Customer Reviews

Lucy and The Liberty Quilt (A Gifted Girls Series (TM) Book 1) (Gifted Girls Series, 1)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Not often does a series for girls combine lessons in life, as well as in history and culture so easily! Victoria London weaves a tale about an ordinary girl who becomes extraordinary because of circumstances and who she is. Lots of positive themes for girls growing up today. I also thought Ms. London handled the backdrop of the September 11 tragedy with grace and sensitivity. This book is sure to be a classic - if not for the introduction of the wonderful characters in the Lucy Series for the Gifted Girls, but for it's timeliness and handling of the September 11 tragedy for girls and their parents. Highly recommend this book and the series. Fans of the Gifted Girls Series can also find more stuff on the characters, historical figures, discussion sheets, and even the Gifted Girls "Creed" on the fan site giftedgirls.net.

Having been through a year of loss myself, I wanted to retreat back into the days when I was a young girl. So I read a lot of classic books reminding me of those days such as A Secret Garden, Little Women, and Nancy Drew. I picked up Lucy and the Liberty Quilt, as well, and read this book from cover to cover in one sitting.

The intertwining of fantasy, fiction, and faith in this book combined with elements of growing up in today's times is very good. I especially liked how September 11 became a natural part of this book. Published a month after September 11, the fictional retelling of the event made it so real, I was brought back to that day. I congratulate this new author for being the first children's fiction book author to realize how significant and historical it is to incorporate September 11 into a book for children. The inspirational message in this book helped me see how important it is to take positive action and move forward.

I know this book has slowly made its way to classrooms across the U.S. and some readers who have read the book have actually started making their own September 11 memorabilias. I share the sentiment with one of the reviewers here that this book will become a classroom and childhood classic.

I just read Lucy And The Liberty Quilt and am glad that the author wrote a book for children with the theme of the September 11th attack. This book is inspirational and entertaining. Children ages 7 to 14 will be able to understand it and relate. This book is also about the power of magic and prayers. Lucy is a girl living in modern times that is challenging. Yet she relies on humor and prayers and a gift she suddenly discovers to deal with scary times. Her visits to the early colonial days to meet George Washington and Betsy Ross is a good example of how Lucy learns from history to better the future. This episode was so entertaining, I wished it was longer. Lucy and The Liberty Quilt is at once a great adventure/magical escape for the imagination, yet addresses real-life deep issues. Victoria London has created a wonderful first book for this series. I look forward to the next one. Finally, a series for children that is smart, yet entertaining.

Shakespeare this is not, but a book for girls between 9 to 12. My daughter Rena is 12 years old. My younger daughter Sarah is 10 years old. They both loved it. I heard the author talked about this book on the radio and wanted to get my girls something they can read with a positive message. The bible it is not (thank God), but it has strong themes on faith and prayer that are demonstrated in a way preteens can understand. The main character is Lucy, a girl who wants to fit into a new school. Like girls who are 12 years old, she's worried about her looks and making friends. My girls loved it because Lucy's real enough, but the situation she gets into are magical. That's why this is a good children's fiction book. I would give it a higher rating if there were more books in this series.

It's been almost an year since September 11. So many books have now been written about it. I bought this book since it was the first fiction book written and published about the September 11 tragedy. It captures everything in such detail, bringing me back to those horrible moments. Although I don't really like to dwell in the past, this is one event that I'd like to remember. From such a terrible tragedy came some of the most faith and pride-building works by ordinary people. Lucy and the Liberty Quilt, written and published just a month after September 11 by first-time fiction writer Victoria London, is one of those works.

I'm a young man in my teens, and I didn't think I would enjoy a story about a young girl growing up in present day America. But I bought this book as a recommendation from a teacher-friend to read to my little sister, and became a fan of Victoria London.

This book has it all - action, adventure, character-building. Yet, it also sensitively portrays a girl and her family and friends being affected by a major event in America history - Sept. 11. This is such a positive book, that's not overly sweet and candy-coated like so many children's books.

It has been some time since 9/11. Now I hear the media is going to make movies and television shows base on 9/11. I've lost a friend at the World Trade Center, and it still hurts. Prayer has hurt me through, and reading some good books. Lucy and the Liberty Quilt is one book I read with my niece at the time. She seemed to be drawn into the story as much as I did. The discussion sheet found on the site was helpful, too, despite what opinion you have on 9/11. I highly recommend this book, not just for its sensitive portrayal of 9/11, but for its inspiring story. I'm not surprised The School Mental Health Alliance recommended this twice for school curriculum.

Lucy and the Liberty Quilt is one of my favorite new books. Lucy is funny and brave. I like how she finds out how she is one of the Gifted Girls, a mysterious group of girls with special gifts. Even though she lives in modern day, when she finds out she is a Gifted Girl, she goes back into time and meets George Washington and Betsy Ross. From her experience going back into America's early days, Lucy learns what she must do when the September 11th tragedy in America happens. This book is fun to read for kids, and I recommend it to parents, too. I want to find out what happens to Lucy when she goes looking for Cleopatra in the next book, too!

It's been a while since September 11, and many would like to put it behind. But we're constantly reminded of it when we go through security checks at the airport and watch the news. Lucy and the Liberty Quilt takes place at the time of September 11, detailing the event from a 12 year old's point of view. At a time of crisis and chaos when grown ups are reduced to a state of shock and helplessness, Lucy and her family find hope and safety through prayer. Although she is just a 12 year old, Lucy is empowered by the discovery she has a role to play as one of the Gifted Girls. Through imagination and through symbolism, Lucy's self-esteem and confidence is strengthen so that she can be propel into action and not let fear control her. Though some may not get the subtlety of this smart series, Lucy and the other Gifted Girls books are deeper than other books for girls, but has adventure and enough issues like friendship and growing up that would keep the interest of any girl up to age 13 or 14. Other recommended books is the Emily Cobbs Collection.

Was this book self-published? There must not have been an editor. There were several spelling errors and misused words. However, the worst part was the generally poor writing. A good editor might have saved this writer from writing about a little boy's blue plaid shirt while at the same time having him cry over the falling of the Twin Towers in New York. "He was wearing a blue plaid shirt." There are lots of short, choppy sentences and no realistic connection from one idea to the next. There are way too many examples like this.

To top it all off, the Amazon description never mentions that there is a heavy religious element here. Lots of praying to God to solve it all. Perhaps a prayer for a good writing course would be more successful than this book.

The upper grade teachers at my school will be using this book as an example of bad writing so that our students won't grow up to write this poorly.