Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold [Paperback]

Ann Rinaldi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 5, 1994 | Series: American Colonies Series

An independent-minded young maid tells the story of social-climber Peggy Shippen and how she influenced Benedict Arnold’s betrayal of the Patriot forces. Revolutionary Philadelphia is brought to life as Becca seeks to find her “missing pieces” while exploring the complicated issues of the war between the impoverished independence men and the decadent British Tories. “This tale of treachery comes alive under [Rinaldi’s] pen.”--Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-In 1778, Becca Syng, 14, becomes Peggy Shippen's maid and enters another world. For over a year, she assists Peggy in her revelry, culminating in her mistress's marriage to General Benedict Arnold. Like the Arnolds, Becca is faced with decisions about loyalty: to her country, to her family and, above all, to herself. This first-person historical novel has some major problems. First, since Becca is not a direct participant in Shippen-Arnold affairs, Rinaldi continually relies on the fortuitous overhearing of conversations, chance meetings, and convenient letters to develop her plot. Too much history is crammed into dialogue, and too much confiding in animals occurs to update readers. Second, the author relies on talk, thought, and feelings at the expense of action. Consequently, the story drags. Given Becca's age and inexperience, her perceptiveness is unrealistic; her overwrought language is better suited to a Gothic romance. Finally, Shippen and Arnold are such unpleasant characters that nothing excuses Becca's enduring them for so long. Their complex personalities, apparent in adult biographies, are absent here-she's spoiled and manipulative and he's merely a selfish egotist. This one-track approach not only does these individuals a disservice, but it also becomes tedious to read.
Ann W. Moore, Guilderland Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. In 1778, 14-year-old Becca Synge goes to work as the personal maid for spoiled society beauty Peggy Shippen. The Britishÿ20are occupying Philadelphia, and the self-absorbed Peggy is seen most often on the arm of dashing Captain Andre. By the time the Britishÿ20decamp, Peggy's father is on the brink of ruin. It's then Peggy meets theÿ20notorious General Benedict Arnold, and the rest is history. According to Becca, who narrates the story, it was Peggy Shippen Arnoldÿ20who was responsible for her husband's betrayal of the Americanÿ20Revolutionary cause. The historical context is sometimes too obvious, and the word nigra, though a historically legitimate term, eventually becomes distracting. But Rinaldi's evocation of the rip-roaring life and devil-be-damned personality of Peggy Shippen, which forms the real core of the story, makes you want to find out more about the people and the history--and that's certainly one of the goals of good historical fiction. Janice Del Negro --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Graphia; 1 edition (December 5, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152008799
• ISBN-13: 978-0152008796
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,158,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer and newspaper columnist for twenty-one years, Ms. Rinaldi attributes her interest in history to her son, who enlisted her to take part in historical reenactments up and down the East Coast. She lives with her husband in central New Jersey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great historical fiction novel from the eyes of a servent., November 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold (Paperback)

Finishing Becca was historical fiction novel from the eyes of Peggy Shippen's private servant named Becca Snyng. The novel took place in the time period of the Revolutionary war. Men were risking lives while serving their countries. Instead of helping the sickly men and her country, Peggy Shippen was being pampered by her family, servents, and friends. The whole point of Becca going to work for the Shippen's was to finish herself and find her missing pieces; make herself whole. In the end of the novel Becca learned a very imporntant lesson about her life. She realized that living on a small farm with lots of love can be much better then having all of the money in the world and not being happy. Overall, I gave Finishing Becca four stars because of the way you could see her accctually doing things. The story itself was great, it was an awsome way to learn about women's roles in the past. It was also an easy read, and a probably middle school level.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The mystery surrounding Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold, August 8, 2003

By 

Bethany (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold (Paperback)

Fourteen year old Becca Syng feels like pieces of her are missing. So when her mother secures her a job as a maidservant in return for lessons in french, dancing, and needlepoint, she believes that it will help her find herself. She starts working for the Shippens, a prominent Philadelphia family who has taken great pains to remain neutral during the Revolutionary War. It is Becca's job to take care of Peggy, the most beautiful, not to mention the most spoiled, out of the four girls. Becca finds herself in a world she never thought existed, filled with balls, men, and the like. After being discarded from the British Captain Andre, Peggy sets her sights on American General Benedict Arnold. They fall in love and are soon married, despite the age differences (18 to 37). Becca is soon brought into another household, filled with deception and lies. She witnesses Peggy's influence over Arnold, coaxing him to break with the Americans. She then overhears Arnold confessing to break with the Patriots, but is caught in the process. Arnold blackmails her into not telling what she's heard by saying that he will hang her stepfather for being a double agent and that he will confiscate her farm. She is also not allowed in the city for a year and is dismissed from their services. Becca then learns with the rest of the colonies about Arnold's treason, but lives with the knowledge of having the power to stop it.
I like Ann Rinaldi's books, and I don't think any of them are bad. I love how she takes people from outside the picture to witness something important in our American history (ex.Annie Brown in Mine Eyes Have Seen, Fanny McCoy in The Coffin Quilt). This gives the reader an unbiased perspective. Not only did I learn something from this book, but I enjoyed doing so. My only complaint is that Becca's character had no depth, she was just a mindless narrator giving facts about the Shippen household and later on the Arnold household. All in all, a very informative book. Another good one, Ann Rinaldi.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finishing Becca, September 15, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold (Paperback)

Finishing Becca is a historical fiction novel about a girl living during the American Revolutionary War. Becca Syng is a 14 year old girl sent to be the personal maid of Peggy Shippen, a spoiled Quaker daughter who just happens to be the most beautiful girl in all of Philadelphia. She is sent to be finished by her mother, but Becca learns much more than French, art and crewel work.

What I liked most about this book was Ann Rinaldi's ability to capture what was going on in the mind of an American colonist; and a teenager no less. Rinaldi bottled Becca's opinions, ideas, and thoughts about what her country and her country's soldiers were going through. There wasn't much to dislike about this book. Some scenes put very graphic pictures in your mind, but other than that this book is great. My favorite character in this book is Becca because she and I share some of the same characteristics. Becca is always curious and always wondering about the world around her. Just like me.

The scene that I thought was the most moving was when Becca helps one of the Shippen girls with one of her missions. This book is different to me because it is a historical fiction, but it is also suspense-mysteryish along with a touch of comedy. If you read this book, you will be entertained and you will learn at the same time.

If I could go back in time, the questions that I would ask are: Did Peggy Shippen really turn Arnold against his country? Was Mr. Shippen really all that neutral? Was Peggy really that horrible?

I strongly recommend this book because you can learn about all the bad stuff that went on behind the lines on both sides. This book is really worth reading.