Customer Reviews

Girl In Blue

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
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Girl in Blue is an excellent book. In this book, set in the times of the Civil War, Sarah Louisa in being harshly mistreated by her father and betrothed to an awful man who tries to touch her at every opportunity. Sarah knows she won't stand for it. She won't marry a man who she knows will beat her. So she disguises as a boy and runs away to join the army and fight for the Union. While entertaining people in the hospital, Mr. Pinkerton notices she has skil in mimicry. When her true sex is discovered, she is offered to become a spy. So the she works in a suspected spy for the Confederasy's house as a 'maid.' She learns to adapt to life in a world where she can trust know one. She also learns the true meaning of loyalty to one's country.

Desperate to flee the control of a demanding, abusive father and a marriage to her despicable neighbor Ezekie Kunkle, who is twice her age, sixteen-year-old Sarah runs away from home and cleverly disguises herself as a man and joins the 2nd Michigan Infantry during the Civil Wars. Posing as "Neddy Compton" Sarah soon learns the horrors of war as she participates in the battle of Bull Run. When her true identity is finally revealed, Sarah finds she must choose between jail or posing as a spie for Allan Pinkerton, head of the Pinkerton Detective Agensy, who observes that she has a talent in the art of mimicry. Not wanting to go to jail, Sarah agrees to pose as a spy to investigate Rose Greenhow, who is thought to be a spy for the Rebels. What Sarah doesn't expect is the lies, love, betrayal, and intrigue that will come with this new, dangerous job.

I am a big fan of Ann Rinaldi, and though "Girl in Blue" I felt was not her best work, it was still a pretty good book. Though at times the book was a little slow going, especially during the time Sarah does her spy work, it is still one to be read. If you like this book I am sure you will also enjoy Amelia's War, another Civil War historical by Ann Rinaldi.

Ever since she was 13 Sarah has known that she'd never give her life up to a man. But if her father gets his way she'll have to marry a horrible man twice her age that she detests. So when she learn that the Union is looking for soldiers, she disguises herself as a man and quickly signs up. She starts out as a male nurse and soon moves to battle. But when people find out her true sex they are shocked and impressed at Sara's gift for mimicry. They sign her up to work for a spy with Mr. Pinkerton and her first job, to find the Diary of secrets of a fiery confederate female spy, is tougher than she ever suspects.

I enjoyed this book very much, I read it all in one day. Sarah's tale is thrilling and accurate to the time it took place. If you enjoy suspenseful historical fiction novels with a bit of adventure and a dash of romance this is for you. Although it doesn't measure up to other Anne Rinaldi books I've read (I found her descriptions to be too brief as someone here already said and occasionally a bit forced) it's defiantly worth a look at. You'll read it in one day I guarantee it.

I'm a fan of historical fiction, especially when it comes to the Civil War, so I gave this one a shot. It was a fun, quick read, although I would have liked to have seen more emphasis on characterization. I'm an adult male, but I have no problem reading about a teen female lead character; I just wish she was fleshed out more in the book. But Rinaldi does a good job of inserting historical information without slowing the pace of the book. More for the young adult crowd, though old fogies like me will still enjoy it.

I am a HUGE fan of Ann Rinaldi's books (Time Enough For Drums is my all-time favorite). After reading this book, I was very dissapointed. First off, Ann Rinaldi wrote this book in the 3rd person point of view, instead of in the 1st person, like her other books. Even though this book was written in the 3rd person, at times, it still seemed like Sara was the one narrating, so that wasn't my main reason for disliking the book. Secondly, I thought that the romance in this book was very dissapointing. After reading about Sara and Sheldon, it seems like Rinaldi just leaves you wondering about their relationship, like she just cuts it off. I mean, if Sheldon really liked Sara, then why would he not like her, just because she suspected that he might be working for the other side? So, if you are a fan of Ann Rinaldi, this will probably be a dissapointment to you, like it was to me. If you are not a fan of Ann Rinaldi, then I suggest that you read a different Ann Rinaldi book, such as Time Enough For Drums or The Last Silk Dress. I'm sure that you'll enjoy them more than this one!

"Girl in Blue," a novel by Ann Rinaldi, is set in 1861, during the American Civil War. Rinaldi tells the story of Sarah Louisa Wheelock, a young girl from rural Michigan who disguises herself as a man in order to serve in the Union army. Eventually she gets an assignment as a spy for the Union cause.

In an "Author's Note" at the end of the novel, Rinaldi explains how her fictional Sarah was inspired by the story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, a real woman who impersonated a male in order to serve in the Civil War. Rinaldi also notes that certain key characters in the book are real historical figures.

This is an intriguing, enjoyable story with a bold, engaging, and very admirable heroine. Rinaldi writes incisively about the war's impact on women. Also of note is her attention to the wartime role of health care providers. The practical details about Civil War espionage are fascinating. Some of the strongest parts of the book occur in the home of a suspected Confederate spy--it's a disturbingly rendered snakepit of treachery and tension.

Rinaldi deals with the moral and psychological issues involved in espionage. Ultimately I see Sarah as a questing heroine in a classic mold, and Rinaldi brings her odyssey to a very moving and satisfying conclusion.

Sarah Louisa Wheelock grew up on a run-down Michigan farm with a domineering, abusive father, a timid mother unwilling to protect herself and her children, a crippled older brother, and two sisters, Clarice, who found her escape in marriage, and flirtatious Betsy, who could do no wrong in their father's eyes. At sixteen, Sarah longs for freedom even as the country is engulfed by the beginnings of the Civil War. Her father would have her married to their repulsive neighbor Ezekiel Kunkle, a man twice Sarah's age. But Sarah has her own plans. She runs away from home disguised as a boy and enlists in the Union Army. When her identity as a girl is discovered, Sarah is given two options - go to prison, or become a spy. Sarah chooses the latter. And undercover as a maid to Confederate agent Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Sarah becomes caught up in a dangerous conspiracy that could claim her life. Ann Rinaldi has written another thrilling historical novel. I reccomend this, her newest book, to all her fans.

I was very impressed by the historical novel Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi. Not only was the story fast-paced, it was packed with danger, mystery, and a dab of romance. I finished the story in one day. What truly kept me reading though, was how Rinaldi changed Sarah, the young protagonist, to an intelligent able woman from a simple country girl throughout the course of the novel. Rinaldi also did a fantastic job developing the characters of Rose Greenhow, Little Rose, and Sheldon throughout the novel.

"Sarah stood to the side of the rowdy crowd assembled outside the recruiting office on the corner of Saginaw and Kearsley streets. It was Tuesday afternoon. Sarah had worked all morning in the shop fashioning the red, white, and blue rosettes that bore the words THE UNION AND THE CONSTITUTION" ( Rinaldi 16).

The writing was not the only impressive part of Rinaldi's novel; the historical aspect was stunning. While I did not find her account of the army to be convincing, I was stunned by how aptly she described her "secret job" under Mr. Pinkerton. The many layers of her job reflected the uncertainty of the time of the Civil War, even on the side of the Union. To anyone who enjoyed this book, or thinks they will enjoy it, I would recommend reading Rinaldi's The Last Silk Dress, a story that describes the Civil War from the view of a young Confederate girl. Together, the two lend to a greater depth of understanding of the Civil War. But on the whole, Girl in Blue is a must-read.

Will she make it out alive? If you love books with loads and loads of action, you'll love Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi. It's jam-packed with action and mysterious consequences. Ann has outdone herself once again with another historical fiction called Girl in Blue. This book is filled with twists and turns.
None of the characters are whom they seem to be. Especially Sheldon, the Union Army General. The book is about a girl named Sarah whose father tries to marry her off to their neighbor just to combine farms. Sarah then decides to go to her aunt's house in Baltimore and while she's there she pretends to be a boy and joins the Union Army to fight in the Civil War. She later becomes a spy working undercover for Mr.Pinkerton.
She goes to Mrs. Greenhorn's house to spy on her as a maid. While she's there she falls in love with Sheldon. Then she found out his deep dark secret. If you want to know what happens to Sarah and Sheldon, also if Sarah will make it out alive, read the book!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book because it gave me a new perspective on the city of Washington, DC and the Civil War than I had previously. I am a great fan of that time period and will further research the influence of the girls that served and the spies and their affects on the outcome of the war. I highly recommend this book to young readers and hope that it will inspire girls to follow their dreams whatever the cost.