggle with this book was its lack of historical voice. If it were not for the first line on the prologue stating the setting of the story was âIowa, 1881,â I would have had little clue that it was set in the American frontier over 135 years ago. The dialogue and narrative took on little of the vocabulary and tone of that era, and as a historian reading a work of historical fiction I found the historical background scant.
All in all, this was a worth first effort by a new author and I look forward to reading her next work, as she deepens and hones her literary skills.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. April 21, 2018.
The plot was interesting and unique, and the characters were compelling. My main struggle with this book was its lack of historical voice. If it were not for the first line on the prologue stating the setting of the story was âIowa, 1881,â I would have had little clue that it was set in the American frontier over 135 years ago. The dialogue and narrative took on little of the vocabulary and tone of that era, and as a historian reading a work of historical fiction I found the historical background scant.
All in all, this was a worth first effort by a new author and I look forward to reading her next work, as she deepens and hones her literary skills.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. April 21, 2018.
Review Date: 2/11/2018
Prepare to be drawn into this compelling book from the very first page! As a longtime reader of the literary creations of Suzanne Woods Fisher, I expected to be enthralled with this story, but Phoebe's Light surpassed my expectations.
Without giving away any of the inspired plot, the tenor and cadence of this first-in-a-series historical Quaker romance is simply breathtaking. Using the language of colonial Massachusetts and Quaker culture, the author weaves together the tales of two strong, courageous women of faith. Filled with uplifting challenges and unexpected plot twists, I highly recommend this book and I look forward to the release of the next book in the series, Minding the Light, in July 2018.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Without giving away any of the inspired plot, the tenor and cadence of this first-in-a-series historical Quaker romance is simply breathtaking. Using the language of colonial Massachusetts and Quaker culture, the author weaves together the tales of two strong, courageous women of faith. Filled with uplifting challenges and unexpected plot twists, I highly recommend this book and I look forward to the release of the next book in the series, Minding the Light, in July 2018.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Price for Their Pound of Flesh: The Value of the Enslaved from Womb to Grave in the Building of a Nation
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
1
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
1
Review Date: 2/25/2017
In a nutshell the book examines trends in appraisal and sales values of enslaved blacks at all stages of life. The author details the somewhat expected and predictable fluctuations in the values placed on the enslaved as age increases.
For instance, the author shows that the value of an enslaved child rose as the child survived its first perilous years when infant mortality was high and the child's perceived usefulness in the planation labor force increased. Likewise, young adult male slaves increased in value as long as they remained "sound" and were capable of contributing mightily to their plantation's economy. Enslaved woman of childbearing age, while sometime seen as an inconvenience prior to the end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1808, were highly valued for their labor and for their breeding capacity once importation of overseas captives became illegal. The topics of forced reproduction and "farming;" of human "stock" are well covered.
After the prime years of vitality, the author examines the decreasing valuation of enslaved people as their output diminishes with age and infirmity. At all stages of life, the enslaved were traded, sold, and insured for the benefit and enrichment of the enslavers, as was to be expected.
What wasn't as expected (and which leads to quite compelling discourse in this book) is the examination of what the author calls "soul value" and "ghost value." By the term "soul value," Ms. Berry is referring to the value the enslaved person places on him/herself; it is essentially the enslaved person's internal valuation of their own moral worth. This measure of value is address thought the book, but it takes on heightened importance in the final (and by far longest) chapter.
This culminating chapter delves into the morbid territory of "ghost value;" which is the value of an enslaved person's body after death. Specifically, this refers to the postmortem valuation and continued exploitation of enslaved bodies, often though a clandestine underground black market of cadavers used for anatomical research and/or display. Whether by means of post-mortem sale by the enslaver, exhumation by so-called "resurrectionists." or by execution, the enslavement of black bodies often did not end with death and a peaceful burial. This is one part of the use/abuse of enslaved black Americans that is seldom explored, but certainly needs to be. Bravo to the author for doing so. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. February 25, 2017.
For instance, the author shows that the value of an enslaved child rose as the child survived its first perilous years when infant mortality was high and the child's perceived usefulness in the planation labor force increased. Likewise, young adult male slaves increased in value as long as they remained "sound" and were capable of contributing mightily to their plantation's economy. Enslaved woman of childbearing age, while sometime seen as an inconvenience prior to the end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1808, were highly valued for their labor and for their breeding capacity once importation of overseas captives became illegal. The topics of forced reproduction and "farming;" of human "stock" are well covered.
After the prime years of vitality, the author examines the decreasing valuation of enslaved people as their output diminishes with age and infirmity. At all stages of life, the enslaved were traded, sold, and insured for the benefit and enrichment of the enslavers, as was to be expected.
What wasn't as expected (and which leads to quite compelling discourse in this book) is the examination of what the author calls "soul value" and "ghost value." By the term "soul value," Ms. Berry is referring to the value the enslaved person places on him/herself; it is essentially the enslaved person's internal valuation of their own moral worth. This measure of value is address thought the book, but it takes on heightened importance in the final (and by far longest) chapter.
This culminating chapter delves into the morbid territory of "ghost value;" which is the value of an enslaved person's body after death. Specifically, this refers to the postmortem valuation and continued exploitation of enslaved bodies, often though a clandestine underground black market of cadavers used for anatomical research and/or display. Whether by means of post-mortem sale by the enslaver, exhumation by so-called "resurrectionists." or by execution, the enslavement of black bodies often did not end with death and a peaceful burial. This is one part of the use/abuse of enslaved black Americans that is seldom explored, but certainly needs to be. Bravo to the author for doing so. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. February 25, 2017.
Review Date: 6/29/2017
Matti Friedman has crafted an amazing war account that is different in perspective, time period, and battlefront than normally found for sale on the bookstore shelf, yet this book reflects themes which are universal and as old as time.
I usually go on at length about the attributes of the books I review, but I feel compelled not to do so this time. I feel compelled by Friedman's writing itself. The book compelled the reader to peel back the layers of content and meaning with each turn of the page.
Without giving in to the temptation to explore Friedman's treatment of themes, such as the futility of war and the massacre of innocence, I'm going to compare it to a different work of literature; for that is how I would categorize this book. It is a work of fine literature, from its complexity and sophistication in style to its masterful employment of literary devices. In many ways, âªPumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War reminds me of the Erich Maria Remarque classic, All Quiet on the Western Front. â¬
Now wait, before you vilify me for comparing a book about Israeli youth battling against Hezbollah fighters to a book about German youth battling against Allied Forces during World War I. I acknowledge these works depict very different wars, very different time periods, very different adversaries, and very different motivations, for sure. However, in addition to both authors' literary skills, similarities can be found within both books in regard to the destruction of youthful innocence, hope, and trust, and the replacement of these attributes by cynicism and dependency, as young soldiers are aged far beyond their years by their experiences in war. With the introduction of Friedman's war account, it is reinforces the understanding that, regardless of whether the setting is 1916 France, 1996 Lebanon, etc., the often-overlooked casualty of war is the permanent disillusionment of young generations in society.
I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. May 6, 2017.
I usually go on at length about the attributes of the books I review, but I feel compelled not to do so this time. I feel compelled by Friedman's writing itself. The book compelled the reader to peel back the layers of content and meaning with each turn of the page.
Without giving in to the temptation to explore Friedman's treatment of themes, such as the futility of war and the massacre of innocence, I'm going to compare it to a different work of literature; for that is how I would categorize this book. It is a work of fine literature, from its complexity and sophistication in style to its masterful employment of literary devices. In many ways, âªPumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War reminds me of the Erich Maria Remarque classic, All Quiet on the Western Front. â¬
Now wait, before you vilify me for comparing a book about Israeli youth battling against Hezbollah fighters to a book about German youth battling against Allied Forces during World War I. I acknowledge these works depict very different wars, very different time periods, very different adversaries, and very different motivations, for sure. However, in addition to both authors' literary skills, similarities can be found within both books in regard to the destruction of youthful innocence, hope, and trust, and the replacement of these attributes by cynicism and dependency, as young soldiers are aged far beyond their years by their experiences in war. With the introduction of Friedman's war account, it is reinforces the understanding that, regardless of whether the setting is 1916 France, 1996 Lebanon, etc., the often-overlooked casualty of war is the permanent disillusionment of young generations in society.
I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. May 6, 2017.
Review Date: 6/29/2017
Suzanne Woods Fisher has a way of spinning a tale that never disappoints, and this book is no exception. I have read hundreds of Amish novelsâinspirational, romance, suspense, and historicalâand this book combines all these genres into a beautifully flowing and compelling read.
Normally, I like to read an Amish series by beginning with the first book, but in this case I jumped into the unfolding story with this book, the third in the series. Fisher has created a work which is so well developed within its covers that The Return functions perfectly on its own. A helpful List of Characters at the onset is included to acquaint the reader with enough of the backstory to allow for frustration-free enjoyment.
There are plenty of suspense, drama, romance, and unexpected plot twists to make this book very difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. May 17, 2017.
Normally, I like to read an Amish series by beginning with the first book, but in this case I jumped into the unfolding story with this book, the third in the series. Fisher has created a work which is so well developed within its covers that The Return functions perfectly on its own. A helpful List of Characters at the onset is included to acquaint the reader with enough of the backstory to allow for frustration-free enjoyment.
There are plenty of suspense, drama, romance, and unexpected plot twists to make this book very difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. May 17, 2017.
Review Date: 9/15/2018
A very compelling story.
The plot was interesting and unique, with its setting during the time period of the American Civil War. Despite being out of the direct line of fire, the Amish in Ohio were as impacted by the hardships of war as any of their Englisch neighbors. This is a beautiful love story intertwined with the struggle to make choices when conflicting matters of integrity and faith are at stake.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The plot was interesting and unique, with its setting during the time period of the American Civil War. Despite being out of the direct line of fire, the Amish in Ohio were as impacted by the hardships of war as any of their Englisch neighbors. This is a beautiful love story intertwined with the struggle to make choices when conflicting matters of integrity and faith are at stake.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
1
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
1
Review Date: 12/31/2016
In 1898, the most heatedly-debated question in America was "Is the United States to be an empire?" With the potential of annexing the disheveled Hawaiian Islands into the nation, as well as a revolutionary conflict occurring just off the Florida coastline in the tumultuous Spanish colony of Cuba, the stage was being set for American influence abroad to run rampant.
At the time, many Americans were content to continue the U.S. policy of isolationism, first begun during George Washington's presidency; however others were enticed to abandon that stance, as well as ignoring some of the ideals this country was founded upon. With the American frontier settled, the American imagination was invigorated by the prospect of further expansion abroad and the potential profits that overseas colonies could provide. Giving up the lofty ideals of "government by the consent of the governed" did little to prickle its conscience of the American mind. America was in a time period of rapid industrial growth and it needed new markets to sell its goods. Late 19th century America was also in the throes of nationalism that compelled the nation to use its power to aid the other peoples out of humanitarian responsibility.
I highly recommend this book for its treatment of a pivotal time in American history.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. December 31, 2016.
At the time, many Americans were content to continue the U.S. policy of isolationism, first begun during George Washington's presidency; however others were enticed to abandon that stance, as well as ignoring some of the ideals this country was founded upon. With the American frontier settled, the American imagination was invigorated by the prospect of further expansion abroad and the potential profits that overseas colonies could provide. Giving up the lofty ideals of "government by the consent of the governed" did little to prickle its conscience of the American mind. America was in a time period of rapid industrial growth and it needed new markets to sell its goods. Late 19th century America was also in the throes of nationalism that compelled the nation to use its power to aid the other peoples out of humanitarian responsibility.
I highly recommend this book for its treatment of a pivotal time in American history.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. December 31, 2016.
Review Date: 12/27/2016
As a high school history teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed Adrienne Berard's examination of a very emotionally charged and often bleak period in American history. While the author could have chosen to simply tell the story of a courageous family of Chinese-descent, fighting for equality in the segregated 1920s Mississippi Delta, she did so much more.
Artfully spliced around and within the biography of the Gong Lum family, is the historical background information that leads the reader to understand the mindsets and conditions that existed in the southern States during this time period. Berard gives careful attention to the themes that set the stage for Gong Lum v. Rice.
The author brings to life the post-reconstruction efforts to keep former slaves in a condition of bondage through the passage of legislation, such as the Mississippi Black Codes (1865). These laws formalized a racial hierarchy in which whites could restrict the freedoms of black laborers and families, for the purpose of maintaining white superiority and continuing to supply the labor necessary to sustain the plantation economy of the South.
The nativism of late 19th century America is illustrated by anecdotal evidence and by legislative actions, such as the examination of the implications of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and other restrictive measures taken by the government to stop or curtail the immigration of so-called "undesirables."
I highly recommend this book! It has a permanent home in my bookcase.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. July 31, 2016.
Artfully spliced around and within the biography of the Gong Lum family, is the historical background information that leads the reader to understand the mindsets and conditions that existed in the southern States during this time period. Berard gives careful attention to the themes that set the stage for Gong Lum v. Rice.
The author brings to life the post-reconstruction efforts to keep former slaves in a condition of bondage through the passage of legislation, such as the Mississippi Black Codes (1865). These laws formalized a racial hierarchy in which whites could restrict the freedoms of black laborers and families, for the purpose of maintaining white superiority and continuing to supply the labor necessary to sustain the plantation economy of the South.
The nativism of late 19th century America is illustrated by anecdotal evidence and by legislative actions, such as the examination of the implications of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) and other restrictive measures taken by the government to stop or curtail the immigration of so-called "undesirables."
I highly recommend this book! It has a permanent home in my bookcase.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was originally written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. July 31, 2016.
1 to 10 of 10
