Revolutionary Prudence Wright by Beth Anderson and Susan Reagan - HIGH

 Revolutionary Prudence Wright: Leading the Minute Women in the fight for independence by Beth Anderson, illustrated by Susan Reagan. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (Boyds Mill/Astra), 2022. $19. 9781644720578

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

While the men of Pepperell, MA were off fighting for the colonies in Concord, Prudence Wright organized the women to dress in their husband’s clothes and guard the bridge into town from British spies carrying messages. One of Prudence’s own brothers, a Tory, was almost captured, but the message-carrying Brit was relieved of his papers and at least one spy did not get through.

I am always happy to see a picture book about the American Revolution – especially one that highlights the role of women. Everyone will enjoy a story about courage and victory. Excellent back matter, with more historical information, plus looks at doing research for both the writing and the art.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Hold the Flag High by Catherine Clinton and Shane W. Evans - ESSENTIAL

 Hold the Flag High: The True Story of the First Black Medal of Honor Winner by Catherine Clinton, illustrated by Shane W. Evans. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Katherine Tegan (Harper), 2021. $8 (paperback reprint from 2005). 9780060504304 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

William Carney was a soldier of the 54th Massachusetts regiment – an all Black Civil War company. During their most famous battle, Carney grabbed the flag when the flag bearer was shot and rallied the troops to protect it and keep fighting. 

Another nice dimension to stories of the Civil War of also of Black heroism. You should be proud to share this story with any age. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Ground Zero: a novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz - ESSENTIAL

Ground Zero: a novel of 9/11 by Alan Gratz, 336 pages. Scholistic, FEB 2021. $18 

Language: G (4 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (deaths; describes true events of 9/11) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

2001 - 9yo Brandon is in trouble, so he is going to work with his dad today, where he works as a chef at the restaurant on the 107th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. 2019 – 11yo Reshimina is a poor village girl in Afghanistan, just trying to survive the skirmishes between the Afghan rebels and the American soldiers – the Americans who killed her older sister on her wedding day. Why are they even here? 

Wow! Wow! Gratz could have written a whole book about each of these characters separately. Instead in entwines their stories to create an even more powerful narrative. Students who weren’t yet born that day, who don’t understand the lasting scar that these events created on the American psyche, will now have a stark frame of reference. But everyone who reads this, no matter what age, will also be amazed by the power of Reshima’s story. Wow! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

My Last Skirt by Lynda Surrant - OPTIONAL

Durrant, Lynda My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier, 208 p. Clarion

EL, MS - OPTIONAL

As a girl in the hills of Scotland, Jennie masqueraded as a boy in order to help her family earn much needed coins. When she and her brother immigrate to America, she keeps up the charade, going as far as to join a Union regiment during the Civil War. Even after the war she maintains the fiction, until one day her lifelong secret is discovered. 

Full of fascinating details of battles as life as a soldier, but the human parts are rather stiff and sketchy. If you need a new Civil War novel to round out a collection, then buy in hardcover, otherwise wait for the paperback. 

CINDY