Emma's Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl [Hardcover]

Marissa Moss (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Young American Voices

The year is 1774 and trouble is brewing in Massachusetts. The British army has blockaded Boston and ten-year-old Emma Millar is stuck at Aunt Harmony’s house in the city, far from her family. Her only companion is snobbish Thankful Bliss, who denounces the Revolution and treats Emma like a country bumpkin. Emma wants desperately to help the American struggle for freedom.When Papa gives her a secret code the militia uses, Emma finally gets her chance to change the course of history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Grade 3-5-Caught in the British blockade of Boston from 1774 to 1776 and separated from her family, young Emma describes the events she witnesses or overhears. While she works at her elderly aunt's boarding house, she meets or hears about such famous figures as Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Dr. Joseph Warren, as well as British General Burgoyne, Governor Gage, and others. The story unfolds with secret messages, spying, snippets of rude songs printed in the margins that are sure to provoke giggles, and Emma's trials with the vain young Tory boarder, Thankful, who is in love with a British soldier. Emma's final entries tell of the reunion with her family and of the stirring reading of the "Proclamation of Independence" in July of 1776. As in Moss's "Amelia" journals (Tricycle) and her Rachel's Journal (Harcourt, 1998), information appears in tiny drawings or souvenir bits "pasted" in the margins. The handwritten text is eye-catching and printed on aged, lined yellow paper. An author's note separates fact from fiction, provides extra information on women spies in the Revolution, and reveals the author's sources. All in all, a seductive introduction to the period, especially for readers who remain neutral to textbook accounts.
Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Like Moss' popular Amelia series, these books in the Young American Voices series are first-person handwritten" accounts told in journal form through words and childlike illustrations. The difference is Amelia is modern day, whereas the American Voices are historical. Emma's Journal records events in Boston from 1774 to 1776 from the point of view of 10-year-old Emma, who has been sent away from the family farm to help her Aunt Harmony and ends up helping the Revolutionary cause. Fresh and readable, the text offers a simple introduction to the times, while colorful, informal little drawings add visual appeal to the hand-lettered pages. The Young American Voices series, which includes Rachel's Journal (1998), will attract Amelia's fans as well children who have read the American Girl books. A prelude to longer, more challenging historical fiction. Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (August 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 015202025X
• ISBN-13: 978-0152020255
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,800,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marissa Moss has been telling stories and drawing pictures to go with them for as long as she can remember. She sent her first book to publishers when she was nine, but it wasn't very good and it never got published. She didn't try again until she was a grown-up, but since then she hasn't stopped.

The idea for the first Amelia's Notebook came from the notebook Moss kept when she was a kid. Amelia is a lot like her and the things that happen to Amelia really happened to Marissa (mostly).

Along with Amelia, Moss has created many characters and is especially drawn to history. Historical books allows her to imagine what it's like to be alive in a different place at a completely different time. And then there are the Max Disaster books which allow her to play with scientific experiments, inventions, and comic strips.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Emmas' Journal, July 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Emma's Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl (Hardcover)

I liked the book Emmas' journal because it was partially based on the life of a real girl. I enjoyed how it was somewhat detailed about life in the past. I did not particually like how the days jumped around though.

3.0 out of 5 stars Emma's World, December 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Emma's Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl (Paperback)

In 1774, 10-year-old Emma was sent away from home to be a servant in her Aunt Harmony's manor in Boston. Little did the simple serving girl expect that war would brew up in Boston harbor. Emma helps with war effort.

I only gave this book 3 stars because it was too short and it didn't tell much of Emma's life as a serving girl.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Book!, May 19, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Emma's Journal: The Story of a Colonial Girl (Hardcover)

I think this book would be a good birthday preasent for a girl because I think girls would be interested in it.