A Light in the Storm the Civil War Diary of Amelia Martin (Dear America) (Dear America) [Paperback]

Karen Hesse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2002

Fenwick Island, Delaware, 1861--a civil war diary of a young girl

Product Details

• Paperback: 169 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. (2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439445574
• ISBN-13: 978-0439445573
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,002,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling look at the Civil War through a girl's eyes., June 27, 2000

By 

"skywaterlv" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Light in the Storm: the Civil War Diary of Amelia Martin (Hardcover)

I found this book to be one of the better of the Dear America series. All of them are well written, but very few manage to capture that, "this is a real person" feel. Some of the books read more like a "this is what is happening in the world" rather than a real diary. However, this book has an engaging character, and a real plot of her parent's seperation. Another interesting thing to note is the way that this book has many layers that were written that the main heroine doesn't neccessarily understand, such as the relationship of her uncle and the freed slave, or her grandmother and her mothers. I also enjoyed watching the relationship between her and a friend's brother grow from a friendship to something more. Overall, I would highly reccomend this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 5, 2006

By 

Taylor Peckin "Shannon Brielle" (Springfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Light in the Storm the Civil War Diary of Amelia Martin (Dear America) (Dear America) (Paperback)

I love this book series (I am a 15-year-old girl). I liked this book because it shows the dramatic time of the Civil War written by 16-year-old Amelia Martin who lives in a small island in Delaware and misses her family dearly. Amelia works at a Lighthouse every day.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Skip the epilogue!, September 28, 2006

By 

K. Moss (Bainbridge Island, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Light in the Storm: The Civil War Diary of Amelia Martin, Fenwick Island, Delaware 1861 (Dear America Series) (Hardcover)

This is the first Dear America book I have read and for the most part I really enjoyed how they give you a glimpse into what it was like to live back then. It brings up interesting issues sometimes only glossed over in the history books and makes it more personal. However, two things bothered me: First was the fact that Amelia's parents got divorced. Not just separated, but actually legally divorced. I know the Civil War tore people apart, but actual divorce was very rare during that time. Also, I didn't feel like it was really the Civil War that tore Amelia's parents apart. They don't really discuss it other than that Amelia's mother does not agree with Lincoln and gets angry whenever the subject is brought up. For a fair portrayal of the time, the book should have done a better job representing her mother as someone to sympathize with as well, instead of that she's always in the wrong.
Secondly, the epilogue at the end was completely upsetting. It talks about her Uncle and his common law wife like it was a common occurance! I'm sorry, but back then, a common law wife, especially to an African American was just not so easily accepted. Also, it states that Amelia and Daniel marry and then separate! Come on! Amelia is the source of light and hope through out this book and then she separates from her husband too, for no better reason than he wanted to move west??! Besides once again setting up this kind of relationship as normal for that time period, it completely undercuts and the sincerety and strength of Amelia and Daniel's relationship as set up in the diary.
This book has some great points and wonderful characters but it is ruined by the end.