Customer Reviews

Finishing Becca: A Story about Peggy Shippen and Benedict Arnold

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Finnishing Becca is the story about a girl named Becca Syng, who comes to be a hand maiden to Peggy Shippen. When she is sent there to be "finnished," the only thing she learns is deciet by the time Peggy marries General Benedict Arnold, an American traitor. This book was fascinating, and it makes me feel so cool that I now know the story of two very famous Americans who lived during the Revolution. I would suggest all of Ann Rinaldi's books, they're fantastic!!! I would reccommend THE FIFTH OF MARCH(must read), In My Father's House, An Aquaintance With Darkness, The Coffin Quilt, A Break With Charity, Cast Two Shadows, The Secret of Sarah Revere, and The Last Silk Dress. They were all fantastic!

I just finished reading FINISHING BECCA, a book that I picked up as a possible addition to a cross-curriculum unit that I present (I'm an 8th grade English teacher) with an American History teacher. We already use MY BROTHER SAM IS DEAD, and APRIL MORNING. Both are outstanding and written from young boys' perspectives. In the past, we've also used THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND, but I have been disappointed with the "meat" of the book in comparison to the other two. I was looking for something of substance from a female perspective, and I believe that FINISHING BECCA meets or surpasses the "meaty" requirement. Ann Rinaldi is authoritative in her grasp of the nuances of American's Revolution, and she gives a very respectable presentation of Benedict Arnold's betrayal. I highly recommend the book.

It seemed to me that this book was too much of a historical book. That is, when you were reading it, you kept on remembering that it was a 'historically correct' story. I think that a really good historical book would make it seem like you were living in those times, which this book undoubtedly didn't. This book made me feel as if I was looking at a different time, instead of living in that time. Still, the plot was relatively good and I enjoyed reading about Peggy, the spoiled society belle.

This book is written through the eyes of the main character, a servant to the Shippens. Its a real page turner and no doubt well worth the money to buy it. For any historical fic fan, I definitely highly reccommend it, and even if you're not normally a fan of it, I'm sure you'll enjoy this. It has Mystery, Romance and Trouble in a war filled atmosphere. There's nothing else to say other than I hope you get a chance to read it! :)

Finishing Becca is about a 14-year-old girl named Becca Synge in the Revolutionary War in 1778. When Becca goes to work for the Shippens and for their spoiled, beautiful daughter-Peggy, her world is turned upside down. Then she must also work for her mistress new husband, the despised by all towns-people, merciless, rich- Benedict Arnold. Becca is faced with many decisions, is she should be loyal to her family, to her country, or to her mistress. With all this in mind she must concentrate on trying to find her "missing pieces" as her mother puts it. But then she watches in shock as her Mistress-Peggy urges to turn Benedict Arnold against the Continental army and all of the Patriots, to join the British.

Being a thirteen year old fascinated by the American Revolution, I found this book entertaining, and informative. I loved reading about the real life characters (who are portrayed as humans), and I got an inside view on the time period. It was extremely hard to put down, and fun book to read, unlike your dry social studies text books. Anyone who loves the American Revolution, or just wants to know more about it should read this book. Also, Ann Rinaldi is a very talented writer, so all of her books are highly recommended by me, especially this one.

This book is one of the Historical Fiction Guru's (Ann Rinaldi) best. I love the way she yells the story of two girls in the same story. My favorite character was Persifor,but I wont ruin the suprise by telling you who he is(hint: He shows up in more than one place than the Shippen's back door). I enjoyed the epilogue and the historical note too. I learned so much about this period of history and Benedict Arnold just by reading this excellent book. If you enjoyed this one you will also enjoy: The Second Bend in the River,Time Enough for Drums,Wolf by the Ears,Bloomability,Walk Two Moons,Absolutely Normal Chaos,and Chasing Redbird